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Frustration with Intonation
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RockingLR33
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March 22, 2014 - 1:51 pm
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So i think i've finally figured out my problem. It became apparent practicing, now that I'm getting a lot more relaxed while playing,  that i am not constantly hitting the notes the same way every time. I find that i'm hitting them sometimes on the left side of my finger and well more times then not when i get focused more in the middle of my finger pad, and occasionally(especially with the 4th finger) on the right side. So my question for ya'll is: how do i get used to always hitting with the left side of my finger? or is hitting with the other parts of the finger pad ok as long as it becomes consistent? 

By hitting it in different parts of my finger i am more sharp or flat sometimes and others spot on other times...So I've set myself back to square one, if i can't get intonation right there's not much use going forwards, since i'll be shackled to a tuner to make sure I'm hitting the notes correctly....its very frustrating to take such a big step back, but in the long run it'll be for the best. solid foundations are the key and mines definitely in a sink hole right now! Thanks for any and all help! 

Lead me, Follow me, or get out of my way!

             ~General George S. Patton

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pky
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March 22, 2014 - 2:41 pm
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make sure your fingers are not laying flat but have a natural curve -- watch the following clip at 1:44 on.

https://fiddlerman.com/tutoria.....or-violin/

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Oliver
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March 22, 2014 - 3:34 pm
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@RockingLR33 

What makes you think that fingers should always come down in the same exact spot?  The type of music itself can/will effect note placement.  I'm NOT saying you can or should miss your target by a lot but "exact" won't happen.

This is the price of playing an instrument with "no notes" and the challenge never goes away.

Yes, finger control does help and notes are better with vertical fingers but I don't know why.  FM knows where the notes are AND has a very clean, vertical, attack.

I will do that if conditions allow.

 

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Schaick
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March 22, 2014 - 7:13 pm
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@RockingLR33  With your description it sounds as if when your finger goes down on the string your nail is not facing you but out behind you.  So if you are not hitting the same spot on your finger it would then cause a a note to be a bit sharp or flat.

If you place your finger with your nail towards you it would not matter if you hit with the right or left side of your finger.  In fact some songs make it easier to place your finger to the side so you can play 2 strings at once.  

Even your palm is facing you and the only time your palm is not facing you is when you are using your pinkie.  Your hand then turns sideways and your pinkie is on more of an angle.  Teach called it closing the barn door!!

LOL!  and here I thought when your barn door was open.....

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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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 23, 2014 - 7:29 am
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As most have said above, it's perfectly fine that you don't hit the same spot on your fingertips. Maybe you remember hearing me say to put the weight on the left side of your finger. This is to support the fingers angle and give more strength. You'll understand right away if you pick up the violin and try it. The weight applied to your finger tips should be more towards the left side (when the violin is up). I believe that when I play, my fingertips are mostly making contact in the middle.
There are even times that one must the fingertip edges strategically to tune fingered double stop fifths. IOW, if you just put your fingers over two strings, they are often not perfect fifths.
In any case, you are fine and what you are doing is perfectly normal. To get more consistent with your finger placement, scales make great practice. :-)

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

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Schaick
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March 23, 2014 - 9:03 am
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I just thought of something else - thumb placement.  I had changed my thumb placement from my previous lesson to the one I had just last Wednesday because I was learning to use my pinkie and thought it was helping me reach the 4th fingered note.  I moved my thumb from up by the neck to down across from where C is on the 2nd string.  

In fact my thumb being further down the neck was hindering my ability to reach for that 4th note!!  That position was tensing up my hand.

So putting my thumb back up by the curve at the top of the neck stretched my hand out and allowed me to very easily reach those higher notes.  In fact it was so easy a few times I over reached.  I have no idea why I felt I needed to adjust the position of my thumb!?!

 

 

 

 

 

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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RockingLR33
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March 23, 2014 - 9:19 am
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Thanks everyone for your help! 

 

I noticed 2 things today 1.) i have found it much easier to just rest my thumb more underneath the neck, along the curve, where on my old violin i had it on the side and i was squeezing my hand tensing it. 2.) Taking in what you all have said i actually just completely relaxed today. I have started playing standing up, where i would usually sit to play. and its made a HUGE difference. i don't know why i got in the habit of sitting to play, but upon standing i find myself swaying to the music, sometimes even moving around and just flowing with the feeling! and improving to to have some fun! :D  

 

I was hindering myself and i just needed a few good nudges from ya'll to help me realized i was being to hard on myself. I am my own worst enemy. lol Thank you all so much! :D now off to go practice a lot of scales and string crossings! dun dun DA! 

Lead me, Follow me, or get out of my way!

             ~General George S. Patton

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Uzi
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March 23, 2014 - 3:38 pm
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The fact that you notice when the intonation is off, means that you can correct any intonation problems you may have.  If you can hear it you can fix it. 

 

 

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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