Göksel Baktagir was born in Kırklareli in 1966. He started his musical education at the age of eight under his father Muzaffer Baktagir. Göksel graduated from the State Conservatory of Turkish Music at Istanbul Technical University in 1988. One year later, he continued his master’s degree at his alma mater. During his graduate studies, he was appointed as a Kanun player to the Istanbul State Turkish Music Group, which was directed by tambour player Necdet Yaşar.