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.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Third Position on the Violin
sp_BlogLink Read the original blog post
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 13, 2011 - 1:51 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537

LEARN TO PLAY THIRD POSITION ON THE VIOLIN

Learn how to play in the third position on the violin and to find it easily. Positions are used to avoid awkward fingerings, string crossings, and open strings as well as to play higher notes than reachable in first position. Feel the curve of the neck on the violin to locate first position accurately. Learn where your guidelines are on your instrument to shift easily and find the position without having to search or test the notes first. Practice slowly at first then work up your speed. Begin memorizing the correct fingering for all your notes in third position for better reading.

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

Avatar
Guest
Guests
September 13, 2011 - 2:49 pm

I understand finding locations for third position but how about tone production on  'D' and 'G' strings ?  I can never match the tone quality of first position and your video is hiding your sounding point, etc.  I'm beginning to think I must play full hair width to have any hope of improvement (?)

Any tips ?

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 13, 2011 - 3:15 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537

Do you mean that your sound is less when you shift to third position? There is a slight difference when you play up on the string because you shorten the strings length. When the length of the string is shorter the string will be more difficult to vibrate though the difference between 1st pos and 3 pos is little.

Try applying a little more pressure to the bow by turning your right hand towards the strings a little more. Make sure that you have enough rosin too.

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

Avatar
Guest
Guests
September 13, 2011 - 4:50 pm

Yeah, the wrist seems to help a lot but I'm not used to that increased pressure.

Also, my problems were not starting until the "top" of the position and the E and A were OK right along.  Under control at the moment.

coffee2

Avatar
myguitarnow
Laguna Beach

Pro advisor
Members

Regulars
September 13, 2011 - 5:20 pm
Member Since: June 16, 2011
Forum Posts: 1094
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks for that exercise. That's a great way to practice 3rd position. Yesterday I got two books on learning positions. I think beginners should be dabbling in other positions right away.

Avatar
Mustang
Minnesnowda

Regular advisor
Members

Regulars
September 14, 2011 - 4:57 pm
Member Since: August 27, 2011
Forum Posts: 178
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Please make a video on 4th and 5th position cry

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 14, 2011 - 5:51 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537

I will. exactly It's on my list of things to do. Also 2nd position.

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

Avatar
gStretch

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 14, 2011 - 6:45 pm
Member Since: August 30, 2011
Forum Posts: 260
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

i like that exercise...those notes could be a song someday :D

-g

Avatar
David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 14, 2011 - 7:37 pm
Member Since: June 24, 2011
Forum Posts: 425
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Perfect, I am to a point in the song "Memory" where the key changes to four flats, ABDE. There is a point where I need to play Eb and the next note is F on the E string. I know I can't play Eb on the E string. In this phrase there are 10 Eb notes and 2 F's. Going back and forth was going to be difficult and I was just going to post a question about the best way to learn either 2nd or 3rd pos. I had a bracket chart from another website, dogs probably ate it. What note is first finger in 2nd position on the A string? They seem to have a thing for fingering charts.dancing Would you recommend this sliding method to find 2nd position?

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 14, 2011 - 9:13 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

David Burns said:

What note is first finger in 2nd position on the A string?

C or C#

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

Avatar
David Burns
Winfield, Missouri

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 14, 2011 - 10:27 pm
Member Since: June 24, 2011
Forum Posts: 425
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

That will work just right, for A string. The next phrase is similar but on the D string, I don't have the music in front of me, but I had to give up for the night. I was using C as first finger and it will work, just need to get used to finding the position. The next phrase has an Ab playing on the A string, I can reach G# on the D string with my pinky. So far it sounds like crap...lol

 

Thank you for your help.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 14, 2011 - 10:57 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537
12sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Anytime.afro Ab = G# more or less. You can do it in third position on the A-string.

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

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 237
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming fryserisnon8, Picklefish, Tammy, Shell, Schaick, GlassTownCur, Violinista Italiano, VirginViolinist, Cearbhael, eugenephilip572, celeigh87
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8833
ABitRusty: 4303
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2731
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
stringy: 2371
Mark: 2272
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31781
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10859
Posts: 138004
Newest Members:
jeni2024, Goldenbow, joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP, Thavence SP, tcaron21, Ustiana SP, DennisRathbone SP, Dan
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16537, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6096