Use enough pressure to get the string to touch the fingerboard. No less or more. Vibrato will work well if you don't press too hard as long as your fingertip makes contact with the fingerboard.

Always when practicing and playing the violin relax as much as possible. Maybe not quite so much with your brain though.

Jauniba said:

Seriously. I recall even having a stab of jealousy that mine wasn't that big. It's almost a mark of pride….means you're practicing hard. The size of your hickie was almost directly proportional to your place amongst the other violinists or violists in the orchestra.

My electric violin gives me a huge and painful mark on my collarbone. I rarely feel it when playing, but afterwards it's sore. It's probably not the violin but rather the shoulder rest, and i think it's about time I picked up a new one. Never ever had any issues with the strings on my fingertips. Never even really heard of that, actually.

Some people get those marks real easy and others play like crazy and theirs do not show. Most professional violinists have a hickey on their neck where the chin-rest makes contact. I always have but mine is not all that big regardless of how much I play.

It is very true about pressing too much however, too little will not get you a good sound. Press enough so that the string makes contact with the fingerboard.