Just another perspective, because this is such a hot topic and people have a love/hate relationship with tapes. For me, I need the tape to have some kind of reference point. I do listen, but since I, most often, am way off, I am spending more time adjusting than actually knowing where I hit the sweet spot. 

Even instructors vary on whether they like tapes or not. By the way. the dots are not going to be very good. They will be pushed off as you slide the finger up and down. A tape across that area is better. 

What I was told is that you make the spot from the perspective of you looking at the fingerboard while playing. It is also where the pad of your finger actually touches the fingerboard. I am not sure if you are holding the violin in front of you and then "plucking" to get the right note and placing the dot down or doing it the way I explained. You have a different perspective from looking down the fingerboard. Whichever way works for you, is right for you.

If you need tapes, I would use tapes and not dots. Been there, done that, chased them down the fingerboard. 

Some people can learn it the way people do who do not use tapes. Others, like me, and there are many of us, including instructors when teaching, who do use tapes. It is an individual choice and is up to you. There is no right or wrong, or yes or no with this decision. It is individual. Therefore, I am not saying to remove them or to use them, just my experience based on my learning process.

I need the reference point. You could just use a tape across the first position to give you a reference point and to get you used to where to start when you pick up your violin, You can then get the feel between your fingers and the feel of the fingerboard to help find that spot to tune your ear to without as much wiggling around to find it. I have the first position tape on my violas and cellos, started with all fingers. My violin still has all first position because I have problems with the notes so close together on a violin fingerboard and I don't play it as often.

I am getting close to removing the one tape from my cello. I can hear the right tones better now and I have the feel of where it is associated on my fingerboard now because I didn't have to wiggle my finger around as much to find it. I have the feel and the sound pretty much figured out now. Funny thing, my new Evah green label cello strings really advance that because the sound is so clear on this cello with those strings. Much easier to hear the sweet spot.

I agree you have to learn the sound, but if you are having to constantly move the finger around, you never really get the feel for it, either. My repetition memory was of moving my finger around. The tapes eliminated that. For me, and many others, I could not learn it that way. That is why I say it is what is best for you. Some don't use them and detest them. Others simply need a starting point, like a first position tape.

I hope this helps. We all learn in different ways. 

Stringy, I have issues with a particular note, also. I have an issue with the G on the D string of a cello and it is quite the nuisance. It is played a lot! For some reason, I tend to flat it and can't tell until I do the next note. I tell myself to go a little higher, actually lower in the cello fingerboard, on the way to it, but to no avail. The Evahs have helped a bit with that note, but it is still a tad flat just not as noticeable. So weird. I mean, the  C on the G string is the same location, just a string over, but the C is fine. The D on the A string is the same thing. Same location as the G in the D, but I tend to flat the G and usually hit the C and D just fine. I have major issues with the complete C string. Seemed to be forgotten with the lessons. Finding songs that use it on my own.

Katie m, do you have a particular note that is more of an issue than the others? Just curious. 

I think Fiddlerman chimed in on tapes a while ago, before you were a member, stringy, in a different thread. Comes up often and the discussion is always very interesting. I am pleased Katie m brought it up again. I find it interesting how people do it. 

Keep us posted as to how you do, Katie m. I am very curious and also curious if the dots move for you. Could have been the brand I used. 

I have watched your videos, stringy, really like them. 

@stringy said

once you can  hear how bad you are you will know you are improving,

That is so funny you said that. Fiddlerman said something similar to me, either in am email or in a post quite a while ago. I mentioned I could hear the difference between strings, or something. I think I noticed when I changed strings that the sound was much better or something, I can't remember what the connection was to his statement, or whether it was in a post or email. But he said I was beginning to be able to recognize the right note. I just can't find them!

You got it. Youbare in training, more or less. 

If you do the D on the A string, you can use it to get used to the interval between the D on the A string and open E. It is helpful to get used to what the intervals sound like, too,  especially if you are tuned correctly because the E would be an open string and the D would be fingered on the A string. You would know you are off with the D fingering if the interval sound between the D and the E was not quite right. You will notice it when playing a sing as you get used to what it should sound like.

All this sounds pretty simplistic, but, be patient, katie m, the rewards are well worth it. You have a whole forum full of members here to help and encourage you.

I am more cello anf then viola before violin, so, in the details, others will be more helpful, but we will all help with the encourgement,

If anyone find an issue with my interval explanation, please feel fee to correct or add to what I said. Zi am trying not to overload katie m. 

katie m, if you have other questions on a different aspect, feel free to start another topic thread, it will make it easier for you to follow and find your information you are seeking later if you don’t just ask another question about a different aspect in this thread, just a tip, but not required.