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(5 votes) 
it's my second day on the violin. i am playing a measure of DDAA. When i finished drawing the bow on the last E, i get a little scratchy sound !... maybe that's normal for a brand new player.
however.. should i be lifting the bow off of the string at the end of the draw, or maybe pressing the bow harder on the string to stifle that scratch ?
or will that noise disappear after 10 years of practice. or my hearing fades.. whichever comes first ?
thanks
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It could be maybe the bow sliding across the string at an angle. I could also be bow pressure. Have you tried Bowing in the mirror to see if it is straight perpendicular to the stings. Using shoulder instead of elbow can cause the bow to slide crooked. Take your time on getting that bow perfectly straight and let us know!
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Welcome to the forum Stephie. 
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Welcome Stephie.
I think it's very early days yet to worry about producing a great sound - as said above concentrate on drawing your bow correctly and develop the muscle memory for how it feels. The sound will come eventually.
Thanks everyone !. You are a great gang !
YEs ! putting less pressure on the bow helps !. This fixes the scratchy sound problem !. The only thing left is when i finish a note. It seems that my hand shakes a bit which causes residual sound (and scratch).. This may be due to starting violin at 62, or maybe due to the fact that i'm scared sh**less attempting this instrument at my age... lol... maybe i should take a valium before i practice.
I am paying very much attention to my bow being parallel and straight. i will do the mirror thing and verify what you people have mentioned. . My strings are brand new and the violin shop rosined my bow..
p.s.
i just noticed 3 moving vans outside my condo complex. It seems quite odd that 3 families should be moving out of the complex on the same day ? No ?
Just sent my wife a sound file of what i told her was my first practice with my violin. She called me from work hysterical with laughter. You may not want to turn up your speakers if you dare to listen.
stephie said
Thanks everyone !. You are a great gang !YEs ! putting less pressure on the bow helps !. This fixes the scratchy sound problem !. The only thing left is when i finish a note. It seems that my hand shakes a bit which causes residual sound (and scratch).. This may be due to starting violin at 62, or maybe due to the fact that i'm scared sh**less attempting this instrument at my age... lol... maybe i should take a valium before i practice.
OK, i can cancel the Valium. Not jamming the bow on the strings stops the scratching with drawing or stopping. i think the added pressing down on the bow caused the shakes !
thnks all,
stephen
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Welcome Stephie!!
Sounds like you go great tips. Keep playing and sharing... congrats to you.
WoOOOOOO HOOOOO
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Keep at it, Stephie!
Here's a video with some exercises that you might find helpful. Yes, the guy's style is colorful, eccentric, bizzare -whatever you want to call it
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FirstPancake said
..... Yes, the guy's style is colorful, eccentric, bizzare -whatever you want to call it
Ahhh - I would have paid good money to go see that in a cinema! The guy is a natural! For some reason, his presentation reminds me of Jack Black ( Tenacious-D/Tribute etc ), and especially at the bit where we get the "staring eyes and raised voice" (at 10:52)
My mission for today - check out some of his other stuff.
EDIT: Oh and @stephie - welcome Steven - and yes I recognize the tune you posted - very familiar - so THAT'S a "Good Thing" LOL ! Enjoy the journey with the fiddle !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Welcome stephie,
Contact location between the start of the fingerboard and the bridge is very determining to the quality of sound as well as pressure and speed.
From your sound sample it's obvious that your bow speed was too slow. This in combination with other factors most probably.
Good that you are beginning with the basics. Try focusing on two things for now. A steady bow draw speed (not too slow) and keeping the bow to string point of contact centered between the bridge and fingerboard for now.
Let me know if that helps. We can consider other aspects later.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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