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

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Another positions question
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
fiddlrgrrl

Advanced member
Members
March 13, 2015 - 12:22 am
Member Since: January 23, 2012
Forum Posts: 73
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Fiddlerman I had watched your videos on positions awhile back. I just looked at them again and see that I had missed what I think was your main point.  Duh.

So, in every position, is your thumb right across from your first finger? Except of course, maybe 6th and higher -- and where do you hang on then, by the way?

I also have not been trying to learn shifting by sliding -- I thought I was supposed to be able to just "hit it" through muscle and distance memory.  In practicing sliding, I realized that I leave my thumb behind an inch or more, which requires more stretching of my fingers than necessary.

Keeping my thumb with my first finger requires some concentration, but I also see it adds to the feeling of stability. I took lessons for several months a couple of years ago, and I wish this had been mentioned.  All that was mentioned about the thumb was that I kept too much of it sticking up, but nothing about it in relation to the rest of the fingers.

Fiddlrgrrl

Avatar
Schaick
Members

Regulars
March 13, 2015 - 9:04 am
Member Since: December 25, 2013
Forum Posts: 878
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hey @fiddlrgrrl That is what I was first taught, then Teach and I discovered a more laid out was better for me.

Sorry if I have confused you.  By the way did you read my disclaimer in my signature!!

Violinist start date -  May 2013  

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius.  BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 13, 2015 - 3:09 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

fiddlrgrrl said
@Fiddlerman I had watched your videos on positions awhile back. I just looked at them again and see that I had missed what I think was your main point.  Duh.

So, in every position, is your thumb right across from your first finger? Except of course, maybe 6th and higher -- and where do you hang on then, by the way?

Not exactly. From 4th position I use the curve of the neck for my thumb and keep it there for the upper positions as well.

For 1st, 2nd, and 3rd I'll keep my thumb against the neck curve by the peg box.

I also have not been trying to learn shifting by sliding -- I thought I was supposed to be able to just "hit it" through muscle and distance memory.  In practicing sliding, I realized that I leave my thumb behind an inch or more, which requires more stretching of my fingers than necessary.

One of my great teachers had us all practice slides to learn the shifting distance.

Keeping my thumb with my first finger requires some concentration, but I also see it adds to the feeling of stability. I took lessons for several months a couple of years ago, and I wish this had been mentioned.  All that was mentioned about the thumb was that I kept too much of it sticking up, but nothing about it in relation to the rest of the fingers.

I may make a new video. :)

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

Avatar
fiddlrgrrl

Advanced member
Members
March 13, 2015 - 3:45 pm
Member Since: January 23, 2012
Forum Posts: 73
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Fiddlerman : You said "For 1st, 2nd, and 3rd I'll keep my thumb against the neck curve by the peg box."

LOL! What? Seriously?  Do you have a 4th joint in your fingers or something???  Or an extra long thumb? I can't even play my 4th finger on the A string in 3rd position with my thumb up there.

Yes, another video would be great, like from the side, playing in the positions, after showing how to get to them.

photo4.JPG

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments

Fiddlrgrrl

Avatar
Marmalade

Member
Members
April 23, 2015 - 11:49 am
Member Since: April 23, 2015
Forum Posts: 10
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I would like to see a video on the topic of shifting.  I am starting to develop muscle memory for how far to shift.  I can't do really high positions on the D and G string.  I can't get enough pressure with my fingers on the left hand, and my tone on those strings is crappy.

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: Mouse, stringy, nykteria
Guest(s) 117
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today Michael Browder, EBurrell
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7759
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31662
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10589
Posts: 134217
Newest Members:
SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08, creativestringsinfo
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5306