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) 
Member
Offline
Good day to all of you! Just popped in to say my wife finally bought me a violin for Christmas. We've been pretty much listening to classical and violin pieces for the last few years. I've actually been telling her ice been interested in playing violin or guitar for a few years and was surprised when one popped up under the tree.
So, with that being said she also purchased the official Violins for Dummies (Volume 2) and I have read pretty much 1/3 of it. In the last few days. I've actually managed to properly tune the violin (it came with a metronome tuner) and can actually play open strings. I can even actually play Jingle Bells without sounding like nails on a chalkboard.
My my issue is I can't play that well when reading from sheet music. (Violins for dummies stopped telling me which finger to place on what string and took away my string and finger placement) and I'm having a serious time trying to play music now. Is there any place I can learn to figure out how to better translate 5 lines into 4 strings or should I just continue to struggle my way through the book?? Please advise, thanks!
First, welcome! Second, I personally would recommend that you pick up a method book. It will teach you what you need to know. Suzuki is popular, but may be challenging if you don't have a teacher. I use Essential Elements 2000 which has really worked well for me personally. EE 2000 really breaks everything down, Suzuki will expect you to have baseline knowledge at a minimum, or someone to explain everything for you. Bottom line, its up to you on that.
definitely watch as many of fiddlermans videos as you can, can you will learn a lot there. But a method book has been key to me learning the translation between lines and fingers so far. I've still got a long way to go, but its coming along. Again, welcome.
Member
Offline
Sounds like a plan! I will definitely get the essential elements 2000 since I do not have a teacher. I have been browsing fiddlerman tutorials but I'm seriously just about a week into playing the violin for the first time and I want to give the violins for dummies book a good chance. I've been going page by page through the lessons in the dummies book and I just got caught off guard when it was time to play music without it telling me which finger on which position and string....it kind of cut me off cold turkey. I resulted in having to play the audio files from the cd and playing the songs by ear while looking at the notes on the page and I have been successful but I want to learn it the right way. I believe a method book will work and it will help bridge the gap between lines and strings. As a beginner I find myself looking at my left hand for finger placement but when I do my bowing technique tends to, well suck and vice versa. I think after I get through this chapter I'm gonna start over while I'm waiting for my EE 2000 to come in. I think I'm doing ok for a beginner and know ill get better over time. Overall thanks!!!!!
Regulars
Offline
Welcome to fiddlerman!!! I wanted to add my little 2 cents. I also use EE2000 and i can say my sight reading and playing has improved ALOT since i actually started sitting down and working my way through each little piece. it does great teaching the strings in the first part of the book. I'm only on page 13 (I bow the pieces instead of plucking them like it says) and it has really helped my coordination and intonation. I also play with the G Strings app going on my phone so i know that im hitting each not correctly each time. If you have a smart phone i highly recommend that app. its free and has helped me with my finger placement alot so i don't have to rely on tapes... Good luck and nice to meet you!
Lead me, Follow me, or get out of my way!
~General George S. Patton
Offline
Welcome to the forum,
Two games that I have in the above menu of every page under the LEARNING TOOLS menu can help you learn to read music, at least that was the intention.
Violin Fingering Game
https://fiddlerman.com/fiddle-.....ring-game/
and
Rhythm Counting Game
https://fiddlerman.com/fiddle-.....ting-game/
Look forward to hearing more about your journey to learn one of the most exciting instrument known to mankind. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Member
Offline
Thanks so much guys! Im gonna have to soldier on with learning the violin. Every day is a new achievement in terms of learning. Fiddlerman!! I appreciate the links and will definitely use them!! I love my new instrument and will definitely be on the forums! Be safe all! hope this new year brings great things to all of you!
Offline
Welcome Soldier! As you've already found out, you'll get lots of great advice here from fellow members and from Fiddlerman!
It's good to have another New Englander on the forum. I live in Massachusetts and am originally from Rhode Island.
Looking forward to hearing about your progress!
-- Diane
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Advanced member
Offline
I usually play a line of music like 100 times..
Then i never have to read it again..Somehow i remember it..Even months later..
Welcome fellow New Englander..
Blaze
Honorary advisor
Regulars
Offline
Soldier, welcome to the forums, and I hope you enjoy the violin as much as I have. I heard something magical happens when you hit 10,000 hours of practicing. I don't think I have hit that mark yet, but I am getting there. I have had a whole lot of fun on the journey.
Duane
"Violin is one of the joys of my life."
1 Guest(s)
ELCBK
Strabo
Mouse
Fiddlerman
