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(3 votes) 
Regulars
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I know that a lower string height will translate into a "faster" action when fingering. What I'd like to know is if there's also a corresponding change to intonation.
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Yes - usually the higher the string, the worse the intonation.
Andrew
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That was a very good question. Thanks for asking and thanks for the answer.
Learn Violin and Fiddle
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Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk Forum
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It's been proven that you don't need to have the string touch the fingerboard to stop the string vibrating.
There are several bowed string instruments that don't even have a fingerboard. The side of the finger is used to just touch the edge of the string on these instruments - for any pitch along the length.
Bending the string too much will cause a change in pitch, so if you try to force the string to the fingerboard when the action is too high - you'll be bending all your notes out of tune.
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Interesting. I hadn't considered that a "high action" setup would also result in pitch changes but now that it's been pointed out, it's obvious.
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What would be the "correct" string height (or an interval, say, at the end of the fingerboard) ? for violin vs. viola. I think mine are a bit high – playing is less comfortable than it was. At least I'm building finger muscles 🤔.
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Surely though, on a fretless instrument like the violin, you will automatically compensate for any intonation errors once you get used to the individual instrument and its setup.
Maybe double stops will be affected more, if the intonation differs between adjacent strings significantly.
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You will indeed automatically compensate, but it will be a bad habit, and it will take ages to acclimatise yourself to a well-set-up instrument.
Notes played near the nut will be fingered very close to the nut and will always be played flat on any other instrument.
Andrew
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I still believe WHAT'S IMPORTANT: is steel, gut and synthetic core strings, and their different rated tensions, ALL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO FINGER PRESSURE. If I understand this correctly, more initial finger pressure is needed, then we need to spring up to a spot the note quality can be sustained - it depends on our strings, but also how each of us uses our fingers.
Isn't it important for us to find out how to do this with the least amount of pressure vs. just learning to push or hammer the string to the fingerboard?
My favorite video on this topic:
@Katie L -
You are right - this is an excellent video (referring to your Finger Pressure Thread). 😊
Nathan Cole helps find the pressure we should be striving for, with the left hand, at 6 minutes into his video.
When it comes to string height, here's other factors to consider besides nut height - like the shape of the fingerboard, if it's too worn, and how much 'scoop' it has.
That said, it has been determined that a specific string height makes playing easier - and is usually adjusted at the top edge of the bridge.
Here's a GREAT video that explains the nuances of string height and how it's measured, by Edgar Russ!
This article at "Strings" also tells you how to measure the highest/lowest pitched strings - violin, viola and cello.
https://stringsmagazine.com/pr.....nts-sound/
...closer to the bridge, strings are farther away from the fingerboard - and people learn to play there without distortion.
Edgar! (lol)
- Emily
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Thanks @ELCBK. That's interesting. And seems my viola is alright after all :--).
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Ultimately you always want to use just the amount of pressure necessary to get a good sound. However, pressing harder actually does give a more pure sound. For those times in which you sit on a nice juicy note, you may want to give more downward pressure and for those situations in which you play quickly, not so much pressure. Everything in between is really up to the player. What kind of tolerance do you fingers have? Can you play for long hours without getting tired or develop pains in your fingertips. Do you get calluses on your fingertips? Those can be helpful but not necessarily.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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