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https://www.youtube.com/watch?.....GsJO4TH7u8
im starting to lose interest and motivation. im not where i want to be right now. ive been playing since april and i dont seem to be getting any better. my bowing is inconsistant. my fingering is inconsistant. i am getting whistles on the E regardless of what i do. i have no way of taking lessons since i cant afford it. i have to keep my wrist pretty stiff or i get bounces. im just at the end of my rope here. its not fun anymore for me. its starting to seem more like a chore to play than fun
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For someone who's only been playing a few months, you're doing fantastic! You shouldn't be discouraged at all! It takes time and practice to be where you eventually want to be, but you're off to a great start. As far as the whistling E string goes, try changing it. I had the same problem until I changed to the Amber E by Warchal. I think there's another company that claims to have a non-whistling E but I can't remember who it is. I'm sure someone else will chime in here with recommendations though. Don't give up!
Let the bow flow.
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it seems to happen if i try to do two pull off notes on a long bow
im sure ill get better just haent been able to practice much lately because of work and som e other things
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Hi
I think it is going well for you. You could try one of the many free tutorials on youtube.
With regard to your E string you could try to loosen your bow slightly or not so much pressure on the bow.
I think almost everybody in here have or have had it just like you once a month or week. maybe a day LOL 
You just have to practice practice practice try to find a rhythm in the tune, be positive and enjoy every good tone you get out by of the fiddle.
Peter
Strange bow hold. Can be a pinky problem?
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Hi Jeffery,
I agree with fiddle chick, you are doing very well for someone who has only been playing for few months.
Listen to inspiring music and find a new song to learn maybe that you really like. Play songs that you know fairly well and just enjoy playing, don't be too critical of your playing ALL the time.
Keep practicing and you'll see improvement soon, just have to get over a bump in the road. 
Hope it all works out for you.
Good grief, Jeff, what more can you ask for ?
I think you're doing great for only four months of playing. You're even using your pinky finger which many people have a difficult time with. Your left arm posture looks good as does your right forearm and wrist and you're even playing double stops.
Rome wasn't built in a day ya know and how long do you think, "Nero" practiced before he played while "Rome" burnt.
Don't be discouraged, you have no reason and as far as the whistling E, "Kaplan" also makes a non whistling E string, available at "Fiddlershop." Non whistling E's are no more than another wound string, just like the others on your fiddle / violin.
Don't give up, one day you may regret it, terribly.
Ken.
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lol!! "Good grief, Jeff, what more can you ask for ?
I think you're doing great for only four months of playing. ....
Rome wasn't built in a day ya know and how long do you think, "Nero" practiced before he played while "Rome" burnt.
Don't be discouraged, you have no reason and as far as the whistling E, "Kaplan" also makes a non whistling E string, available at "Fiddlershop." Non whistling E's are no more than another wound string, just like the others on your fiddle / violin.
Don't give up, one day you may regret it, terribly."
LOL! @Fiddlestix EXACTLY!!
I sort of remembering last year reaching plateaus then jumping forward a bit hitting a level for a while and jumping ahead again.
Something I have just recently been able to do finally YEAH!! is play long very softly played sustained note for an entire measure. I discovered this is good when someone is singing at a bluegrass jam and I am not sure of the song!!
When I tried to do this before it was either a screech and or very uneven.
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.
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I have to say you are doing quite well. I understand the plateaus and walls that we seem to hit. I understand that as our ears get better, sometimes we put too much pressure... our ears grow faster than our talent sometimes.
I think you are sounding very good. I am glad you shared. I hope that you get more motivation and over this rough patch. You know here on the forum, many of us get together and have little "parties" .. we play Scarborough, or some other tune and everyone posts and we have a good time.
Many times the little and big parties are fun. I hope to see you join in with us .. maybe pick a Pirate Tune for the Speak like a Pirate Party coming up.? It should be fun and you certainly are ready.
Good luck, thanks for sharing.. carry on as usual and you will surpass your expectations!!! I hope you can join us on the Pirate day and other parties that we have.
Cheers,
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I don't think you have an accurate view of your skill. I think your progress is outstanding. You should be happy with that sound even if you had been playing two years. Not just the sound either---your form looks very good: straight even bowing and good left-hand form. And you obviously have a good ear. I would think you could be winning contests if you keep it up for five years.
But if you're not happy, I think you should change something. You could try any of the following:
Join others in music, either in person or on Skype or similar.
Make recordings and perhaps make your own backing tracks.
Learn about scales and key signatures.
Develop your ear-playing skill.
Read books about music and fiddling. I'm guessing your library can get you books that they don't have.
Learn to read music.
Practice harmonizing and improvising with recordings.
Nobody knows for sure the best things for you, but I think in life it's usually best to go with things you're good at. You have a lot of people telling you you're very good at fiddle. You don't know what it might lead to ... maybe some very good things.
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What jeffcraft1 would make playing the fiddle more fun? Perhaps join a fiddle group, play with others. Attend some jam sessions? Maybe you need a break but I am almost positive that you will end up regretting it later down the road if you quit entirely.
It's a shame because you actually have a GREAT feel for fiddling. The reason you are so bothered about those things is that you are very musical and reacting to some things that are hard to affect and change.
Your sound-post might be jammed in too tight thus not allowing the violin to vibrate enough. That causes the E string to whistle among other things. Slightly touching the E string with the edge of your fingers can do so as well. Leaving a bit of sweat on the string also does it. Test different E strings out too. Some whistle more than others.
My suggestion is that you maintain your interest in playing the fiddle by listening to a lot of fiddle music for now. Don't give up but take a break and leave your fiddle out so that you can see it. Pick it up only if you feel the desire, not as a chore.
You may want to join the guys here that are playing live on http://www.streetjelly.com/ Saturday evenings. That actually inspires....
Whatever your decision, I wish you luck.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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