Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(0 votes) 
Offline
I haven't posted a video in a while, so thought I'd do this tune, which I've been working on with my teacher for the past few weeks. The original Scottish name is The Gobby O, but it became known as Jefferson and Liberty when Thomas Jefferson adopted it has his official presidential campaign theme.
All comments are welcome, particularly about how I can sound less screechy on the E string.
(And, yes, I know that I should smile...I tried, really I did, but I just can't.) 
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Advanced member
Offline
Ok you can blink now!
I can't offer any criticism but one thing that helped me stop screeching so much on the E is better rosin. I got the dark kind and that seemed to help a lot.
I see that you are reading the music as you play, which is amazing to me, I have to spend a whole day reading it and then memorize it before I can play it. But you know where your fingers should go without looking at the board.
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Offline
KindaScratchy said
All comments are welcome, particularly about how I can sound less screechy on the E string.
Great job, Diane. I think you're improving quite a bit since your last video, and I'm so happy for you. Wish I could progress at that speed.
I think there a quite a few things that make violin string screechy and I'm sure it's not your techniques. I agree with "scotty" about rosin as that is probably the easiest you can do. I switched to dark rosin recently and very happy with it (from a very light one to a medium, then to a dark one, all from Pirastro, but there're other good brand as well).
The other thing to help reduces high frequency overtone/hash sounding E string is using a small rubber mute just for one or two strings. I use one for A/E and it turned out so nice, clean/clear without much volume reduction.
Violin bows could be a factor too as they could sound dark, sweet, bright etc.
Keep up the good work. It's so nice to see your videos.
Regulars
Offline
Hi
Sounded great. I hadn't heard you play before.
You could try a different E string. The Pirastro Gold Wondertone E seems to be a popular choice to fit with GD and A of another brand. May be worth a try
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of 
..... What was I saying???? 
Regulars
Offline
You have come so far from that first video. I enjoy watching the determination in your face as you play and read the music. In one of your videos you showed us an app you used for music on your tablet. Can you give me the name of that app so I can try it out.
Offline
Easiest way to get rid of a scratchy E? Come to the dark side 
Seriously though That sounded pretty durn good! I can also imagine that piece sounding really interesting with some quick stops of the bow on select notes but that just happens to be my kind of flavor and that's what all of this is about, Our personal flavor as opposed to mechanical noise. 
Great Job!
The pack depends upon the wolf, and the wolf depends upon the pack. The loss of one means the destruction of the other.
Regulars
Offline
Good job, Diane!
Actually i can't say that your playing on E is screechy... Maybe i'm not that picky that i should be, but your E sounds fine as for me
Offline
Good Job Diane! I loved it. I love the tunes you pick! You are moving right along ... Can I be a little jealous?? Ha! Thanks for sharing!
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Member
Offline
GREAT JOB
About the scratchy things on E string. Maybe you can try instead of forcing power, try to move the bow more freely.... It's also happen when we try to practice scale without really knowing it, we got abit nerve and the bow is stop sometime. That's also a reason that make sound more scratchy.
Anyway... the E string on your video sound great. Great job!!!!
Minh
Violin - My Life - My Style - My love
Offline
Kevin M. said
You have come so far from that first video. I enjoy watching the determination in your face as you play and read the music. In one of your videos you showed us an app you used for music on your tablet. Can you give me the name of that app so I can try it out.
Thanks, Kevin and everyone for the comments and tips! Yup, can't smile 'cause I'm totally concentrating on reading the music. Scotty is so right...I never even blinked once.
The app is call MobileSheets. You can find it in the Google Play Store, but here's the website if you want to read about it: http://www.zubersoft.com/mobilesheets/
I really like it, though one word of caution: every so often it stops working and I have to remove and reinstall it. So, if you get it, be sure to back up your songs and setlists or you'll have to recreate them.
Here's my self-critique:
1. This tune is supposed to be much faster. I'm working my way up to the proper speed.
2. At the beginning, my bowing is clunky. I think it's because I was really focused on executing the hammer-ons and pull-offs. It gets a little better as I go on. I'm gonna work on getting off to a smoother start.
3. I could lengthen my bow strokes in certain places, though I believe that the speed of this tune warrants shorter bowing overall (correct me if I'm wrong on that).
4. My E string problems may actually be slightly off intonation, combined with weaker bowing on that string. Also, for some reason, I tend to let the bow drift closer to the bridge when I'm on the E string, which makes more of a screechy sound. I'm working to fix that.
Thanks again!
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
King
Regulars
Offline
Diane, I've listened 6 or 7 time's to the tune and I really don't hear any Screech or ScratchKinda. Your E string sound's normal in my ear's.
You're doing great. You'll have this violin thing down, "in the blink of an eye" 
Thank God I'm a Country Boy.
Regulars
Offline
That sounded great Diane! 
I only heard a very slight squeak/scratch once on the E, not even enough to worry about.
Now depending on the song, I sometimes remedy the E squeak by tilting the bow with the hair facing towards me and play more on the edge of the hair instead of flat. Or play the string with a bit more power on it.
By the way, how is your wrist and thumb doing?
I noticed you weren't wearing a brace, so I'm hoping that means it's getting better.
"Music is what feelings sound like." ~ Author Unknown
Offline
Great job Diane. Keep up the great work. Glad your back to posting your progress
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Offline
Feathers said
By the way, how is your wrist and thumb doing?I noticed you weren't wearing a brace, so I'm hoping that means it's getting better.
Thanks for asking, Feathers. Actually, I was wearing the brace but it was partially hidden by my sleeve. I still have pain so yesterday I made an appointment to see a hand surgeon. That doesn't mean that I'm necessarily going to need surgery...that's just the type of specialist my regular doc recommended.
BTW, on the hand surgeon's website, there's a picture of a violinist, so I guess they see a lot of us.
Thanks for the additional comments about the E string, Feathers and Ken. I'm glad that it doesn't sound too bad to everyone else. Just doesn't sound right to me, but I'm sure it's fixable with practice.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Regulars
Offline
Hi Diane,
Thank you for sharing! That was great! You've come a long way! 
Great focus by the way! LOL!
Fifi
Regulars
Offline
Nice playing. It gives me hope, but I need more of a prayer.
"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader
Regulars
Offline
Thanks for asking, Feathers. Actually, I was wearing the brace but it was partially hidden by my sleeve. I still have pain so yesterday I made an appointment to see a hand surgeon. That doesn't mean that I'm necessarily going to need surgery...that's just the type of specialist my regular doc recommended.
BTW, on the hand surgeon's website, there's a picture of a violinist, so I guess they see a lot of us.
My apologies Diane.....
I really meant to get back in here sooner after asking about your brace.
Funny about the violinist picture. It wouldn't surprise me too much that they've probably seen quite a few musicians. We do use many repetitive motions when we play.
"Music is what feelings sound like." ~ Author Unknown
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
tonyluo
ELCBK
