Labelling Strings

[Zither2Shred]

How would you label chordophone strings e.g. on a zither?

Assuming you needed to do so.

I fear losing tonal brightness or other unknown consequences so does anybody have pro tips? Would thin sticky tape do? Or even different coloured lengths of cotton string tied as knots around the relevant zither strings?


Special requirements:

I want to label the following notes across approx. 3 octaves: D, F, A, c, d etc etc Perhaps also C#. G#


So, that's quite a lot of strings to label, interference between crowded labels might become an issue on top of all other considerations.

It may also mean multiple colours needed

Also, the instrument is fairly long, so, l might need to move labels up and down depending on where l want to physically focus my plucking. So, l would hope for some mobility with the labels.

[Rudy Mueller]

Forget the tape and practice the scales available in the instruction books. The more you practice, the less you'll have to look at the strings. Difficult at first, try scales on the accompaniment and bass strings. A comfortable table at the proper height is needed.

rudi

[Zither2Shred]

Hello,

Please let me explain:
I don't wanna.

So, if you can help me with my question, good, if you cannot, then please, leave it there.

[Zither2Shred]

I was anticipating somebody giving me their workaround that bypasses my question, telling me to just practice etc., hence l even put this:

Assuming you needed to do so.

Please read my post and unless you can help, then please leave it there.

I don't have to explain this but l shall: I'm not even talking about a zither, hence l alluded to chordophones in general.
The instrument in question has a bespoke scale, l guess you'd call that diatonic. It's not a repeating scale either, some octaves have variations and l just want that scale for just that instrument, especially considering it has levers which shift pitch a semitone, and the levers are on some pretty odd notes at least on my bespoke scale.

But l shouldn't have to explain this.

[KC9UDX]

I thought about doing this. I planned to colour code them. I thought about using translucent enamel, like Testors paint. Or, nail polish. In my opinion, there's no need to label every string. You just need markers; every other string at the most.

Like Rudy says though, it doesn't matter the instrument or the scale; blind people play better for a reason. Practise, practise and you develop "muscle memory" of where the strings are. Trying to find the strings by sight is incurable. Wer A Sagt Muss Auch B Sagen