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Bb Major
How to play the E, flat.
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes) 
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kdavie

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August 11, 2013 - 8:41 pm
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Up until a week ago it had been 18 years since I last touched a violin. Prior to that I played for about 7-8 years. I'm pleased with the things I remember and frustrated by what I don't! One of the things that is troubling me is how to play a flat on what I thought should be an open note. The key of Bb Major is a good example of this. How do I play the E flat? Is it just a matter of playing a closed E on the A string a full step up?  Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 11, 2013 - 8:51 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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4th finger low. For example your Eb on the A string would be played a half step higher than the 3rd finger D. Just play a 3rd finger D and put your forth finger against the 3rd. Exact spacing depends on your finger thickness.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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kdavie

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August 11, 2013 - 10:14 pm
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Awesome, thanks for the quick response! For some reason I was thinking that was still a D. So are flats/sharps always going to be between natural notes 3 and 4 for the closed D A E B?

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RosinedUp

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August 12, 2013 - 12:55 am
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Here is the best answer I know of.

http://www.instrumentalsavings.....0chart.jpg

You need to get to where you can reproduce this chart from memory.  If that sounds difficult, you need to find out what its pattern is.

Going up or down a string from one finger position to the next (e.g. B --> C or D# -->D) is jump of  one semitone.  "Half step" is another term for semitone.

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Picklefish
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August 12, 2013 - 7:30 am
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kdavie said

Awesome, thanks for the quick response! For some reason I was thinking that was still a D. So are flats/sharps always going to be between natural notes 3 and 4 for the closed D A E B?

Flats are always going to be a half step lower in tone from the natural note and Sharps are always going to be a half step higher than the natural note. Playing the "Low 1" is a bit of a pain for me but it helped that the F natural on the E string is a low 1 fingering. Also that once you start the flat fingerings you almost never have to worry about a sharp being stuck in there, although the odd naturalized B tends to show up. This means you can relax and leave your hand shifted to the .5 hand position lol. (does that even exist?) Watch out for key changes though. Remembering to use the pinky to flat the A's and G's was a trick too, especially the A for some reason. Playing the scales on the left side of the circle of fifths certainly helped, until yesterday morning when the key changed mid song to 5 flats.....chaos! -my 2 cents.

I like Rosined Ups chart though, very handy for finding note positions at a glance.

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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Fiddlerman
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August 12, 2013 - 7:37 am
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Yes kdavie except when there are no notes between. For example E-F and B-C in which case the E# = F and Fb = E
Same with B# = C and Cb = B

With the example we spoke of above, Eb is the same note as D#, though we usually finger a D# with a high 3 instead of a 4 since we are dealing with sharps in the scale. Fingering usually has to do with proceeding or following notes.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Fiddlestix
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August 12, 2013 - 8:14 am
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@ picklefish;...... I gave that chart to RU while in the chat box the other night, I didn't need it anymore so I gave it away to one who does.  roflroflrofl  

 

Ken.

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RosinedUp

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August 12, 2013 - 8:25 am
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Fiddlestix said
@ picklefish;...... I gave that chart to RU while in the chat box the other night, I didn't need it anymore so I gave it away to one who does.  roflroflrofl  

 

Ken.

Now that's kind of a foolish thing to say.  As I already knew the chromatic scale, I didn't need it after looking at it for few minutes, if that long, unless you count passing it out to new players.  But I do thank you for it.  I do believe the part where you say you don't need it.  I think the chromatic scale is one part of theory that you do know.  It's the basis of the usual theory and lets you communicate with other players at the most basic level.

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Fiddlestix
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August 12, 2013 - 8:30 am
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What a place,,, can't even joke around in here. frown

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RosinedUp

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August 12, 2013 - 8:39 am
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Fiddlestix said
What a place,,, can't even joke around in here. frown

Well I'm sorry if you're left unhappy, but jokes aren't usually funny to everybody when they leave the hearer with something that's not true.  Then they tend to be more like a nuisance.

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Picklefish
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August 12, 2013 - 11:12 am
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Ladies please, you are both pretty!

;)

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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RosinedUp

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August 12, 2013 - 12:12 pm
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Picklefish said
Ladies please, you are both pretty!

;)

I don't get your point.  But it reminds me: I wonder whether you can explain the importance of having very lady-like manners when giving violin lessons to youngsters.  I wouldn't think it would be necessary, but maybe it is.

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Picklefish
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August 12, 2013 - 1:15 pm
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Fiddlestix is right, just cant have a good joke! (teasin)

"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.

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kdavie

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August 12, 2013 - 2:10 pm
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Thanks everyone, I think I've got it know. My confusion was in thinking flats were above, not below. Now it is making sense. Nice chart RosinedUp, the pattern makes perfect sense. The flats were the main piece that was troubling me. I seem to remember the rest correctly.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 12, 2013 - 5:42 pm
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I have an idea. Whenever we joke (I like jokes) we write "just kidding" (or something like that) at the end and everyone will understand that it is a joke. OK????
I see a few people are getting offended here and that was not the intention from what I can gather.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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StoneDog
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August 12, 2013 - 9:43 pm
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SOooo >> a Horse walks into a bar > Bartender says > Why the long face?

 

 

Horse lives in Viddle Country >  "just kidding" > coffee1

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