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I am only finishing my third week playing violin, so forgive me if this is incoherent, but here goes:
I am working on the major scales. I am noticing that my pitch is decidedly better if I play G, D, Ab F Bb Eb and C in with the first hand position and A & E with the second position.
Is this a great revelation or a bad habit?
Thanks!!!
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I'm sorry sus49 but I don't understand the question. Which octave on those notes? In that order? Which A and E in 2nd position? Perhaps it's easier to show us with a video.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman Thanks for your quick response!
Oh NO not a video LOL! I am just starting and my pitches are bad and I am squeaking horribly. I wouldn't be able to stand showing it!! LOL!
For the A major (started with 2nd finger on the G string) and E major (started with second finger on the D string) I find that if I let my left hand thumb move up a little bit from the base of the fiddle, my pitches are better.
I have been looking at your videos and I think you described that as second position.
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When I say SECOND finger I mean the pointing finger.
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Ahhhhhhh. That was confusing. LOL
From now on, the pointer finger is the first finger OK? ROFL
Now for your question. Could you rephrase the 1st position, second position question and I'll try real hard to answer it.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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When I do most of the major scales as you have them in the Beginners Sheet Music, I have my left thumb right at the base of the fiddle. But when I do A or E I have been sliding my thumb a little bit up because I can't seem to get on pitch as well with my thumb at the bottom. When I slide my thumb up just a little bit my pitches sound much better. I am talking about doing the A scale starting with my FIRST finger on the G string and the E scale starting with my first finger on the D string.
My question is: SHould I be forcing myself to keep my left thumb at the lowest position at the base of the fiddle or is it OK to let it slide up a little bit?
Regulars
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Hi sus49. I'm just a beginner as well, but I don't think you should be moving your thumb about to get notes in 1st position - you should try to stretch to reach them, which will get easier with time (do you have very small hands by any chance?).
Regarding the scales you're playing, I wouldn't start the A scale on the G string as a beginner as you need to stretch more with your third (ring) finger to reach the c# on the G string and g# on the A string. Same goes for E major scale, which I think you should leave for later. Try at first the D major scale starting on open D string and A major scale starting on open A string - they are usually the first scales a beginner would learn.
Regulars
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@sus49 Are you turning your palm towards the violin neck when you reach for those pinky [4th] finger positions? My Suzuki Teach called it closing the barn door.
LOL! as a kid that meant something completely different!!
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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@Jim Dunleavy Thanks! Yes, that C# and then the F# G# are the reason! And yes, I do have short stubby hands! OK! I will work on stretching them more.
@Schaick OK Sir! I will always keep the barn door shut, sometimes even before the horses have escaped!!! 
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@sus49 LOL!!
hehe!! I am a ma'am.
Hope I didn't confuse you the barn door is closed only when using that pinky finger otherwise the palm faces perpendicular to the neck.
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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@Schaik
Oh Thank you MAAM!!!
Actually as funny and childlike as that analogy is, I just did my scales and the G and D string exercises and it is VERY VERY Helpful! THANKS!!!! I think it moved my whole arm more perpendicular and that made getting onto the right places on the G and D strings much easier!
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sus49 - It's OK to slide your thumb so that you are not in the groove. Many players make contact with the top part of the thumb. I do that often.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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