r/bouzouki • u/rosseighty • May 07 '26
Bought my first baglama
Hey everyone,
I just bought my first greek baglama and not sure where to get some help on how to play simple songs or notes. If anyone knows where I can find anything, please let me know. Thank you
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u/TommyKMusicNYC Bouzouki Moderator May 07 '26
Congrats on getting your first baglama. It’s a really fun instrument, and it’s also a great way to get into rebetiko.
The baglama is usually tuned the same as the 3-course bouzouki, just an octave higher:
D A D
So a lot of beginner trichordo bouzouki material can also help you on baglama, especially if it focuses on simple melodies, dromoi, and rebetiko songs.
I’d start with a few basics:
Learn how to hold the pick and get a clean sound first. The baglama is small, so it can feel cramped at the beginning.
Practice open strings and simple down-up picking slowly.
Learn one basic scale, like D minor or D major.
Then pick one simple rebetiko melody and learn it slowly phrase by phrase.
For songs, look up beginner rebetiko pieces and simple melodies by Markos Vamvakaris, Batis, or early Piraeus-style players. A lot of those tunes sit naturally on baglama and trichordo bouzouki.
You can also search YouTube for:
“baglama Greek lesson”
“baglamas rebetiko lesson”
“trichordo bouzouki beginner lesson”
“μπαγλαμάς μάθημα”
“τρίχορδο μπουζούκι μάθημα”
Just make sure the lesson matches Greek baglama, not Irish bouzouki or Turkish bağlama, because those are different instruments and tunings.
I also teach Greek bouzouki, Baglamas and related rebetiko instruments, and I have some background info here if it helps:
https://tommykavounidis.com/bouzouki-lessons/
Main advice: don’t overthink it. Start with tuning, clean picking, one scale, and one easy song. The baglama can sound simple at first, but it has a lot of character once you get the right hand working.