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Just thought I'd say hi.
Bought my first violin on Saturday 2nd June 2012 - had my first lesson this evening. All going well - when I practice, all the cats in the neighborhood think there is some evil cat strangler in my house - at night they have cat nightmares about the infernal screeching of their fallen brethren...
I've been playing musical instruments for 35 years - many of them of the fretted variety - including, thankfully, the mandolin. Gives me an advantage in the logical layout of the neck - and an advantage in that I know (and can hear) the notes I am trying to reach.
The disadvantage is that I can painfully hear the notes I am actually hitting - and going back to the real basics when you have reached a level of competence in another instrument is pretty humbling. But, i sense that is a really good thing as it keeps the mind active and gets me out of a comfort zone.
Looking forward to learning loads from those who are on the journey from complete novice to zen master violin guru...
Steve
Well, I suspected that you had some musical background. At least you kept the cats in the neighborhood. My local cats simply disappeared for about a Summer. My wife said that the only reason that the cats returned was the diminishing supply of field mice come Winter.
Anyhow, I would reckon that you have a great advantage with the mandolin background. You say you can hear your "bad" notes. That's better than not hearing them.
Lots of good videos here on Fiddlerman for your delight.
Good Luck !
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Be of good cheer Steve. The painful out-of-tune-ness passes as your fingers get used to finding the right spots.
I've played guitar for around 35 yrs, never played mandolin but in recent years I got an oud, so I deeply sympathize about the switch to fretless. It is a bit disconcerting at first. But it does pass pretty quick. Give it a week or so, and you and your cats will wince less.
All that being said, welcome. Violin/fiddle is a pretty neat instrument once you give yourself a little time to get used to it.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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Welcome Steve, from another Newbie from Coleshill, Warwickshire.
I'm guessing the cats couldnt get any further than "the" by-pass so came back again. Haha.
We look forward to hearing about your progress
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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Welcome stevelb,
Hearing intonation flaws is mostly an advantage
You should just see to it that you fix problems now so that your fingers come closer to the right spot later. Whenever you find the right note lift the finger and put it back down over and over to get used to it. Play slowly and adjust every note for now and you will quickly find that intonation isn't that much more difficult than with fretted instruments.
Look forward to your posts.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary tenured advisor
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Welcome Steve, your musical background will make learning easier!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Welcome from the left coast. You're gonna love it here...guaranteed
!
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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Welcome, Stevelb! You've come to the right place. Plenty of us cat-chasers here (my cat would agree). I also come from the fretted world (guitar) and getting used to the fretless, tiny neck with two fewer strings.
I guarantee that you'll learn a lot here. I know that I have.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Honorary tenured advisor
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Welcome Steve! I guess I'm lucky -- I have no cats. Thanks for the info FM.
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Thank you all for the welcome and the advice.
I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead - what is life without a challenge or 2. Another lesson tomorrow - lets see where that takes me...
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