Search found 254 matches

by NutmegCT
Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:06 pm
Forum: Learning
Topic: Gutmann Zither-Schule
Replies: 23
Views: 5191

Gutmann Zither-Schule

As a newcomer, I may have overlooked this on the forum. But today I found the complete Gutmann Zitherschule, op. 170, available on Google Books: https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output=reader&id=8PdDAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PA1 I find it has some useful beginner exercises ...
by NutmegCT
Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Good Vibrations
Replies: 6
Views: 1117

Re: Good Vibrations

Rudi - you can use Audacity on your laptop (etc.) to measure decibels. Audacity is free, and uses the laptop's built in microphone. Also can use an external microphone. An advantage is that Audacity actually records the sound as well as measuring, so you can play it back and watch the decibel meter....
by NutmegCT
Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:42 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Good Vibrations
Replies: 6
Views: 1117

Re: Good Vibrations

Believe it or not, I get a similar "increased resonance" by placing the zither on the closed lid of my clavichord. My zither doesn't have the "pin" feet attached. The instrument, based on a 1740s clavichord, is very light and resonant itself, so the entire wooden case acts as an ...
by NutmegCT
Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:43 am
Forum: News
Topic: Weihnachtssingen
Replies: 7
Views: 2393

Re: Weihnachtssingen

Dave - do you have any recordings (e.g. YouTube or sound files) of your zither ensemble at the Christmas Sing, or otherwise?

Tom in CT
by NutmegCT
Thu Jan 15, 2015 8:48 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Zither Backpack
Replies: 1
Views: 657

Re: Zither Backpack

That is a *beautiful* instrument, and an excellent case.

I don't travel, so I continue with the original wooden case for mine:

Image
by NutmegCT
Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:11 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music
Replies: 10
Views: 1791

Re: The left thumbnail/suffering for our music

Ken - In addition to using Vienna tuning, didn't Karas sometimes lower the pitch of his strings, to enable a more expressive sound? Especially for vibrato?

see: http://www.antonkaras.at/english_instrument.htm

Would be interesting to see a close-up of his left hand thumb nail!

Tom in CT
by NutmegCT
Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:42 am
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: Electronic tuners
Replies: 8
Views: 1751

Re: Electronic tuners

In over twenty years, I never found a reliable tuner where you play a note in any range, and the tuner reliably detects the note and guides you to perfection. My ear was always better. So now I use an online tuner, through my web browser on my laptop/tablet, etc. Then I tune octaves just by ear. htt...
by NutmegCT
Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Repairs and Restorations
Topic: zither bridge
Replies: 7
Views: 1497

Re: zither bridge

Henry - back in the Dark Ages I repaired stringed instruments. I learned very quickly that, altho' the original luthiers most often used hot hide glue, repairs done in the intervening years by various shops could be done with *any* kind of glue, including super glue. So good luck on removing the ori...
by NutmegCT
Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:55 pm
Forum: Builders
Topic: Exploded view of the zither
Replies: 14
Views: 9964

Re: Exploded view of the zither

Just out of curiosity, aren't most violin/viola/cello etc. bridges made from maple? If I recall from my cello playing days, the nut at the scroll end was often ebony or bone, and the saddle at the low end was made from ebony - but not the bridge. The bridge carries the vibrations of the strings down...