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Hello Everyone,
I played violin when I was a kid, many many years ago, but haven't touched one for almost 50 years!
My amazing husband just bought me the most beautiful violin and unable to restrain himself, Friday night, he gave it to me for an early 60th birthday present! It is so beautiful and I am loving playing it.
This site is amazing, by the way. Thank you so much for your generosity and your musical passion that has made this site such a wonderful learning experience. I am working through the Beginner etudes and pieces to try to get myself up to scratch!
I do have a question though.... The strings that are on the violin are not great. They lose tune fairly quickly. (I've had it for almost 48 hours and have had to tune it about 5 times.) I have no idea what strings to buy for it.
IF anyone has any suggestions, I would be most appreciative.
Thanks all, and happy fiddling!
Susan
Honorary tenured advisor
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Don't worry about having to retune. That's just because the strings are new. They will stretch after a while (a week or so) and then you won't have to tune as often. When you've played it for a while, ask for recommendations on new strings and you'll get lots of opinions on what to buy. Welcome to the forum.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
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Thanks! 
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Welcome... How exciting!!!
as Uzi said about the strings. Welcome I am so happy to meet you and join on your journey.
Post a lot... Make friends and it is such a nice ride!
Cheers... Adult starter !!!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Welcome, what a fantastic birthday gift! Any idea what brand the strings are that are on there now? I couldn't get rid of my no-name chinese strings fast enough, even when they were holding their tune they were just awful.
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Hello and Welcome to the Insanity of Strings
If you absolutely can not stand the string that came with you violin.
I would recommend starting out with either D'addrio Prelude or Piratsro Tonica, both are good beginner strings
With violins there is no fretting over the music.
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Hi Coolpinkone! Thanks for the friendlly welcome!
You are Absolutely right Just4Fun this is MY BEST GIFT EVER!!! I am thrilled with it! Just thrilled. It is a gorgeous violin, I can't believe that I have this good an instrument.
Thanks for the advice OldOgre. I think will just work with these for now.
I have been practicing almost continually, taking breaks because my left arm gets tired!!! LOL. And no, I have no idea what kind of strings are on it. My husband found it in a junk shop and cleaned it up and then took it to a violin guy in the nearby town who adjusted the tuning fork, put in a new bridge, fine tuners and strings. He said that it is an excellent violin and couldn't believe my husband and found it in a junk shop! He also gave us a bow and a case. My husband was so excited about it he kept telling me he had a fantastic present but I had NO IDEA!!!
Then finally Friday he just couldn't wait any longer and gave me a THREE WEEK EARLY birthday present LOL!! ANd I am SO glad because I had just finished several projects and had that empty nest feeling!
Sorry to rant on so, but it is so gorgeous, and I suspect that you all understand gushing about a fiddle!!!
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Welcome @sus49 !
Your story sounds a lot like mine. My husband gave me my violin as a Valentine's Day present in 2012. I've been hooked ever since.
You've come to the best place in cyberspace to learn to play the violin. You'll find lots of helpful, friendly people here, including -- especially -- Pierre (Fidderman).
Keep us posted on your progress!
-- Diane
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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Oh my gosh, what a nice surprise to find out that "junk" was really a gem. There's a nice chart that might help determine what you're using if you google "violin string ID color guide".
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sus49 Welcome to the Forum,
Have fun with you new passion.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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Hi @sus49 I am so excited for you!!
My birthday gift this year is jam camp!! Yay rah sis boom bah momma 's in the kitchen ooh lala!!!
My only disappointment is that I didn't start this journey sooner!! Starting this late, turning 60 in a couple of days and 2 years anniversary of playing May 12....
Am I working harder? Practicing more? Grasping dynamics better? lol! not performing dynamics but simply grasping the concept!!
Anyway I am playing now!!! The strings I use are Dominant A, D, G with Gold Label E. The stay in tune for weeks on end.
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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@KindaScratchy LOL Yes this site is great! I am kinda squeaky!
@Just4Fun Thanks I will check out that link!
@Mark THanks! I am!!! Great fun so far, but my left arm gets tired quite quickly!
@Schaick LOL! Yes well, my folks lived into their nineties, so I figure I have 30 years left to play!!!! THanks for the string suggestions... Once I get a little more in control I will get some better strings!!!
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