Picking up from yesterday –
So, people figure that out in the original tuning (which always can be changed, if really need be).
Then, when you want to play in a certain key, you switch all your levers to the correct positioning before it’s time to play. (You technically can switch them during song if you really need to (for accidentals, etc.) But… that’s hard depending on the piece/the speed/etc.
As far as how you know which string is which note [for changing your levels, or plucking, what have you], Cs are red, Fs are blue or black, everything else is white.
And then it’s all laid out exactly like it is on a keyboard… which is alphabetical order.
You set up to play by lining it up with your right shoulder. Basically, in many ways, you’re trying to sort of get it to mimic the piano. If it’s on your right shoulder, your left arm is going out longer. So, your left arm is playing the low notes (just as it would on piano). [And it then stands to reason your right arm is usually doing the higher notes.]
There are different methods to how people physically play as far as whether your body is more closed off, or you have elbows out, fingers diagonal/down, and wrists in a concave shape. [That’s the Salzedo method, which is the one Stephanie likes.]
You don’t use your pinky finger because basically it’s just too short for all you need your hands to be doing.
So, when you number your fingers, the thumb is one. And they only go up to 4.
Tomorrow, I want to end on talking all about the pedals! So, one last little highlight I’ll give today is after the lesson, as I was waiting for the uber, she asked who my favorite artist was, and she easily broke out some Michael Jackson on the harp like it was nothing!
It was very cool.
And this is where I’ll finish out tomorrow!