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Is it the weather or is it me?

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KindaScratchy

Massachusetts

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April 23, 2012 - 8:23 pm

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I was really looking forward to my practice tonight given that I had had good results yesterday with a modified bow hold. I was disappointed, however, because for some reason my violin just didn't sound right. It just sounded dull.

I tried adjusting my position, adjusting the shoulder rest, cleaning the strings, putting on more rosin, and then wiping off rosin with a cloth. Nothing seemed to help.

Now, we did get quite a bit of rain last night and today, after it had been very dry for an extended time.

Do you think the weather had an effect on my violin or the rosin? Or do you think it was something that I was doing or not doing (especially given that it was the end of a long work day and I was tired)?

violin-student

Do or do not. There is no try. ~ Yoda

Oliver

King

April 23, 2012 - 8:32 pm

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Regarding violin behavior ……. you CAN win, but never twice in a row.

dancing

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Fiddlerman

Fort Lauderdale

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April 23, 2012 - 8:33 pm

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The weather definitely affects the sound of the violin. When it is too dry you want to get some humidity in the air and when it is too humid you want to have a humidifier if possible for best results. The latter is obviously a more difficult problem to solve.

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

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 23, 2012 - 8:38 pm

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how was your strings? Strangely with all the rain (still raining as I write this) my strings have stabilized 100%. I check them and for the last 3 days they were in tune needing a very slight micro tuning on the D. It's weird since for 2 weeks and more I needed to tune it all the time.

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

springer

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April 23, 2012 - 8:41 pm

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Thanks for a new excuse FM, I was needing a new one. cheers

I think I will start drinking a glass of wine or beer before practice time. dancing thumbs-up cheers

Fiddlerman

Fort Lauderdale

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April 23, 2012 - 9:07 pm

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You are welcome springer. LOL

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

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 24, 2012 - 8:50 pm

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It was my turn tonight, with 87% humidity and rains for days and days the violin was sounding horrible. I tried with less rosin, more rosin, cleaned the strings, nothing was helping and that was dissapointing because I was practicing Brahm's Lullaby and it went very well… if not for the horrible dull and grindy sounds frown

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Kevin M.

Nicholson, Pa

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April 25, 2012 - 8:38 am

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If there is one thing I have learned about a violin it is deffinately to blame it on something else. I always play great but there is always something wrong with the violin, strings, bow, weather, soundpost etc.

Dee Major

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April 25, 2012 - 9:11 am

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All my excuses for bad sound from my violin were dashed when an instructor tested it during a lesson. In her arms, it sounded like a different instrument. wink

Oliver

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April 25, 2012 - 9:21 am

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That is definitely one of the best lessons your instructor could have given.

smile

"The enemy has been sighted and it's us."

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 25, 2012 - 9:45 am

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I still stand firm in my opinion: extended rainy days and high humidity makes your violin sounds like a garbage can!

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Dee Major

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April 25, 2012 - 12:37 pm

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No question, the violin sound is affected by so many variables.

What a challenge to figure out why it's doing what it's doing. I think it's part of the satisfaction of playing it, and hopefully, eventually, mastering it. cry yell smile laugh

Oliver

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April 25, 2012 - 12:54 pm

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Do you have someone else who can demo your violin ?

violin-student

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 25, 2012 - 12:55 pm

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We will all be pros at this one day, heck I'll read your fortune in violin strings and powdered rosin! Madame Noirmerelda tongue

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Oliver

King

April 25, 2012 - 1:01 pm

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dunno ?

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 25, 2012 - 1:05 pm

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No Oliver but it was not sounding like that when the weather was normal. There is a clear difference and not a positive one and I don't have anything that could get rid of the build up humidity.

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Fiddlerman

Fort Lauderdale

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April 25, 2012 - 2:54 pm

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Just to help calm your worries NV, You are correct in saying that the instrument is affected by weather. No question about it.

I think that Oliver is just trying to point out that technique can overcome a lot of that.

This will come with time but you are right to feel like the sound is worse with the humid, rainy weather.

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

NoirVelours

Quebec

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April 25, 2012 - 6:15 pm

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Then one day, we'll be so pro that we'll play normally in hail and thunderstorm! Ok maybe not but we can hope tongue

"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Late bloomer

Dallas Texas

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April 25, 2012 - 6:51 pm

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Use it , when it rains play the blues.

When its sunny play a jig. dancing

No matter where you go, there you are!

Mad_Wed

Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city

King

April 26, 2012 - 7:54 am

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Kevin M. said
If there is one thing I have learned about a violin it is deffinately to blame it on something else. I always play great but there is always something wrong with the violin, strings, bow, weather, soundpost etc.

BaaaaaaHaaaa! rofl