Embracing the Dark Side - Reluctantly.

[Terry Butler]

Well, I now have a C tenor for travel purposes.  Not easy taking the big baritone places just to have a C.  My C and D tenors can use the same stand which is great.    I've used rub-on letters to   label my notes along the right side and then used lower case letters to label the sharps along the left.  I have a chart now that shows the different notes in each key so am practicing scales in all the different keys.  Also playing shorter songs like "Amazing Grace" in the different keys.  It will take a while for that to become natural but hoping that over time it will....   

[Jeremy Main]

The classic answer is to varnish over them when first applied, but it does really rather need an experienced maker to do that. I guess this is part of why harpies use colour bands.

[Dave Holeton]

Just a quick note related to applying stick-on letters.  I used rub-on letters on my first psaltery.  They lasted for over 10 years but when they started to wear off I thought it would be easy to just rub them off and put on new ones.  The letters had worked their way into the finish and when I removed them there were marks that couldn't be covered with new letters.  I wound up pulling the pins, sanding the whole psaltery down, and refinishing. 

 

Thanks for reminding me Donna.  I haven't played Amazing Grace in all the keys for a long time, so I just tried it this morning.  It takes about 7 minutes to play them all on a baritone starting on a low C.  It's a work-out. 

I remember trying to make a job aid so I would know what was on the left and what was on the right for each key.  Starting on C#, everything is on the left, starting on C or D, everything is on the right, that kind of thing.  I think my baritone sounds the best starting on the Eb in the middle of the psaltery (key of Ab).  C and F are the only notes on the right for starting on Eb.

Dave

[Terry Butler]

I remember that too.  At the time that was frustrating for me as I only played by the dots and didn't really know the notes he was calling out quickly.  Now they're all LABELED.  :)  I'll get this yet.  

[Donna Malus]

Practicing scales is excellent and I remember Dave H. mentioning about playing Amazing Grace in all the keys last fall. I thought it was a great idea and then forgot all about it. Thanks for reminding me!!!