Abstract: A method of playing a fretted string instrument having a body, a neck, a single elongated fingerboard on the neck and conventional strings in tension over the body between a head and bridge thereof; the fingerboard extending rearwardly of the neck over the body and including at least about twenty-five frets, a substantial number of which frets overlie the body, means for retaining the instrument against the body of the instrumentalist and angularly disposed relative to the vertical, the fingerboard being outwardly convexed, the forward edges of the body adjacent the fingerboard diverging rearwardly, the fingerboard thereby being accessible to the fingers of both hands approaching the fingerboard from opposite sides throughout the length of the fingerboard, neck and body, the method comprising the instrumentalist retaining the instrument against the instrumentalist's body and angularly disposed relative to the vertical with the single fingerboard facing outwardly, approaching the strings with the fingers of on