Hi Stephen,

Lots of hard work so far!

Not pretending to practice and sitting back and enjoying the glorious sound of
ten string but really rolling my sleeves up and getting in amongst it!

Lots of scales and work on right hand string crossing to get used to larger
jumps and a much wider stretch on my right hand.

I also actaully used cross string trills as a really good way of developing
accuracy in my right hand.

I found it very surprising how difficult a cross string trill is when the bass
note that underpins it is the lowest bass string and the the hand has to jump
all the way up to the top 2 strings to cover the trill!


So I used this idea but starting at the adjacent treble string and then working
my way lower until I reached the lowest string, this widening my right hand
reach and stretch and also having to bring it back up to the trebles afterwards.
This seems to have 'bedded' in the feeling of distance involved with the ten
strings.

Other than that lots of p i a scales and string crosses. I very rarely often
never in many pieces use m so I have an unorthodox technique anyway!

Best wishes,

Matthew

--- In 10string@yahoogroups.com, Stephen Bright <stephen@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Matthew, and thanks for posting:
>
> I think a big question for new 10-string players is how to best go
> about learning the new instrument. Did you have a systematic approach
> for learning to find the extra strings, or did you simply begin to
> learn pieces?
>
> I personally think some of both is helpful, but I'd be interested in
> hearing your 10-string learning strategy.
>
> Thanks,
> Stephen
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>
> Stephen Bright, Classical Harp Guitar
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