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I just answered a pop survey. I said bowing was the hardest thing to learn.
Vibrato won. I suspect, though, that it's because everyone attempts it too soon!
Yes, it is addictive. I attempted it too soon, but not before I had been playing for 6 months or more, and my teacher kept telling me to stop it, but luckily I found intonation easy, so she stopped complaining.
Andrew
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I agree, Gordon, on both points, bowing being the hardest, and I am not surprised vibrato won, and most likely because of what you said.
I don't think that most violinists/violists/cellists students know how important the bowing is, or the bow itself. It is not just dragging it across the the strings. I am trying to improve my bowing because it needs a lot of work and that will give me a much better sound. I am far from where I want to be.
I wonder what the answer would be if they asked what is the most important key to good sound quality, or however it would be written? I think that is good bowing, and very hard to learn.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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Mouse said
I wonder what the answer would be if they asked what is the most important key to good sound quality, or however it would be written? I think that is good bowing, and very hard to learn.
Yes, but that's a fairly mature observation. Without wishing to accuse the rest of the forum of immaturity, I suspect the answer would still be vibrato! Too late now to put it forward as a poll, as we have primed everyone, lol!
Besides, vibrato does have a huge effect on tone, that can't be denied. But it needs to enhance something that's there already.
Smooth bowing is necessary, but premature vibrato makes bowing less smooth.
Probably people hear a pro violinist and assume that it's the vibrato that creates the tone. Like AndrewH says, listen to some baroque.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but have some Marais.
Andrew
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I liked that. Did you notice the cellist has finger tapes going all around to the back of the neck, wraps right around.
Just now noticed the thumb is not what is recommended. It is bent way backwards agains the cello. Maybe it is something to do with baroque playing. Oops, I baroque my thumb! I could not resist. I am actually thinking that that is one of the things players modify from the norm to suit their needs.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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My answer on what’s the hardest thing to learn would have to be, everything.
Bit more, bit more, snap #*÷?×?@?#?@
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@stringy I love it! You win!
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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Mouse said
I liked that. Did you notice the cellist has finger tapes going all around to the back of the neck, wraps right around.
It's probably a tenor or bass viol or something like that. Those are movable gut frets - you still get them on lutes.
That might interest emily, as with them you can customise your scales.
Andrew
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That was interesting.
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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First I was going to mention the guitarrón, a bass guitar popular in Mexico, but the videos made it seem always fretless, but nevertheless I'm fairly sure any instrument like that can and does have gut frets tied on. Sometimes only three or four, depending on how simple the music is. I seem to have drifted my own thread!
Andrew
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Bowing gets my vote for the most important! 🤗
I can live without the vibrato, not the good bowing or bow hand.
Bowing, because of necessity, is coming along easier than vibrato - which I can't bring myself to try on a piece until I know it inside-out. 😔
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