Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(1 votes) 
Regulars
Offline
Hi all ,
Another one from me. In fiddlerman’s tutorials he gets right to the tip ? I can’t do it! Does it matter it I can’t reach ? And if it does does anyone have any ideas how I can get there?
Also when fiddlerman plays the song again with more feeling how do you do that ? Obviously I keep thinking ‘just get the notes right at the moment !!’ But in the future I’m wondering how do I do it !
Thanks all
Regulars
Offline
Practice long slow bow strokes keeping the bow contact point in the same place and keeping the bow straight, start at the frog draw the full length of the bow till you get to the tip, then go the other way till you get to the frog, at the tip you put slightly more pressure on the bow with the fore finger, you should aim for an even tone and speed all the full length of the stroke.
There are lots of variations on this technique, such as the one minute bow stroke. Using the full length of the bow, like everything else on violin takes practice, at least a couple of minutes of bow practice in every session, as for feeling and passion a lot comes from speed and pressure of bow.
At the moment if I were you I would stick to getting the notes correct, good intonation is the start of everything on violin, in my opinion anyway, but then again I am in no position to give advice.
Cant beat a sunny day
Offline
I think, if I can picture it right, as you approach the tip, you bow hand grip is leaning more towards the tip so you are using more weight directed at the tip. Not sure if I worded that correctly. If I am wrong, please correct me.
Remember, you are using the elbow joint, not sawing by moving the arm at the shoulder.
Could someone with a better way of explaining this, chime in? My instructors never really spent much time on it, and I really am not that great at bowing. My explanation is very simplified. I do know that if I could do it more fluently, my sound would improve. I can tell when I nail the bowing, the sound is not scratchy.
Your question is escellent, @Katie L.
Learn Violin and Fiddle
on
Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk Forum
Regulars
Offline
On up bow stokes I pull the bow up towards me which causes the back of the hand to turn towards the violin , on the down stroke I pull the bow away from me which causes the hand to tilt the opposite way, the wrist goes down as the arm straightens towards the end of the stroke, she needs to look up jelly fish bowing.
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
@Katie L -
I have to tilt/rotate my violin - angle depends which string I'm playing on.
You have to find the best violin hold position for yourself to play in.
I think if you look real closely at Fiddlerman, you'll notice he does it too.
https://fiddlerman.com/tutoria.....e-strings/
Here's to help with expression - ton of info in this thread.
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/p.....-stroke/
Notice the tilt/angle/violin position for him?
- Emily
Regulars
Offline
Thanks for taking the time to reply ! I appreciate it. I had a look at the Fiddlerman video and I’ve been practicing. It’s like my arm isn’t long enough!
katie
Regulars
Offline
How tall are you?
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
If you have relatively short arms, it may help to angle the violin out in front of you more.
Regulars
Offline
If she is only around five feet tall which she looks in her video I thought her violin may be to big for her, could be wrong though
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
I’m 5ft 2 I don’t really want to get a kids violin. Also I could move it to the front like you say Andrew but I have a shoulder rest that doesn’t really allow that .. I’m hoping if I keep practicing I might reach the tip.
Regulars
Offline
They are not kids violins, violins are made according to the size of the player, they originally had ladies violins made for ladies, your violin is probably too big and your bow too long. I almost bought a beautiful french violin a few weeks back. it was 7/8 size just a touch smaller than full size ,it was a hundred years old, very lovely wood made in mirecourt france, I was going to get it for me to play, but didnt as it was a touch too small. It was worth around 1200 pounds and sold for a 180 at auction at lytham st annes.
You are about the size for 3/4 to 7/8, ask fiddlermans advice if you dont believe me,a luthier would measure you up and tell you exactly. Nothing wrong with carrying on with the one you have, but you have already noticed what I say. 7/8 violins even antique ones can be picked up quite cheaply as not many people want them, french violins can be wonderful instruments.
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
Ha ha so they don’t just come in adult and child sizes then !? 😂 that’s great well maybe I could look out for ones of those if I get better. My violin is a second hand stentor one so if I improve I do need to get maybe a better one ! They sound great Stringy can’t get one right now though got bills to pay and cats to feed. I can do some research though but definitely something to consider. Just shows how much I know about violins!
Regulars
Offline
I’m looking up violin auctions now! That’s such a great idea! Maybe I could find an auction closer to home that’s such a good price!
Regulars
Offline
If you look at auctions and see something advertised ask the people on maestronet what they think first, and dont get caught up in bidding wars. On maestronet they would probably come up with snide comments but one of them would tell you if something is worth bidding on if you post images.
I have a stentor by the way. As well as my main violin.
If fiddlershop delivered cheaply to the uk I would say get one of theirs as they are excellent instruments and well set up, but unfortunately they dont as far as I know.
on maestronet they will likely tell you that anything worth less than two grand is rubbish as they deal in violins worth tens of thousands of pounds dont be put off by that though, I am a member on there as well and asked advice on the violin I mentioned, was told it was the usual garbage and worth around a grand, was also told french 1930s and told by another member give it a shot.
This is the make and model I was going to buy the only difference was the size this is a 3/4 mansuy of mirecourt 1930sthis oneis slightly lighter colour
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
by the way personally I would give it at least another 8 or 9 months before you consider another fiddle, see how you progress first, before lashing cash everywhere, like I said cant beat the fiddlerman stuff, ask him for advice(at auctions you do have to know what you are looking at)
Cant beat a sunny day
Regulars
Offline
................If fiddlershop delivered cheaply to the uk I would say get one of theirs as they are excellent instruments and well set up, but unfortunately they dont as far as I know.................stringy said
You have to pay VAT and Import duty as well, but it is possible to get one - I have a Fiddlerman Master. You end up with a better fiddle for your money than buying in the UK (in my opinion of course) even after paying it all. The main disadvantage is it's not really practical to send it back if you don't get on with the particular instrument you get.
I'm very happy with mine, though I lowered the action slightly to suit my playing style.
Offline
If your arm is extremely short, you might want a taller shoulder rest to reach the tip of the bow. However, you'll have to work harder to use the frog.
It's a trade off.
The difference is that you'll never have trouble getting to the frog, just may need to lift your elbow a bit more.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
Offline
Most people who are taller than about 4'11" are best served with full-size violins, though at 5'2" a 7/8 violin may be appropriate for if you have short arms or small hands for your height. I would recommend trying to adjust your technique and/or shoulder rest before deciding whether it is necessary to go out and buy a 7/8 size violin.
1 Guest(s)
ELCBK
Mouse
Fiddlerman
Jols
