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D string seems too tight
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Kristof1995

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March 14, 2017 - 4:44 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2017
Forum Posts: 2
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Hello dear Violin community. Im a fairly beginner violin player ( like 8 months ago but used to play the accordion before it for 12 years ) and I somehow feel that my D string seems to be too tight.

Like I dont even have to pressure other strings when playing with my bow and enough rosin on it and it gives out a nice clean tone but when I try to do it on the D string its not working I have to apply pressure to get a tone like on the other open strings.

Overall if I try to push down the D string while playing tones it seems to go harder then the other ones. 

I did checked all strings are tuned, the bridge is fine no cracks or tilts.

Sadly I do not have in the upcoming 3 months an opportunity to meet up with my teacher or reperateur so Im asking for some advice. Thank you in advance! 

Btw it started after my reperateur moved my bridge and the violin soul slightly backwards because he told me it isnt supposed to be on that place ( he is a concert master and a violin builder so I guess he knows his stuff )

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Charles
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March 14, 2017 - 8:24 pm
Member Since: June 7, 2016
Forum Posts: 373
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Check both at the nut (by eye) and at the end of the fingerboard (with a ruler) for the height of the D string compared to the others. Generally, the E string should be the lowest, and the G string the highest, with the A and D smoothly increasing between the two. (The size and tension of the strings mean the bigger strings need more room to vibrate - that's why they're higher.) (There's an instrument you can check at the nut with, but you probably don't have it. A ruler is too crude for that end.)

3.5 mm for the E string and 5 mm for the G string at the end of the fingerboard is considered "standard", but some people have them as low as 2.5 and 4. As long as it's not buzzing, there's nothing inherently wrong with it.

Low action (low separation) makes it easy to play, but decreases volume, and puts an upper limit on how high a volume you can play (or it will start buzzing).  Higher action tends to give you more volume, and allows a higher maximum volume, but requires more effort.

If the D string is disproportionately high compared to the other three, then it's not your imagination. You'll probably want to get it adjusted.

If there's a steady progression in height from the E to the G, I'm out of bright ideas. You'll have to hope one of the experts chimes in.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 15, 2017 - 8:31 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

Can you show us with a video. You can upload the video to youtube and make it unlisted if you like so that only the people with the link can see it. We'll probably be able to tell you exactly what is going on. :)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Kristof1995

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March 15, 2017 - 2:20 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2017
Forum Posts: 2
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 First of all thank you for your answers. I did messure the distances at the end of the fingerboard my E string seems to be at 3.5 mm height and my D string 5mm. Might the D string be too high? my G string is at 6mm height.

 

Fiddlerman - Of what a video do you mean about the position of the strings at the nut and the end of the fingerboard or the sound issue ? :)  

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 16, 2017 - 1:26 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

As far as string height and the string being harder to press down, I would look more at the height over the strings by the nut unless you are playing above 3rd position.

I might have accidentally posted the "post a video" on the wrong post. :)
I was reading one post and replied in the wrong spot.... Just ignore that, though it would make it easier for us to see the problem in your case too.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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