Lesson 15- Cross String Trills

In this lesson, I would like to discuss one of the most striking techniques used by "modern" players known as cross-string trills. Developed by players such as Eliot Fisk, Sharon Isbin, and Paul Galbraith, this effect is striking to those who hear it the first time. In some ways it sounds like a harpsichord or harp.

Let's take a typical trill- F#- E- F#-E- "s" indicates slur

-----2s0s2s0--------E String (high)

----------------------B String

r.h. m

This trill can be refingered the following way to give it a more interesting effect-

----2---2-------E String (high)

------5---5-----B String

r.h. a-m-i-p

The right hand may seem strange at first because it has "i" playing in front of "m" but this becomes easy with time, and then the arpeggio like fingereing becomes much more fluid that "m i m i" or "i p i p" although those are also used beautifully. This trill can be repeated many times to get a nice "cadence" effect.

Let's take a more complicated example now-

Here is a trill and a turn-- G# F# G# F# G# F# E F# E--- ("s" indicates slur).

-----4s2-4s2-4s2-0s2-0-- E String

------------------------- B String

r.h.- m__i___m___i__m

OK- and now a cross-string version

------4---4---4---0---0------E String

--------7---7---7---7-------- B String

r. h. -a-m-i-p-a-m-i-p-a

Seem complicated? At first yes, but after a while, you get used to the idea. Most time these techniques involve stretching the left hand which is helped if you keep your wrist DOWN (towards the high E string). The farther your wrist is down, the easier it is to stretch- it has nothings to do with "long fingers" per se. If you ever watch Eliot Fisk play, you'll see what I mean.

Can you find other trills like this? Try the following series of notes and see what you come up with. Some involve cross string scales as well. Experiment and find your own in your music.

#1- Start on 3nd fret of second string ----D-C-D-C-D-C-D-C-B-C-B

#2- Start on 7th fret of 4th string- ------A-G-A-G-A-G-F#-E-D

#3- Start on open G string ---G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-F-E-F-G-F-E-F-E-F-E (whew!----- make sure you really think about the right hand fingering as well as the Left for this one!)

As Always,

Good Luck