I play on a 3/4 violin, I’m an adult beginner. I hold the violin against my side when I play(just throwing that in there). I’m a pretty isolated person, I play alone and know no musicians or teachers, or even friends for feedback. But I find the replies on this forum really encouraging so far.
I’m very comfortable holding my violin now, and I can bow smoothly enough. But that is about all I have accomplished in months of practice.
I would be content understanding 1st position(the notes, the finger placement, knowing the pitches), and that’s what I want to practice. How should I go about learning? A chart? Scales? Fingertape? (I would use tape if I knew where to tape it in the first place..)
any replies will be helpful to me, please feel free to share your thoughts or ideas or experience
The easiest way I can explain this to you is to imagine the frets on a guitar or mandolin. If you are playing either of these, you are going to put your finger right behind the fret if at all possible, but on the violin, you are going to put your finger exactly on top where the fret would be.
the way they usually tape a violin might be confusing for you however. They usually skip the first fret altogether. This is known as a low one, or the number 1 with a arrow pointing down below it. The first tape would correspond to the second fret. The second tape would be where the third fret would be, but the third fret would be where the fifth fret would be. The Fourth fret would be placed where the seventh fret would be.
The four strings as you probably already know, are from lowest to highest
G / D / A / E
(Get Down and Exercise)
or from top down?
E / A / D/ G
(Eat at Doc’s Grill)
The way I usually place the tapes is to hold a steel bar (or a pair of scissors) over the string and move it back and forth until the note registers perfectly on a tuner. Then I mark below with a pencil and slide the tape across between the bridge and the fingerboard. Then carefully slide the tape up to where you put the pencil mark and check it against the tuner again. If it hits dead center, press tape down and make sure that the ends of the tape wrap over each other so that tape sticks to tape. For some reason it holds longer that way.
I usually use 1/8" auto detailing tape and I usually pick it up from Auto Zone. I can usually get it about a dollar cheaper than most other auto parts stores and it is a whole lot less expensive than the tape they sell specifically for this purpose and you get a lot more tape.
One you get the first tape on
(Notes for first tape should be A / E / B / F#)
Place the second tape
( B / F# / C# / G# )
Place the third tape
( C / G / D / A )
And finally the fourth tape
( D / A / E / B )
This only covers the notes in first position of course. But it will get you started
G string
Open - G
Low one or one down - G# / Ab
One - A
Low two or two down - A# / Bb
Two - B
Three - C
High Three or three up - C# / Db
Four - D
D string
Open - D
Low one or one down - D# / Eb
One - E
Low two or two down - F natural
Two - F# / Gb
Three - G
High Three or three up - G# / Ab
Four - A
A string
Open - A
Low one or one down - A# / Bb
One - B
Low two or two down - C Natural
Two - C# / Db
Three - D
High Three or three up - D# / Eb
Four - E
E string
Open - E
Low one or one down - F Natural
One - F# / Gb
Low two or two down - G
Two - G# / Ab
Three - A
High Three or three up - A# / Bb
Four - B
If you just play on the tapes (or pencil marks if you decide not to use tapes)
I glanced at it quickly, and it seemed to be pretty good. Someone who knows more might be able to give good critique if necessary.
In terms of the right pitch, I think it’s just going to have to be trial and error in the end. I would try to play along with something, and see if you sound the same, and adjust your fingerings accordingly. Many books offer CDs to help you learn the music, and this might prove to be very helpful for you.
Thank you, Izzarina. I printed what you posted, and using a figureboard guide and a my tuner, I figured out where my fingers belong. Oh, it took forever, but well worth it.
I’m not using tape to mark the spots, should I be? I mostly have it down by memory and recognizing pitches.
The only way I am able to recognize a note I’m playing, though, is when I play the note directly under or above it. If I play a B on the A-String, I know what the C should sound like, and then the D(etc), but I can’t seem to do it without referencing another note’s pitch first. Is this a normal way of finding your way around the fingerboard by ear?
I try to practice by ear, mostly songs that I know by heart, but if I encounter a song that has a lot of vibrato in it, it completely throws me off in rhythm. I have a very hard time telling when the vibrato note ends and what note is actually being played, a vibrated note seems to blend into the next note it plays and throws me off for the rest of the measure. Is it a matter of concentration and listening well?
You are very welcome! I’ve also been finding it useful, so I’m very happy I found it for you as well!
I’m not using tape to mark the spots, should I be? I mostly have it down by memory and recognizing pitches.
Should you be? Well…no. But, I do think it helps a bit. I know when I first started, my teacher put tapes on mine just so I wouldn’t have to work so hard to get the right note on my own. The goal is to train your fingers, as well as you ear, to know where the right note is. But my tape was off very quickly and I just do it by ear now. I liked not having them there better. Having the tape there was helpful, but not necessary. I would think that if you already have it down by memory, then the tapes would be silly for you to use. You’ve already achieved the goal.
The only way I am able to recognize a note I’m playing, though, is when I play the note directly under or above it. If I play a B on the A-String, I know what the C should sound like, and then the D(etc), but I can’t seem to do it without referencing another note’s pitch first. Is this a normal way of finding your way around the fingerboard by ear?
I think this is fine…eventually you will just know without having to reference the note by one you already know by ear. It’s like anything else…the more you work at it, the easier it becomes. Also, if you have a tuner that you can clip onto your fiddle, that might be helpful in determining where you are note wise (I am not sure about this, though…corrections are always welcome! ). I would think that the tuner would tell you how off you are as you play the note. You will then be able to adjust AS you play without the referencing, and get your fingers used to where it is.
I try to practice by ear, mostly songs that I know by heart, but if I encounter a song that has a lot of vibrato in it, it completely throws me off in rhythm. I have a very hard time telling when the vibrato note ends and what note is actually being played, a vibrated note seems to blend into the next note it plays and throws me off for the rest of the measure. Is it a matter of concentration and listening well?
Yep. Just keep listening, and trying, then listening some more…so on and so forth. Eventually you will get it. Just like your fingers, your ear has to be trained to hear the notes.
How is it all coming, by the way? I’m excited to hear about your progress!
Hey. It’s really nice to talk to somebody, I don’t know any musicians.
I place an electric Korg tuner on my fridge sometimes and play in front of it to watch notes, it is helpful, but you’re right, it can be off and a little confusing, especially for me as a beginner, and bad tuning skills, on my part!
Progress is slow, slow, slow… but since I am teaching myself, I expect it. My E-string snapped, I’ve yet to replace it, but it’s a lot easier to bow on A without it there to get in the way, so I’m tempted to keep it off. Very few tunes I practice call for the E-string at all, so I’ve been compensating by just sliding higher on the A-string to find F and G’s, etc., when I need to. It’s unfamiliar, but I’m getting the hang of landing on the right spots. It might be a bad idea not having all four strings on?
I don’t know many songs, most are obscure, or from the internet. Right now I am practicing a short little piece called Spanish Violin.
I do think it is a bad idea. Your E shouldn’t get in the way of playing your A when you become more familiar with the instrument and where everything is. At first, you WILL hit the other strings when you are trying to play just one. It’s very common to hit the E while trying to play only the A,for example. If you take that obstacle away, you are only making it more difficult later because when the string is back, you won’t know how to bow without hitting it. You will have to relearn it completely, and that’s much harder than learning it to begin with. You obviously need to bow on your A in a way that you are not hitting the other strings…this comes with practice. If you take away the obstacles, you really aren’t learning how to do it correctly.
And I am curious as to your string breaking…was it an old string? Or are you keeping your violin in a place where it’s too dry or the conditions are too cold? I only ask because popping a string, if it is new, is unusual. Where did it break? In the middle or near the fine tuners?
A bit of an edit here…you might want to find tunes that do utilise the A and E strings rather than ignoring your E completely. It’s actually harder to play on the D and G strings when you first are starting out, for they are a bit harder to get to. Most tunes are A and E tunes, with a bit of D at times, and staying in the area that is easier to play at first will give you time to get to know your instrument. Twinkle, Twinkle, or Liza Jane, or Shortening Bread are great tunes to start on.
I also have a Korg tuner, and I like it, but I fear it will lack accuracy in terms of what you are needing it for. I know when I tune my fiddle, I can expect it to be “off” a bit, because any little noise seems to throw my tuner off, but I am not looking for accuracy in my notes, only that my instrument is tuned. One that you clip on would be of great use to you since you are using it to figure out the notes. And remember, when you are trying to find the right notes, try to remember where your fingers were when you do hit it. Your fingers will eventually remember on their own, but it’s good for you to have some sort of a visual so you can try to get your fingers back into that position later on. That’s why teachers use the tapes, but for you it can be just how your finger looks on a particular note, or how far from the nut you are, etc.
The ‘Intellitouch’ and ‘Intelli’ are both good, cheap, clip-on tuners that work. I’ve had one of each for years. They aren’t “confused” by background noise.
Once tuned, it helps to first play a long note (such as the open D string) or chord (such as the open A and D strings, if you’re playing in D). Then sing that tone out loud, and try to keep it going in your head. Over time, you’ll be able to mentally sound that ‘tonic root’ as you play. This will help you learn to play in tune.
If you’re playing in A, the root chord is the open E and A strings. If in G, it’s the open D and G. Hope this helps!
E snapped near the fine tuner. My strings are old, I’m guessing 5-6 years, they all need to be replaced. I have a newer set, and some extra strings, but they are unmarked and I can’t tell them apart! I am such a newbie.
I’d be embarrassed to go into a music store and hold up my bundle of strings and ask “Which is E?” …heh. G and D have wider widths than A and E, but the last two appear too similar to my eyes. What is a good way to tell what the core string is? With my limited tuning ability, I’m sure I could end up tuning an A string thinking it was an E. You know, end up with G-D-A-A on my violin.
I’m going to replace E as soon as I can identify the string. Ahh, I feel like an idiot. Really, though, thank you for the tuner suggestion, and the help, both of you.
I’ve also been finding it useful, so I’m very happy I found it for you as well!