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Member

Hi there,
I'm trying to get back into violin-playing after an 18-year, um, rest. I'm amazed at the resources available now. I've been stumped by some of the notations in some sheet music I've been looking at and am wondering if anybody can help.
Have a look at this link to a Paganini Caprice. Can anybody explain the numbers followed by a long line above the stave in bars 1 and 2 and below the stave in bars 8 to 11?
I thought the number followed by a long line indicated you held the indicated fingering until the line ended, but doing this for some of these would be physically impossible.
I notice the version of the same Caprice loaded on this website only indicates some suggested fingering and doesn't have these same markings.
Any guidance for this reborn newbie would be much appreciated - especially any links to sources that explain some of the more advanced notations.

Advanced member


Member

uncledave said
Alievans you and I are in the same boat except that it's 30 years for me. I wish us both good luck getting back in shape!
Thanks uncledave. Same to you. It's a long road to tread, I fear. I look at sheet music for things I used to play and wonder how on earth I did it!
Right now the vibrato is slow, the position changes clumsy and the bow wrist woefully weak. But you gotta start somewhere, right!
I'm intrigued to see how many websites there are devoted to teaching yourself. I think that's fabulous and it makes me feel pretty lucky I could have lessons as a child.

Member

Thanks - that makes sense.
Are they really suggesting that the the fingering for the first note should be fourth finger (second position on the G string), then skipping back into first position for the second note G? Crazy fingering. I like the version you've got here better - I'd have half a chance of playing that.
I wouldn't see any need to move out of first position for that whole first bar, but then I'm a total novice!

Member

Thanks so much again for this, it's very helpful. I'm still trying to wrangle some basic scales and arpeggios - I've upgraded from chicken scratch to warbling. I seriously need to work on my position transitions (once the blood blisters settle down!).
Which brings me to my next silly question. In your second position exercise what do the roman numerals underneath the stave indicate? I thought they were used to indicate preferred position...
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