in my opinion "dont give up!" was the best advice of all. as a person who is learning violin as a hobby for around two years i remember myself being frustrated while trying to play somthing properly over and over and over again. this instrument made me smile, laugh but also cry (a lot). so im speaking to all beginner "dont give up!!!!"
@@TheFeelGoodViolinClub FUCK MAN that's not e kigh..im sorry but im.toof ristrated and fed up with viokin..HOW can I learn faster and more easily..I hate this..how donyou not feel RAHE and firstrarion playing all the time..and discouragement discouragement this rapid violin aagg I hate it. It's damn bad enough life is so hard why is violin even harder..how can I learn faster and more easily..if not I'm done with this stupid thing and I'll smash it to bits!!
Cool idea for a video! Just came across it - good luck practicing everybody, I still struggle with making a good sound at times and have been playing since I was 2...
I am 63 and a beginning to begin being a beginner. I found the straw method helped me and I only had to use it 3 or 4 times to get the feel. Once I could hear and feel the bow drawing straight, once I did this for several days, just going from string to string, it clicked. I still have bad days now and then, or if I'm trying to play faster than I've actually learned yet, I will have sort of reminded my hand how to get back the cat killing sound. It's almost always the G or E string. Slowing down, and the quicker I'm honest with myself and take a couple steps backward by returning to absolute beginner bow stroke, really the faster I return to the point I derailed and am able to go forward again. It's a lot like leap frog sometimes. I'm new to your channel so if you've covered it already, I apologize but curiosity is killing me. Why is there a sort of colored band around your pegs D & E? I noticed your chin rest and I think I saw you have a video about it but at the time I skimmed channels I had already changed to a center chin rest. I think up until recent violin history, everything was designed to fit males and they, for the most part, have very different upper body shape. I went through quite a few shoulder rests, jacking my instrument higher and higher and still not being comfortable. I didn't know exactly what it was supposed to feel like but it just wasn't as comfortable as others look. The place I bought my instrument, Fiddle Shop, sent me two center rests to try and return the one that I didn't like, or both. I am 5'7" and have a small boned frame with straight shoulders, med length neck. I was amazed when I tried the chin rests. Having my chin/jaw in the middle allowed me to achieve some accurate depth perception. Looking in a mirror had done nothing for me because I was looking at everything from a strange angle. The regular side rest that came with my fiddle was very nice but it was for someone bigger. My face was basically so far to the left I could see the E string at all and trying to judge finger placement required contortions. Things are so much better now.
Wow, you’ve explored so much already! Your investment is admirable. The bands on my two pegs are just decorative. I used to have them on every peg but they broke off the other two! Would be nice to replace them 😌
Liz, congratulations on your first content video for your new channel! I found it absolutely fascinating. I don't play the violin, but I see strong parallels with the guitar, such as shaping the tone by playing closer to the bridge or closer to the fingerboard/fretboard. If I ever take up the violin, I will binge-watch all your videos! Your new channel is going to be a huge help to so many people. Your experience really shines through, and you explain everything so well. You are an absolute natural at presenting on camera! Liz, I have a question for you: do experienced violinists ever deviate from these three rules on purpose in order to create special effects?
Thanks Fred, and yes, violinists do deviate from/ expand upon these principles! Intentionally playing close to the bridge for the purpose of creating that husky whistle/whisper sound has a term- Sul ponticello- and 20th/21st century composers will sometimes specifically request that in their scores. And experimenting with contact point, bow speed, and bow pressure expands one's range in terms of the types of sounds/ colors/ moods you can create. Great question, and thanks again for your kind words!
Liz, I have another question for you about getting good tone: are thicker strings more forgiving than thinner strings? I figure that thicker strings have a larger, flatter surface area that provides more contact, so it may be easier for the bow to grip thicker strings. I've heard it's easier for beginners to get a good tone on the cello. That might be partly due to thicker strings, but also due to the totally different body mechanics: the cello is vertical and rests on the floor, which does not move, while the violin is horizontal and rests on the shoulder, which moves with the player. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how these factors come into play in getting good tone! 🙏
Those are great questions Fred. Strings are another complex and multi-faceted component of set-up, and I myself have a hard time keeping track of all the variables (gauge, tension, core material, and winding), so I haven't done tons of exploration. That may be something to consider for a video down the line! If you want to find out more about that, you could start here- stringsmagazine.com/a-guide-to-choosing-the-right-violin-strings/ But to answer your second question- I do think that having to hold the instrument and find a workable set-up on the shoulder plays into the difficulty of getting started on the violin.
@@TheFeelGoodViolinClub Thanks so much, Liz! With all those things about strings, it's even more complicated than I realized, but I gather that exploring the options is part of the journey!
I'm confused like deadly because I just watched a video before this and it said that a parallel bow isn't helpful? For like a good sound? (Also I am only Grd2 in violin)
nope parralel bow is good for a good sound. If you're not parallel u can get different tone colours and stuff but that's a bit more advanced. mainly for a consistent good sound you should have a parallel bow around the middle of the space between the fingerboard and bridge but a tiny bit closer to the bridge
I’m in my ninth year of playing violin and i can say i’ve definitely got it down to a certain level but i’m still struggling with making a ‘full’ and ‘rich’ sound. Got any tips?
Thank you! Videos like this that break down a mysterious, complex topic in such a clear an approachable way are invaluable! You fixed my crappy sound 😂
👏 I just found your channel. I've been playing the violin for four and a half years; and my design, I only play the violin in the first position, and within the first two and one-quarter octaves. But since I only play lyrical tunes and hymns, the first two octaves are all I need to know. If the first two octaves are good enough for my Bb trumpet, they are good enough for my violin. BTW: Brass and strings make for a great combination. 👌 😉 🎻🎺 🎶🎵
Hi Liz... I have been trying to teach myself Violin for the past year or so and I am starting to get get the hang of a few things, but what is driving me crazy is trying to get the B note on either the A string or the D string to sound good. It seems every time I try to play that one note it does not want to sound out, so I end up adding a little extra pressure to the bow and it gets loud and ugly. It is the most finicky note on my violin. Is it me and I just need to practice more or could it be my violin.
Hi Andrew, great question. If you find that you are consistently having problems with a particular note your violin may have what we call a wolf tone on that note. Almost all string instruments have a note or two that just don’t sound clearly. I haven’t heard about it being on B before- often for violinists it’s on C on the D string or high up on the G string. If you are interested enough you could take it to a violin shop and see if they might suggest some adjustments to your instrument.
@@TheFeelGoodViolinClub Thanks Liz... I have been meaning to have a luthier check my violin out. It was made in Germany in 1912. I received it as a gift from my Grandfather when I was a child after taking one year of lessons back in 1969. I never continued after that, unfortunately. Fast forward to now. After playing the mandolin for a couple years I thought the violin would be an easy cross-over. Not as easy as I thought ... but my violin is happy to finally be played after so many years...
Oh how exciting! I would definitely have someone check it out. It may not be cheap but it will likely make your violin sound better and play more easily, especially if it’s been sitting around for a long time.
