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Playing Without a Shoulder Rest or Pad
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes) 
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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
August 4, 2013 - 4:56 pm
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@Picklefish so  you know that is an interesting topic..I don't think I have my "forever" hold found yet...I have the one the teacher started me with..then changed more... then I had the death grip...so I changed a bit.... I am floundering with my hold.  Got some tips this past week..but I know the key to my playing better right now is the hold.... lots of thoughts on that... I like the way that FM shows to hold in his videos.. and that is more of my goal....but I find myself playing and my hold will change.. ?? and I re grip... at least I can do that now while playing... progress of sorts...

 

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Picklefish
Merritt Island, Fla

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August 4, 2013 - 5:10 pm
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@Toni- dont think of it as a hold or as forever. think of it as cradling a babys head, you know support. As your comfort and confidence increases your holds/ supports will adjust to your liking. fagetaboutit. Have you ever held a guitar? Squeeze its neck or hold onto it for dear life? Probably not. Fear is the path to the darkside, fear of dropping the fiddle will turn you into a Sith lord...lol. um where was I? Relax and breath, this is supposed to be fun.

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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DanielB
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August 4, 2013 - 6:49 pm
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I'm not sure as there is a "forever hold", unless one maybe opts to get buried with the violin someday.  LOL 

How one is supporting the instrument has to change a bit while playing as we do different things.  At least that is my thought on it.  But unless we're playing upside-down or on the International Space Station, it is just supporting the violin or maybe cradling it, not really holding.  

@Pf: Nonono.. "Fear is the mind killer", that's from Dune.. The path to the dark side of the force is more like "Warmth of tone?  More low end 'punch'?  A Jedi craves not these things.."

Go team Sith!

(hey, a thousand Jedi all running and wetting their pants because there might be just *two* Sith around?  Umm.. So why would anyone want to be Jedi, anyway?)

 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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StoneDog
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August 4, 2013 - 10:09 pm
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Spiritually > I figure, one must become one with the viddle.

Realistically> Spend much time with it > and it will fit. > and you will be one with the viddle.

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Picklefish
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August 6, 2013 - 8:23 am
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so I bought a lifted chinrest and the impressionist chinrest pad for comfort and installed on my lin. The chinrest by itself was a nightmare for me. Installation was easy, but because of how it was shaped it took a bit of time to get it into a good position and then get used to holding it. After almost a week I felt comfortable enough with out the shoulder rest and with the new chinrest that I knew I was going to stick with it. So then I followed the instructions for the impressionist and got it formed and attached, which was super easy by the way. It has dramatically improved the overall fit and feel of my instrument. Now unfortunately, this has brought into focus my issue of shoulder tension and I am finding myself consciously focusing on staying relaxed and keeping my shoulders dropped. This is weird and tricky for me since I assumed I was already a pretty relaxed player. As I sit here typing this I am aware of my tensioned shoulders just typing......gotta relax!

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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Picklefish
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August 6, 2013 - 8:33 am
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https://lh6.googleusercontent......n+hold.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent......nd+pad.jpg

Yes I have moonshine pajamas and sorry just woke up, its the hair and makeup ladys day off.

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 6, 2013 - 9:28 am
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Try raising the violin 1" higher for balance. If it doesn't work it doesn't work but I can almost see that you'll be that much more comfortable.

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

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Picklefish
Merritt Island, Fla

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August 6, 2013 - 10:00 am
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It is more comfortable when I have my left hand supporting the neck, I was just showing what it looked like. Of course I am willing to tweak it on your advice. :) can you see the fine tuner in the close up picture? do you carry those, I want three more. they are black metal. I didnt see the exact picture on fiddlershop.

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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August 6, 2013 - 10:28 am
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From what I can see you have a Hill style fine tuner on the E string.

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Picklefish
Merritt Island, Fla

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August 6, 2013 - 10:36 am
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It looks exactly like that, I didnt look under string adjusters, lol. Is is only for the E string?

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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August 6, 2013 - 1:34 pm
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Picklefish said
https://lh6.googleusercontent......n+hold.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent......nd+pad.jpg

Yes I have moonshine pajamas and sorry just woke up, its the hair and makeup ladys day off.

That's awesome! I mean the hold 0.o

I'm on my way to it... But the road's so far....

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 6, 2013 - 7:52 pm
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Ya on second thought, keep it. :-)

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

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Picklefish
Merritt Island, Fla

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August 6, 2013 - 9:36 pm
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????

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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