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I have never had that happen luckily, it only takes me about ten minutes to change strings,. I first check that the bridge is at the correct angle, because if it is leaning slightly forward you will get it popping like happened to you. I check the angle of the bridge every single time I tune up, using a credit card, takes about five seconds.
Instead of messing around with rulers its easier to take a close up picture of the position of the feet of the bridge and use it as a reference, against the notches in the f holes, or even, which I do, put a very , very tiny mark with a pencil below and at the side of, and also below each foot, just a dot would do. You can wipe off a tiny graphite mark just by damping the end of your finger.
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So, I was playing my Fiddlershop Soloist 15.5 inch Viola today. It actually felt good, so I think that I will keep the setup for a while longer. I was thinking of changing it because I was having issues. Probably user error! 😂
Anyway, I played Brahms Lullaby from Fiddlerman's provided sheet music. I used it for Stringy's slow song party.
I don't want to post it twice, so the audio recording is in Post #10. I might try again later. I haven't played in a while, so I am satisfied with this. But, I want to work on the intonation.
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Mouse said
Changed the strings. I hate doing that, too stressful. Yeo, popped the bridge. I was being so careful. I was following along with one of Fiddlerman's tutorials. Please, no videos or links. I need to do it just one way...
Certainly stick with Pierre's video, but were you trying to change more than one string at a time? I'm pretty sure he recommends one at a time, unless you got a new-instrument set-up video instead. Failing that, constantly monitor the bridge as you are changing strings. As stringy said, by eye should be enough.
Andrew
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@Gordon Shumway Just one string at a time. I think my nervousness, since I actually popped a bridge across the room and it broke, is csusing me issues. I never had problems before. All you habe to di is put the bridge back, but it still makes me nervous.
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For what it's worth, when I change a string I 'slightly' loosen/detune all the strings, but always check to make sure my bridge stays perpendicular to the top plate.
*slightly loosen = detune 1 to 2 whole steps in pitch, there is still plenty of tension on the bridge.
I feel by removing one string (or by loosening only 2), removing THAT tension on the bridge - the overall tension on the bridge is redistributed, causing an increase of tension in the neighboring strings. After you remove a string (without loosening the others), you can check the pitch of the neighboring strings with a tuner to prove this - they will be slightly higher in pitch.
You may feel this is negligible (and may be for only tuning to 440 A), but the E string is vulnerable... and coupled with a slightly leaning bridge - OR, if changes in weather means the bridge feet don't have full contact with the top plate, it could be a problem.
I'm also pretty particular about the ball end laying naturally in the fine tuners, not twisted, or sideways.
I was changing my strings about every 3-4 months (up until this past year), *now every 6 months - never had a bridge fall or pop off. Have only had a sharp edge on a bridge cause a break (I fixed with a little sanding) & also had a defective string unravel/break.
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ELCBK said
For what it's worth, when I change a string I slightly loosen/detune all the strings
That's what you're doing wrong. Keep three tight, then there's pressure on the bridge keeping it in place.
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I follow along Fiddlerman't videos. I never had issues before. I think I have just gotten nervous about it after I actually broke a bridge that popped. I think I tense up now, and just causes myself issues now. But, I do as Gordon Shumway says, and all videos I have watched. It never used to be a problem. I think I need to just take a deep breath and do it as matter-of-factly as I used to.
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Sorry, I got mouse and Emily confused.
Andrew
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No problem. I appreciate the visitors to my state of confusion! 😁
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Well, I played my violin today. I had to tune a lot. The strings are still settling in. I played the same song I did on my viola for @stringy's sad song lament party, Brahms Lullaby from Fiddlerman's available sheet music downloads. I submitted it to Stringy's party.
Stringy's The Lament Party For Sad Tunes
Post #23
I also tried to do one of my favorite lamenting songs by ear, or hearing it in my head. I have most of it, but I need to find it to get a part I kept getting messed up. I think Fiddlerman has it in downloads, so I will check.
I encourage any guests to sign on as a member and join Stringy's wonderful party in the party room.
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I played around with my violin today. My new strings are still settling, they I had to keep retuning.
I need to find the time to search for another lamenting sad song for Stringy's party. I know which one I want to do. I have part of it figured out, but there is a part I cannot get right. I think Fiddlerman offers it in his downloads. I hope it is in the key I am using by figuring it out, whatever key that is! 😂😂😂😂 I can do this one on the viola too. I will see which one it sounds better on. I think this will sound better on the violin. It needs the higher sounds. I am not saying which song.
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Ok, quite a bit off topic. We went grocery shopping today. California strawberries, buy 2 get 3 free! Yep, just what it says. I bought 2 and got 3 free.
Wow! They are perfect. Some are quite huge, none are small. The ones we have had are delicious, not watery. My plan was to freeze them in freezer canning jars. I ran out. I have I have 5 in the freezer and a large bowl of strawberries, cleaned, cut, and a little sugar in the fridge, We will be eating strawberries a lot in the next few days! Maybe I can get to Walmart tomorrow and get some more freezing jars. I don't like to use plastic bowls to freeze.
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Yum, sounds great!
Have you ever made 'Freezer Jam' with strawberries? It's the only jam I felt keeps the flavor of fresh strawberries. I used to make it with little wild strawberries. I think recipes might still be on Certo & Sure-Jell pkgs.
My favorite Fresh Berry pie recipe (no bake) uses sugar-free jello & cornstarch, sugar and a spoonful of Grand Marnier...
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I used to make freezer jam, put I don't anymore. We just have the strawberries with ReddiWhip, sometimes on top of icecream, other times, just in a dish.
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The one time I froze strawberries, I made strawberry crumble and custard with them, and it was fabulous.
Andrew
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So, I have been working on another song for Stringy's Lament Party. I have been doing it on violin and viola. I really want this to be good because I love this song. I have such a hard time with smooth bowing, and this song really needs smooth dynamics. It may be a while. This is where in-person instructions with someone who knows how to teach bowing and dynamics would be so helpful. Please, no YouTube videos; they do not help. It needs to be in-person. It will be a little while before I can post this song I am working on in the Party.
I don't think my intonation is off by much because my husband came home yesterday while I was playing it. Later, he said I was sounding really good. Now, I do have to take into consideration that he did not have his hearing aid in, sooooo... To my ears, my intonation is off, and the song really needs to start on D and be played in D, not start on C in key C. It just sounds better to me. Apparently, D is not normal for this song; I Googled it, so I will have to figure out that section I am puzzled with and see if I can write it neatly on staff paper. I have the first section memorized in the key of D.
That said, I am also working on a Totter blanket and need to put green wings on it for my younger granddaughter; she asked me for it. I cannot crochet for long periods, so this is taking me a while, even though it is a small blanket, but I am not able to spend as much time on my violin and viola as I would like right now.
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Ok, so it has been a week. So sorry little cubby hole! Life has gotten in the way. No, not in a bad way, just a busy way. I have had limited time to play. It might be a little while. I started a rearranging project, and … it has really taken a long time. I should say IS really taking a long time. But, it will be worth it in the end.
Anyway, tonight I experimented with part of the meal. I had left over meatloaf and left over mashed potatoes (I add sour cream with reheats). I wanted something to spruce it up. I wanted to do something with some grape tomatoes I had. so this is what I did,
Fresh Roasted Caprese Salad, Left Over Meatloaf and Left Over Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Caprese Salad - my invention. There may actually be one of these, but I just put it together tonight, no recipe.
Preheated oven to 425°F. Lined a baking sheet with a thin aluminum foil sheet. I folded the edges to create a lip all around.
I halved grape tomatoes, after washing and drying them. I made some dressing with Wesson Veggie Oil, Balsamic vinegar and sugar, to taste. Whisked together. I placed the tomatoes on the foil, cut side up. Used a spoon to drizzle on each tomato. Whisked in between to keep it mixed well. Roasted for 10 minutes, I think. The tomatoes were roasted.
I removed it from the oven. Placed a flattened piece of mozzarella cheese on each, whisked and drizzled a little more dressing. Roasted an additional 3 minutes. Delicious!
I also thinly sliced some fresh basil leaves and sprinkled them on top of the tomatoes before serving.
There was dressing left. I place it, the whisk and spoon on the table in case we wanted more of it. Didn't need it. It was fine.
I put the left over in the fridge. The sugar really made the dressing pop, just a little, about a tsp, maybe a little less.
It did not seem like left overs at all.
No, I am not going to pit a lot of recipes in my blog. This was just a good use of the grape tomatoes.
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Bad day. Sick in the morning, but I am gradually feeling better. Had to cancel my eye appointment. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be back to myself and get some playing in.
If I can get that song I am working on to add to Stringy's party up to par, at least for me, I will do that audio and post it in his party.
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hope you get well soon @Mouse
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Thanks, @ABitRusty. Getting there.
Hey, can I send you the sheet music to the song I am doing so you can clear something up for me? It is the Time signature. I want to be able to read it as 4/4 but it is not written that way. The one that is 4/4 is too advance for me to do right now. I can't digure it out, even looking at the 4/4 version.
It is not the key I want to play play it, but I think I know where to change it. I want it in D (C and F sharps, right?) but it is not written in D in that weird time signature.
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