Hi Andy - Sorry I wasn't clear. Yes, I recognize those accompaniment chords, and I understand how the finger placement should remain unchanged as the hand "shifts" from chord to chord.

But that's tough for me - moving the hand/fingers as a unit, when changing from one chord to another. I can repeat the change a dozen times, but when I add melody, the "pattern" often falls apart.

For example, I can do Darr #23 "pretty" well, as the LH stays on the A string and I "know" where they go. So playing the RH accompaniment strings (G chord and D chord) goes smoothly. But in Darr #26, LH uses D as well as A string notes, so as I "feel" for those, the RH chords start crumbling.

I can sure see why zitherists might ignore the right hand accompaniment notes, and just choose to play "the chords that sound good"!

What might be helpful: an experienced zitherist giving me a specific, simple, Darr (or Hintemeyer, or Harris, or Taborsky, or Kabatek) exercise to learn, with points to be careful about. Then I post the video of it and same zitherist makes an evaluation.

Thanks.
Tom M.

Hi Tom, I’d say you’re doing very well! It was probably a year before I could play anything that resembled a song. I had the additional hurdle of not knowing how to read music. Lot’s of hunting and pecking for me, but I kept at it.

It’s all there, just work on fluidity. One thing that may help, and this is what was taught to me, is to avoid playing open strings. So, if a g is called for, get that by fretting the c string. Likewise, fret your d string for those a notes. Personally, I think it sounds much better than the twwwaaang one gets by playing an open a, but that’s just my personal preference.

I’ve offered before to others, but if you want a lesson in the basics, I’m available on Skype as “zitherus.”

Keep up the good work!

Thanks Dave for your comments and suggestions! "Keep practicing", along with specific suggestions, is a great help.

Regarding the Skype offer, I'm sending you a PM.

Thanks.
Tom M.