Little Water = Low Note
The note given out depends entirely upon the amount of liquid in the glass. The less water the lower will be the note; the more water the higher it will be. Therefore taking eight glasses, or fine finger-bowls, and filling each one to a different level with water, a complete octave can be obtained.
The amount of water to be placed in each depends entirely upon the size of the bowl and the texture of the glass, and must therefore be determined by the performer himself. A keen ear will soon enable him to get the glasses thoroughly in tune, and they can then be arranged before him in the order of the notes in the scale.
For those who desire to attain proficiency in this art, it would be well to color the water distinctively in each glass, in a manner similar to the following:
| 1. | C | clear |
| 2. | D | red |
| 3. | E | blue |
| 4. | F | yellow |
| 5. | G | green |
| 6. | A | purple |
| 7. | B | orange |
| 8. | C | black |
| (See [Fig. 1].) | ||
By this arrangement the performer can tell at a glance which glass he must touch to obtain the note required. This is more especially applicable to beginners, for, after some practice, the relative positions of the glasses become fixed in the mind, and he knows instinctively where to turn for whichever note is wanted.