Quote:
Originally Posted by BellydanceFTW
I received my first set of zills yesterday (Sayoran, supposedly a good brand, and very bellish sounding) and have two questions regarding them. The first one is concerning how to play them. Do you play them by striking one against the other’s edge or by hitting them directly on top of each other, so their sides are always aligned? They sound more like I imagine they should when I use them like described first, but I don’t want to start doing incorrectly. The second question is what on God’s good green earth has happened to my zills? While they were a sheen bronze only yesterday, they are very dull and worn looking today. There are murky brown marks left under the fingerstraps that if you were to look close enough have my fingerprints in them, and this effect is echoed on several places on rims as well. Was a I gypped or am I too dirty for my own good, and is there anything that can be done to make them like they were (again, only yesterday)?
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LOL! Too dirty for your own good
No I don't think so, maybe oils acids in your skin are reacting with the metal or the surface finish, try polishing the marks, even wash them with a soft detergent, rinse, dry and polish. I am not much help there am I.
As for how to strike, both methods are correct, just depends on the sound you wish to invoke. struck when aligned together (my opinion) gives a more 'earthy deep sound, and the striking of the edge as you mentioned the higher bell like sound. For more tribally or fusion style music I like a mix of both, but maybe more of the erathy beat, and for the Egyptian/Turkish etc the bell sound, but when you are playing (well I do maybe a professional player doesn't) you tend to get a mix of both sounds.
I am sure other players will also come forth with some good advice.
~Mosaic