It’s the ultimate dilemma. There you are at the fire circle, the fire beckoning. Your hips are shaking, toes tapping, you want to dance!!! But the rhythms are calling you. Do you join the drummers, keeping the heartbeat of the festival alive? Or do you answer the call of the fire and give your body to the deities of dance?
Or can you do both?
The beauty of zills is that they serve as the bridge between a musician and a dancer. And they are way more portable than a djembe. But in the wrong fingers, they are a nightmare.
So, let’s take it slow and make your zilling enjoyable for you and everyone around you.
First you must select your zills. Oh, by this time in this blog, you’ve figured out that zills are finger cymbals, right? If not, just stick with chanting. Two lips and a tongue may be all you can manage.
If you’re still with me, let’s talk zill choice. You’ll find zills with either one hole (where the elastic all goes through the same single hole) or two holes (where the elastic loops through two holes to connect in the middle). I’m presuming you want to move around with these instruments, so go for two holes. They will be infinitely more stable on your fingers.
The other decision you’ll make is size. Overall, larger zills are louder. So professional dancers will generally choose a larger zill for outside venues. And if you are confident, do the same. If you want to fade into the background a little more, go for a smaller set.
Here is where I will point out that your zills will pierce the air above any drumbeat. That is their advantage. And their downfall.
You probably already figured out how to put on your zills. They go on your middle finger (between the first and second knuckle) and thumb (above the knuckle). They should be tight enough to eventually turn your fingertips purple. Otherwise they will go flying across the fire circle and tag a semi-naked sarong-wearing pagan in the temple. (That’s the forehead, not the spiritual abode!)
Now make a noise.
Oh, goddess, no. Stop. Not that noise.
Your lovely zills make a plethora of sounds, but let’s play around with a couple. The usual “ring” is made by bringing your middle finger and thumb together and releasing quickly to allow the sound to ring out.
You can create a “clack” by bringing your zills together and holding them to dull the resonance.
Yay! You made sound! I play zills on the song Warrior Woman on our album Seasons. Want to make your zills sound like that? Next time, let’s make some rhythms.