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String height action at the first fret

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 5:21 pm
by Musicmaker
Hi guys,
Can someone or all please help.
Like I have said, I find it painfully hard to depress the strings and in particular at the first fret.
I don't know if my zither is properly set up so need advice Please?
I have measured the distance from the inner A string from the string to top of first fret and have 0.020"
Is this normal Please?
What sort of gap is Acceptable?
I know that with guitars the action is a personal thing but I think this gap is double what it should be for a highly tensioned A String?
Pete

Re: String height action at the first fret

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:12 pm
by NutmegCT
Pete - I've got 0.020" at that point myself.

When you say "painfully hard to depress the strings", are you saying they resist your fingers and it takes a lot of pressure to press down?

Or are you saying your fingers hurt because they're tender and haven't developed sufficient calluses yet?

Thanks.
Tom M.

Re: String height action at the first fret

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:53 pm
by Musicmaker
Hey Tom mate.
That is a damned good question.
In short I think the answer is a bit off both.
If your string height is circa the same then the Zither is okay.
Personally i find it quite hard at the first fret.
I thjnk Imay have to earn some calluses! Ha ha.
Did you find the script in the Darr book re right hand placement?
Bottom of page 13.
Pete

Re: String height action at the first fret

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 10:08 am
by NutmegCT
Yep - I'm thinking lack of calluses is your problem. Certainly common to a new zitherist!

I did find that quotation, thanks. I understand what he's saying - feeling comfortable with the finger placement for the different chords/tonalities. Doesn't help with moving from C placement to D placement, etc. however. This may relate to my feeling about the "method books" being written by experienced zitherists, but the experienced zitherists didn't learn from method books!

Onward through the fog!
Tom M.