I find it difficult to use the right hand for two reasons:
1. Finding the proper strings for 2 or 3 strings chords (akkord) is difficult.
2. Adding the thumb for the melody makes the 2 ro 3 string chords even more difficult.
Hello Tom,
I agree: it's really hard to learn to play that instrument.
Especially the second I find very difficult, too!
But with the first, namely finding the proper strings, I already made good progress by mostly concentrating on only two chords: G and C (sometimes F as well).
Here's my approach:
For a better apprehension of the chord strings I printed out Taborskys chart and coloured the red strings.
When I studied the accompany strings' logic (and with the help of some circle of fifth knowledge) I found it really clever how the strings are arranged:
it's one quint following the next. So I know C is right above F and G is above C.
And as each major chord consists of a base (1), a third (3) and a fifth (5) which I have to "produce" with my right hand's fingers,
my fingers are positioned always in the same distance (intervals).
Just the strings do differ for each chord.
I made a scratchy little Illustration with my mouse to show you "how I think":
- Chord_Orientation.JPG (38.94 KiB) Viewed 1532 times
After I localize the two F-Strings for orientation,
I put my finger 4 in position and force it to stay there.
(Ah, and by the way I use a rubber band to keep fingers 5 + 4 together,
which helps me to establish a better "finger discipline").
Then I position 3 and 2 (remembering there are only two open strings between them)
and I also try to keep them in place as well.
Then I strum chord C - finger by finger, string by string.
I think it's important that the fingers - after strumming each string - do rest on the next (lower) string.
So playing the same C-Chord again becomes much easier, because I just have to move each finger a string's distance back to repeat that chord.
And as G-Major (and all other major chords) have exactly the same intervalls, it is just about moving the hand
- with the same finger positioning - a little up for G (which is the quint right above C) or down for F.
And secondly to learn to play chord and melody together this is one of my favourite exercises (Kabatek):
- Kabatek_BohemianFolkSong.JPG (39.33 KiB) Viewed 1532 times
So, to cut a long story short:
That's how I try to master the right hand chords and the combination with the melody.
Good zithering and keep me updated with your own efforts