Thread: Help me improve my zill-playing!

Here's my problem: I'm right handed, and my right hand plays just fine. But the zills on my left always sound so "clangy" by comparison. Is there some sort of trick or drill I can practice to help me get a nice ring to the tone on my off hand?

Thanks!

yes, where you hit the zill. experiment with striking the zills together on different parts of the opposing zill.

If you hit the xill straight on, all edgeds meeting, it can result in a clangy sound. If you strike the zills so that they edge of one meets part of the edge of the other, you get the ring-tone.

Your finger placement is also important, if you cup your fingers over the zill, it will clack.

Also, remeber the not only hit the zills, but pull them apart after the hit so that they can ring.

I haven't had very much coffee yet, so forgive me if this doesn't make sense.

Practice playing with completely straight, spread fingers. You want as much clearance around the zill as possible, as mentioned by Kina (don't cup your fingers over the zills).

It feels and looks weird but you're training your hands to become stronger so that when you play faster, you're building "clearance" or "space" around the zills so that they resonate when struck. Also strike and release quickly (I believe this is what pre-caffeinated Kina was attempting to convey ;0)). You can even practice this motion w/ o the zills first to get the hang of it.

It's like when flamenco students learn zapateados, the footwork is extremely exaggerated. It builds the technique and strength so that it is not lost when you start working with speed.

See if this makes a difference in the sound of your left zill. Have fun! :0)

All of the above applies, plus "practice-practice-practice" (ugh), but you can also try adjusting the elastics on your fingers/thumbs so the zills meet at a slight angle rather than parallel to each other - so they will tend to meet on their edges rather than clapping right together and making that clunky sound.
Hmmm. That was not so easy to explain. Hope it make sense!
Rosette

Yes, to what has been said so far - especially that practice, practice, practice. If you're strongly right handed, your left hand will need some extra attention while you practice. I know because I was that way when I first started playing. I would not advise keeping your fingers absolutely straight as in "stiff". ..g.: Keep them almost straight, but try to relax the knuckle joints. Each time you practice, try hitting the zills together only on your left hand about 10 times, then rest, then do it again, each time moving your fingers into slightly different positions until you get the sound you like. When you get that sound, practice a little bit more with your hand in that position. Stop, gently stretch out both hands and close them, doing this 2 or 3 times, then shake them a little relaxing your wrists. Then play with both hands, trying to keep that same sound going with your left hand. Nobody said becoming a good zill player is easy!!

Yeah, the 'p' word...practice! Great advice above.

You might also learn to play with your left hand in the dominant 'dum' position. So practice playing L-R-L along with music, and starting off other patterns with your left hand. Being ambidextrous as a zill player is good in the long run anyway, and it will really help strengthen your non-dominant hand for your regular playing.

Good luck!

There's a couple of suggestions here to start off playing with straight, sticky-out fingers. I question that..that's how I always played, and now I am really struggling to re-train my hands to a nicer, more cupped position. As well as the aesthetic, it's harder to play zills faster if your thumb and fingers are wide apart.

I've also found that the wide-apart hand is giving me sore tendons in the back of my wrist and lower arm (esp. with heavier zills), whereas, if I can manage a more cupped position it really alleviates this. One of my students, who has arthritis in the hands, has also noticed the difference a cupped hand makes. I think if you can keep your 2nd and 4th fingers close to, but not actually resting on the back of the zill, that's probably a less stressful position for the hands.

I don't mean to disregard the advice given above (perhaps it is useful for many students), just offer another viewpoint.

Karim Nagi recommended this: brush your teeth with your left hand instead of your right hand (I'm assuming that you are using a manual/non-electric toothbrush) and use your computer mouse with your left hand. As others have mentioned earlier in this thread, it's not just the technique of where the zagat are hitting one another, but it's also building strength and dexterity of your non-dominant hand. Using your left hand constantly on a daily basis should help. If Karim ever visits your neck of the woods, I recommend that you take his workshops.