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Warning! Make sure your speakers are turned down!
Between my dodgy laptop mic, settings and bowing (it's mostly the bowing 
) this video does not sound very good.
So on watching the video I immediately see a whole host of problems, but your thoughts on where to focus first would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Sam.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Hey, Sam! Pretty good start! I see, you assume to use the whole bow length! Just don't forget to keep it straight! Actually, i think you already feel it, when it's going crooked, because somewhere near the end you made it straight by yourself, i guess even without a mirror.
I think left hand position is too high, that may cause tiredness if you play long enough..
That' great job! Go on and i believe you can improve very fast 
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Thanks for the reply Mad, basically all I was thinking about whilst recording that was keeping the bow straight lol!
My left hand isn't really in any kind of position at the mo I've really just got it there in case I screw up and drop the violin from my sholder...
Does it look like I have the violin in my sholder/Do you get neck tension ok? I only have the one sholder rest and chin thing at the mo so I'm trying to make it feel right.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Great start!
Agree with Mad_wed. It seemed like you are gripping your violin with your neck and shoulder and your shoulder is shrugged too high so your scroll is up high in the air, thus your left hand is high, therefore, your left shoulder and arm will get tired easily. The FM has photos and video on how to holding your violin, check it out, and try to practice in front of a mirror, that will help with your posture.
Yes, you will need to tune your violin, the FM has tuner on his website.
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Thanks pky I get what Mad was saying now I will try and adjust my self so that my shoulder doesn't need to be shrugged up.
I fear tuning is going to be tricky until I can actually produce a solid note 
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Samuel L Boogie said:
..My left hand isn't really in any kind of position at the mo I've really just got it there in case I screw up and drop the violin from my sholder...
Does it look like I have the violin in my sholder/Do you get neck tension ok? I only have the one sholder rest and chin thing at the mo so I'm trying to make it feel right...
You won't screw up if pay a little patience an do several times those exercises from FM's videos.
https://fiddlerman.com/tutoria.....tutorials/
Try to find that position, you feel comfortable with. I have one shoulder-rest and chin-rest too. But i'm lucky with them. If that pair you have disturb you, go to the store and pick those, which you will be ok with.. We all look for best stuff. it's different from person to person. But first you have to find at least close to right posture, and then fit it with stuff, when you really understand what you looking for..
Good luck with it !! 
Oh! almost forgot.. I like you right pinky - it bends already (when frog gets closer to strings). Dont forget that motion !! it will help you - and not in far future =)). And try not to stretch it when bowing with top. =)
Left hand: hold it straight even when you play open strings!!
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Grats on getting a violin! What did you get btw? It sounds nice on your video. (just curious) You're doing great!
Constructive critisism from a newbie who is working on it myself:
There are supposedly 5 "lanes" you can bow in between the end of the neck and the bridge.
Pick the middle "lane". (direct center between the end of the neck and the bridge.) Really stare at this contact point as your bowing and try to keep your bow from moving out of that lane as much as possible while your bow travels back and forth while trying to keep your bow as strait as possible. You will squeak less. There is a certain bow pressure and speed you use per "lane" too. (I personally fail badly at bow pressure and speed at the moment because those two things = violin volume which freaks me out so I can't give any advise of any kind there.)
If this is bad advise please someone correct this or delete the post either one but it's been helping me squeak less.
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
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It took me weeks before I could balance the violin on my shoulder. I didn't use a shoulder rest the 1st month that I was playing because it just didn't feel right. What the other fiddlerman family members said makes sense to me. I also see that it seems you are pretty stiff with your bowing arm. Focus on getting your shoulder in the right position for each string then play from the elbow more and let your wrist bend as you go from the frog to the tip and back (relax is the keyword). It will help you keep the bow straight. Watch a lot of videos like um the guy that runs this site 
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RP said:
Grats on getting a violin! What did you get btw?
I have been lent one at the mo. check my other thread;
/forum/learning-to-play/much-excitement/#p8473
Thanks for all the comments folks some great thoughts for me to work to, I was forced to put the violin away after 4 hours of happy noise making this afternoon. I am currently debating taking it to work to hide in my comms room and practice at lunch time 
I shall make another video when I feel I have some improvement to show.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Don't get frustrated over with all the comments you get from your first post. They all meant to be good and to help you make progress!
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pky said:
Don't get frustrated over with all the comments you get from your first post. They all meant to be good and to help you make progress!
Not at all pky, they are very gratefully received 
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
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I did not mean to make it sound like I was being mean btw, if I can upload sound here I will "share.../ torture your ears" with my progress to whomever wishes to listen. and ty for the link to your other thread I have a really hard time navigating forums. 
On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.
RP said:
I did not mean to make it sound like I was being mean btw, if I can upload sound here I will "share.../ torture your ears" with my progress to whomever wishes to listen. and ty for the link to your other thread I have a really hard time navigating forums.
I did mean any of the post was mean, I just want to say sometimes some take comments more seriously than others would have, i just want sam to take it seriously enough so he would improve but not too or so seriously that he gave up on playing violin. i myself tend to take things too seriously.
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First of all Samuel, way to go for utilizing as much of the forum as possible to get great help with progress right from the start.
Tune your violin with this tuner. Just put the violin between your knees with the strings facing you and without having the bow in your hands. Choose the right note off the tuner and pluck the string. Turn the pegs clock-wise while pushing in slightly until you get it high enough.
I know that you are only practicing drawing the bow but I want you to get used to hearing the correct notes right from the start and not be scared to learn to tune it.
Your right hand looks great for the first day of playing the fiddle.
The other advice that was given above is very good. Thanks everyone.
PS. Your violin seems to have a good tone to it. We'll know more as you improve.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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pky said:
RP said:
I did not mean to make it sound like I was being mean btw, if I can upload sound here I will "share.../ torture your ears" with my progress to whomever wishes to listen. and ty for the link to your other thread I have a really hard time navigating forums.
I did mean any of the post was mean, I just want to say sometimes some take comments more seriously than others would have, i just want sam to take it seriously enough so he would improve but not too or so seriously that he gave up on playing violin. i myself tend to take things too seriously.
Don't fret peeps I am a big boy , I take all comments with a smile as I am sure they are given. I know the internet can be a nasty place at times but I'm sure no one comes on here to be mean to people! Thank you all for your comments. I deliberately posted straight away (5 minutes after picking it up for the first time) despite knowing it would be about as god awful as possible, to try and avoid teaching my self any bad habits.
Thanks FM, I have received some scepticism from one of my more musically minded friends. She has expressed concern that if I don't have at least a few lessons to start I will get RSI or some such. Given the level of support I have witnessed others receiving on your site over the last month I believe she is wrong. But none the less I wanted to get on here right away to try and avoid such troubles.
I have tried to give my bow hold a lot of thought because it's one thing I should be able to do right from the off and I don't want to get into any bad habits with it.
I have brought my violin to work today and plan to sneak out to the car at lunch with it and my laptop and try to tune it 
I have a question about practice mutes, while using one can you still hear if you are in tune/bowing properly? I need to get one asap so I can get some practice in while wife and baby are asleep.
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Samuel L Boogie said:
I have a question about practice mutes, while using one can you still hear if you are in tune/bowing properly? I need to get one asap so I can get some practice in while wife and baby are asleep.
Absolutely, they are perfect for this. You definitely need one.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Great first video, Sam. We all have to start somewhere, right? Looking forward to hearing more in the future. Don't be afraid of learning to tune. It is definitely good for ear training, even when only bowing open strings.
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LOL, I think after what happened to him today he might be scared to tune for life.
I agree though, don't be scared, that was a one time thing. It's like being struck by lightning. Though it happened to Chinny too.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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