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Fingers on notes
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Katie L
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January 16, 2021 - 12:20 pm
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Hi All,

I’ve noticed how some players keep their fingers down on the notes when playing. When I was doing my beginners online course, my teacher didn’t mention this but I notice Fiddlerman does it. What’s that about ? Does it make life easier? I feel like I’ve missed a huge chunk of learning out! Is it a big deal? I literally stick my finger on the note, lift it up and move into the next one! Thanks a lot. Katie

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ABitRusty
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January 16, 2021 - 1:52 pm
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If you can keep fingers down that are behind the note being played it will help maintain positioning.  especially say going from things like 1st position B note on the A string to say G note on D string.  practice that plopping down your middle finger behind the 3rd when you play the G.  Thats one that comes to mind.  playing fourth finger you may have to lift the first and just keep 2nd or 3rd down behind it when playing say a B on E string.  those are some examples.  it adds a weird feeling trying to do whats already difficult but becomes easier.  as with everything it depends on what youre doing but as a general rule good practice.

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Katie L
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January 16, 2021 - 2:27 pm
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Ahh ok , thank you I will try it. I find I struggle to get the fourth finger as well but I think maybe I’m gradually getting there. 

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ELCBK
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January 16, 2021 - 4:20 pm
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@Katie L -

There was a problem accessing Beginner and Advanced Fiddlerman tutorials for a bit, but that is fixed now. 

Watch them all, 1st - many questions are answered within them that aren't necessarily indicated in in their titles. 

https://fiddlerman.com/tutoria.....-string/ 

You'll notice if he doesn't have all of his fingers on all the notes, they are hovering nearby. 

Right now you need to be giving yourself as many reference points as you can on your fingerboard to feel, hear & see.

Later, you'll need less fingers down. 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c0/a4/6f/c0a46f4a2d6370d2ed9512536ce19823.jpg

 

- Emily

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Mouse
January 16, 2021 - 5:41 pm
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I wish my instructor had had me do that from square one. My first cello instructor did not. My second one started, but then dropped it because it made things a whole lot worse because I learned it without doing that. I really cannot change directions, or switch gears, when learning things, maybe when I was younger, but, not now.

I have been working on it myself with my cello. Since I am working on my own at a slower pace, I am actually getting used to it. When I can do it, it sure makes things easier. I also have been used to preparing the next note that might be fingered on an adjacent with the proper finger placement, when I can.

So, @Katie L, I just want to say, as far as I am concerned, it is a very important part. It helps with sound because the strings are more stable, it helps with accuracy, and it will, help with efficiency and speed. I would highly recommend you try to get used to it now. Do it with slow scales, slow songs, etc to get used to it. That is what worked with me, at least. I am getting so I do it on faster songs, and sometimes, it is actually happening quite naturally. But, it would have been easier if I was taught that from day one. 

                  Learn Violin and Fiddle

                   on

                         Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk Forum

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Katie L
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January 17, 2021 - 4:39 am
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Thank you for the replies I really appreciate them. I’ve had a look at the tutorials on here and will work through them. So are we saying it’s best to hover over all the notes or keep the pressed down if you can ? I prefer the sound of hovering but if it’s best to keep fingers pressed down then I’ll have a go! I think I’m going to find this hard! Thanks all.

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stringy
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January 17, 2021 - 6:22 am
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Like Emily and mouse said, if you llift all your fingers from the fingerboard every time , you will constantly be trying to get back in tune, while you are using tapes it doesnt matter as much , which is another reason I dont like tapes, you end up looking were to put your fingers all the time. your other fingers serve as reference points, if you keep lifting them all you have no reference point. When I play a d major scale I play open d then e, keeping My finger down I then play f sharp, keeping that finger down I then play g, if I didnt do that and there were no tapes I would fing it more difficult , I have come to rely on hand frames and my ears, ar first like mouse said in a different post, yOu would have to adjust your finger onto the note but with repetition this gradually goes. violin is all repetition and hard practice, if yOu play a bad note make sure before your practice ends you play it correctly.Thats my view anyway, maybe wrong but there yOu go it works for me.

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