Heidi (and others!) This is probably self evident to zither meisters, but - If a method book were to begin the right hand accompaniment instruction with "Here is the position of fingers 4 3 and 2 on the bass and accompaniment strings for the basic G chord. With fingers in that same position, mo...

Hi Heidi - here's a video (excerpt) showing charts and "finger positions" for melody and for accompaniment strings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrbQ5NIU0R0 I thought about buying the set of videos, but it's too expensive! The video should add the "hold the chord position and move ...

Heidi - that is a very helpful description of the "Heidi Method"! You are very logical, and the charts are very helpful indeed. Something which surprises me, is that the method books never actually explain and illustrate what you have done so well. Finding a "base point" (the roo...

Gruss Heidi. I'm a beginner also - *very* much beginner! I'm using Kabatek and Taborek, and I have moderate success with melody and single string bass through the first ten pages or so. Left hand and right thumb are smooth, but the chords (akkord) are a problem for me. I find it difficult to use the...

Hi Rudi - I didn't know about the Skype possibility. I've used the Contact form on Kurt's website to ask, but haven't got a reply yet.

Yesterday I was able to manage four note chords on C, F, and G! (but add in the melody thumb, and ... well ... it's not pretty)

Onward!
Tom M.

Hi Gwen. Welcome to the forum. I'll be following this closely, as I'm a beginner myself. Right hand finger coordination is slow going for me. What method books are you using? What's your music background, and how did you get interested in learning this wonderful (and challenging!) instrument? And we...

Noch einmal, vielen Dank! I actually just made it through Tyrolienne and Marsch on page 10, with nary a klunk! Blood is almost dry on the strings after only a few minutes! :lol: Several of the method books recommend pointing the lower right corner of the instrument toward the stomach, so that's what...

Happy new year all. Please send me some extra patience. I'm slowly working my way up through page 10 in Kabatek. But man my progress is slow! I can *almost* get the bass and accompaniment strings under control, but then my thumb has problems staying on the correct melody string. I assume the notes w...

Gruss Rudi! First thing that popped to mind: Mozart, Abduction from the Seraglio. The overture is constructed in various 14, 6, 8, and 20 measure segments. He did this to emphasize the "non-western" character of "janissary" music, also including lots of percussion. https://www.yo...

Thanks Ken. It's slowly starting to make more sense. By accident, just yesterday I discovered that just shifting right hand up or down one string, gives the related chords (I, IV, V, etc.). Reading the score is important, but I'm now also realizing that "playing by ear" is do-able for rela...