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.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

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
Violin for a dummy, like me lol
Learning to play, day 1 +
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
Soldier
Windsor Locks, CT

Member
Members
December 31, 2013 - 9:24 am
Member Since: December 31, 2013
Forum Posts: 22
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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!

Avatar
wookieman
Tennessee, USA
Members

Regulars
December 31, 2013 - 6:29 pm
Member Since: May 17, 2013
Forum Posts: 277
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

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.

There is no failure, only results.

Avatar
Soldier
Windsor Locks, CT

Member
Members
December 31, 2013 - 7:54 pm
Member Since: December 31, 2013
Forum Posts: 22
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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!!!!! 

Avatar
wookieman
Tennessee, USA
Members

Regulars
December 31, 2013 - 9:34 pm
Member Since: May 17, 2013
Forum Posts: 277
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

This thread may be helpful also:  https://fiddlerman.com/forum/s.....ook-party/

There is no failure, only results.

Avatar
RockingLR33
Members

Regulars
January 1, 2014 - 1:53 am
Member Since: September 21, 2013
Forum Posts: 492
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 1, 2014 - 3:54 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

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."

Avatar
Soldier
Windsor Locks, CT

Member
Members
January 1, 2014 - 5:13 pm
Member Since: December 31, 2013
Forum Posts: 22
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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! 

Avatar
KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
January 1, 2014 - 7:35 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
Forum Posts: 1760
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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.

Avatar
johnnyblaze
Rhode Island

Advanced member
Members
January 2, 2014 - 1:28 pm
Member Since: September 13, 2013
Forum Posts: 65
sp_UserOfflineSmall 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

Avatar
HDuaneaz
Chandler, Arizona

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
January 5, 2014 - 11:35 pm
Member Since: February 27, 2013
Forum Posts: 239
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
5

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."

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 95
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today JochSejo, Ivanorcan
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, Ms-G, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, Bobby, Elaisa, Michael Browder, RCall, EBurrell, Gordon Shumway, ViolinD, dougga, MoonShadows, Astandane, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7717
ABitRusty: 3896
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2422
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2136
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31657
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10581
Posts: 134090
Newest Members:
bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08, creativestringsinfo, rubble_b, mariachi, avagrey92, Alison, David
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5296