Stephanie's "Little Lessons"

#53: Glissandi - Unit 3 - Playing Glissandi

Now that we know the Basics (Archives, Unit 1) and the Content (Archives, Unit 2) we must consider how to play glissandi which is not quite as easy as it might seem.

Usually, an ascending glissando is played with the 2nd finger. Try playing a "gliss" on your harp and listen. Chances are, it is pretty but rather shallow in sound. Try it again but this time, cup your palm and lightly press fingers 2,3,4,5 together with 2 somewhat extended. Hold your hand with a little firmness and play. If you have done it correctly, all the notes of the gliss should be more distinct and the overall sound, clearer.

For descending glissandi, we usually use the thumb. Again, try and listen. Chances are that you closed your fist and dragged your thumb flatly across the strings with the fist almost facing the floor. By so doing, a wide surface of flesh moves across the string which produces a somewhat muffled sound. Rather, hold the hand with the fist almost facing the strings. This allows your thumb to point upward at about a 45 degree angle from the strings. Now, holding the thumb firmly at that angle, push rather than drag your finger across the strings. Tone should be improved.

A final hint. Press into the strings as you play the gliss. Simply release pressure and float away when you want to end.

See you next month.

Stephanie

-You can access Unit 1 and Unit 2 of this lesson in The Archives - Webmaster

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