Hi,

Backtracking because I got ahead of myself.

Thanks Emily; before changing strings I watched YouTube videos first so knew to only change one string at a time but I appreciate you mentioning it. I do keep practicing but as yet not trying to play any particular tune just concentrating on getting used to handling the instrument and bow; yes the bow tended to scate across the D string so I've done as you kindly suggested and played around with bow weight and bow stroke; the D string is now making friends with me so I'm now able to use four fingers on all four strings; I'm getting there slowly but as you know I'm also heavily involved with making a violin on my other thread; so many demands on my time I fid it difficult to keep up hence I'm now backtracking. I'm not overly ambitious just wanting to play the violin as a hobby but once I grasp the basics I might progress further than I expect at the moment.

Thanks @BillyG for sharing your interesting experiences; I'm actually doing well with the E string but then I've practiced more on this string; I'm making progress on the other strings too but my practice time is still rather limited.

Thanks Andrew for adding the video; I've watched lots of tutorial videos on YouTube and benefitted from them; I'n not doing badly regarding my bow speed but I find on the E string even a light pressure gets it singing; I've not tried heavier pressure on the E string but the other three strings being thicker I find do need extra pressure; I keep having a go time permitting but make a point of half an hours practice each evening after teatime.

I did have a look on eBay regarding the Tonica strings but am rather puzzled by the huge variation in prices £18.99 to £57.00? Am I missing something?

Thanks everyone for your interesting replies and apologies if I'm late to respond.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks @BillyG 

I've just enjoyed a practice session and amazed myself; self praise is no recommendation but WOW I managed to use all four fingers on one full stroke of the bow over the E string and not just one way but both ways; up and down a few times; no shoulder rest just using a microfiber cloth on my shoulder to rest the violin on and no strangle hold on the neck either. I'll do lots more practice like this then move onto the other strings doing the same. I've no set pattern for learning still just getrting the hang of the bow and violin both of which I'm starting to feel more comfortable with; I've had a number of poor practices but the ones that worked well encourage me to stick with it; each practice is more experience. If I could play the violin the way I ramble on I'd be delighted.

I've been busy working on the violin template and wooden mould today so I'm stiff and like this it's not ideal for practicing playing but whatever I feel like I'm maintaining my evening practice after tea each day and look forward to it.

Yesterday afternoon I managed to read the first ten pages of my Stradivarius book finding them highly interesting but then had to break off for a former neighbour who paid us a welcome visit; this morning I was nicely set up working on the violin template at peace with the world when the phone rang; it was another friend wanting advice on how I created our wildflower meadow; this brought me up to dinnertime; after dinner I was in the workshop; I do a standard 48 hour day and it's not long enough; I've just knocked off wanting to spend quality time with my lovely Bron before bedtime.

I'm seriously getting into violins and enjoying myself.

I've so many hobbies and jobs to do but not enough time; our gardens are high maintenance as seen here; we live on a very steep valley side; I created the meadow three years ago at the top of our mountain; our detached bungalow is further down the garden.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks Andrew. I'm a bit different from Yehudi Menuhin; my day started at 6 o'clock this morning; out of bed; breakfast; visit three local supermarkets; Morrisons; Aldi & Home Bargains home by 8:30.

I lost my email yesterday afternoon; we're on cable Virgin Media; reCaptcha is blocking me meaning playing computer games with silly pictures but still no email this morning. Visit YouTube in order to learn how to dump reCpatcha; lots of videos but as yet still no email; try phoning Virgin Media and now aged 74 I don't think I'll live long enough to be connected to an actual human being so leave it alone before I explode with frustration.

Now I wanted to log onto this wonderful forum; here's roughly the route involving reCaptcha;

Enter user name and password

Error

I'm not a robot

Pictures of crosswalks involving 8 clicks

Next pictures of bicycles involving 7 clicks

Error

User name and password

Log in

Verification expired

Palm trees 3 clicks

Verify

Here I am at last logged in; oh how I detest reCaptcha I even tried my gmail email but still blocked.

I'm not complaining because this is a normal start to my day but it's sure time consuming and making me not wanting to log on because of this constant hassle; I'm not complaining in any way about this forum which I like a great deal or even Virgin Media but my life is a corkscrew with a wall in front of me every way I turn so I'm constantly wasting lots of precious time; I'm not alone by looking at YouTube videos showing the same problem.

Many thanks Fiddlerman for your encouragement it's very much appreciated. I enjoyed three practice sessions yesterday with mixed results; I'm always tense due to demands on my time and of course what I get up to with so much physical exercise in the workshop; around the bungalow and in the gardens; there's no let up at all. I'm now stuck with no email and unable to contact Virgin Media without sitting here with refreshments hoping I don't die first. I could arrange a call back from Virgin Media but I don't use a mobile phone being a dinosaur with better things to do. In spite of all these silly problems my lovely wife makes my day so I'm still smiling.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks again Emily for the Intonation video which I've just watched full length; I'm still so new to violins that I don't fully understand the details but I've got a vague idea what is being discussed. Since starting to practice playing my violins I've been concentrating on using the bow and trying to get everything aligned which I'm making progress with; I still don't fully understand scales but I can use all four fingers in turn on each of the strings each finger giving a different note. I can use all four fingers within one bow stroke which I find very interesting listening to the different notes on each string and I'm finding it fun just using my fingers at random; I'm settling down and when I feel I'm ready I'll start learning what notes I'm playing.

I'm feeling more at home practicing too; the violin; bow and holds aren't as strange as they first were; I'm better playing the E & A strings because obviously these are easist to reach for a raw novice but having watched Fiddlerman's excellent tutorial video I now get my elbow well under bringing the D & G strings within reach; I've still got a long way to go but considering I only started with violins a couple of months ago I've created the new studio this taking a week and a half and I'm making steady progress with wanting to make a violin from scratch; I've spent the day in the workshop today without interruption.

I've not practiced playing the violins tonight because last night I was in a lot of discomfort after my Covid booster jab then spending time in the workshop followed by half an hours practice; I think I overdid things being too eager and hurt my arm which at last is now much better. I don't want a repeat of the severe aching I suffered last night and as I say I've already spent today in the workshop so I'd better back off just a bit before I really do hurt myself.

I think I can squeeze a workshop session in tomorrow morning but the afternoon is fully booked; I've enjoyed today making violin clamps which are coming along nicely but it's amazing how the time slips by so quickly. When my arm stops aching I'll resume evenings practice which I enjoy.

I''m balancing my violin on a few microfiber cloths at the moment and my left thumb; I still need to sort a shoulder rest out and I've tried cutting sponges but find it difficult to get it just right; however I watched Fiddlerman's excellent tutorial on a shoulder rest he sorted out for a guy and the shoulder rest shown I think would really suit me but as ever I'm trying too hard to cram everything into the time I have; being fully retired doesn't mean full time to enjoy myself but I'll stick with it. I got out of bed early this morning; blinked and now it's 7:15pm; I'm sure days are shorter in retirement.

Kind regards, Colin.