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 Freestyle
Violin Freestyle / on the fly compositions.
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (3 votes) 
Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
June 23, 2015 - 6:53 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I'll be posting all of my improvised/ment videos here (Audio recorded on Tascam DR-22WL). Feel free to share your own melodic and harmonic freestyles as well!! 

 

Guide for newbies:

beginning by practicing unorthodox scales by playing A through G on indifferent positions and strings. Build fluidity with that and then practice the same technique but with arpeggios. Finally, slowly add on Double stops and remember to pay from your heart.

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
June 24, 2015 - 8:11 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
Avatar
DanielB
Regulars

Members
June 24, 2015 - 9:11 pm
Member Since: May 4, 2012
Forum Posts: 2379
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Sounding good, Jacques.

I do somewhat similar improvisation activities for similar reasons.  It is a good way to build fluidity and to just explore with the instrument.

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 25, 2015 - 9:37 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Out of curiosity, where are you playing? Are there any people around? Do they ever stop and listen?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
June 25, 2015 - 1:36 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Jacques I am impressed with your notes up high and your vibrato.  Also curious as to where you are playing and if people come up and ask.  

I definitely see that your are working on your tone production and skills.  Thanks for posting your Freestyle Violin.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
June 26, 2015 - 4:19 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I play at a public park in the middle of the gaslamp Quarter (Downtown San Diego). The park has a medley of folks walking their dogs, exercising, and socializing. I myself am a regular their so they are used to me practising there (10 months now almost everyday) it's a small park so everyone hears my music. People have told me that they can hear it from their homes! Some are curious as to my approach in music, some encourage me, one man gave me an electric tuner when I was just starting out! once a homeless man told me I suck, another time a guy said that my playing is out of tune and said I should take lessons, and another time an old woman disagreed with my doublestops. My main motivation to practice there is because a man said I should keep coming back there to practice, another time a man said I should practice everyday even if its as little as 30 minutes... et cetera.

here is my latest video...

http://youtu.be/UznLeS4kcOY

@Fiddlerman please, delete my second post with the video 'ViolinFreestyle20'. That youtube channel is now deprecated to my new channel with videos titled "Violin Freestyle XXX" my new channel features studio quality audio. I would like to direct all subscribers and likes to the new channel at

https://www.youtube.com/channe.....CHDeMPttyg

please subscribe and like!

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 27, 2015 - 8:46 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Done deal Jacques :)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
July 18, 2015 - 3:24 am
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

https://youtu.be/J-YkuZN_E6k

I was inspired by one of Hilary Hahns performances, where she was playing melody and very smoothly incorporated doublestops (Similar as is in 3:15). I've analysed/oberserved how she performs them, which sparked one of two ideas. Here I implement String Crossing, as it builds from the observation to personal implementation. Instead of doublestopping I will simply string cross (Or double stop)

So I really need to put in some hours on these two new techniques, and so here is a rough draft!

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
July 18, 2015 - 3:42 am
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I am looking for all sorts of feedback, but the top of the list is recommendations for playing better double stops.

I mean the one thing I've come to acknowledge is that my style of double stops should not be used to resolve any phrase/expression because they sound far to brute and scattered (4:17). This leads me to believe my double stops need to mapped better and be used strictly for describing phrases and not resolving them.

Any Opinions?

I also want to practice spiccato or maybe staccato because there are times when the detache is far to sluggish to power through a scale. Often enough these days, I must run a scale to get to the right timbre and detache takes far to much time to get there. (0:50-1:50)

I do need to work on fingerspeed too; try and slur/tie triple octave scale on one or two bow strokes without missing a beat! Things like that. I mean I feel the music is there, scales and arpeggios with feeling, emotion, and desire, its just a lot of technical skills I lack. Here in this video there is maybe two passages (outside of my generic melodic sense) that sound great but they are incredible sloppy because I've lacked the agility and nimbleness to execute it well.

Do tell me how you all feel about this piece.

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
July 18, 2015 - 4:06 am
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I'm starting to get reasonable open string drones working, and also some "proper" fingered/stopped double stops.  You're obviously aware of this, but one of the things that did help me initially was to very, very consciously think about the bowing angle and instead of having just four planes the bow can move in, consider that to play, for example G, then G/D, then D, then D/A then A, then A/E, then E ( i.e. all open string single notes followed by open string drones on the next string up etc ) you will have 7 separate bowing angles (or planes the bow has to move in) to think about.   When I started playing, I could hit two strings ALL the time, no problem ( LMAO ).   Eventually as I got my bowing under control, I got the strings to sound separately - and then I started the "conscious awareness" of intentionally playing two strings at the same time.  It took a bit of effort, but I'm reasonably happy about it, and it can only improve over time !

I think it just comes with practice.....

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Schaick
Members

Regulars
July 18, 2015 - 8:06 am
Member Since: December 25, 2013
Forum Posts: 878
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Honestly @Jacques this is my favorite video from you to date.  There seems to be a question and then answer in this performance that I have not heard in your other videos, a story being told.  

LOL!  @BillyG I hear that -When I started playing, I could hit two strings ALL the time, no problem ( LMAO ).

Someone on this forum suggested bowing that "invisible string"  in between the 2 string to make the drone.

Violinist start date -  May 2013  

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius.  BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

Avatar
coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
July 18, 2015 - 1:24 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

@Jacques

I did hear some good double stops and many of the string crossings seem very smooth.

I don't know how I feel about the piece.  Seemed like there was a main piece and then some other "pieces" involved.  I dug the classical vibe and it kept Hilary in the forefront of my mind. GOOD JOB.

Your sounds are flowing off your bow nicely... and you continue to make lovely music.

No critique from me as what you are asking is out of my range.  I have  a few doublestops that I have worked on and they sound okay... I had been told to not push down and try to play harder on the strings but to pull sound out. That helped me.

It seems as you pull out sound often and that is a good thing. :)

 

Toni... (who doesn't quite know what she is talking about, but I did listen to your whole tune)

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
July 18, 2015 - 2:33 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Thank you so much for the response everybody!

Especially you, @Schaick , "Questions, and answers like a story is being told"...

@BillyG Ok, I get what you're saying. It's true that I was double stopping as a technical finger articulation and without acknowledging the inevitable concept that is a viable focal point to proper double stops; that is to say, allocating three addition planes' as a static angle for bow movement. Simply, now I can focus on bowing to draw sound from those three of seven planes.

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
July 18, 2015 - 7:10 pm
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Jacques said
......
@BillyG Ok, I get what you're saying.....

 

Another point regarding this which I simply discovered (and you probably also have) - is that to bow across two strings ( droned or truly double-stopped ) requires a bit more bow control and pressure.  You have to make these two strings sound simultaneously and to get them both vibrating under the bow will need a different approach from bowing on a single string.  

You'll find what you need - additional pressure, or increased speed, or both - and I guess it also depends a lot on the bow hair, rosin type etc as regards the "grippy-ness".  For me - it largely comes down to using additional pressure - increased bowing speed alone did't work for me with the bow hair and rosin I use - it tended to start to "glide" over the pair of strings, and the only way I could get it to do what I wanted was by applying additional pressure.  

That also meant I had to re-assess my bow tension - because at it's "normal" ( for me ) tension, playing the double stops with additional pressure, forced the hair right down onto the stick - resulting in a rubbish sound.  

The "down side" to that is that for OTHER pieces I try to play - I find the additional tension added to the bow-hair is TOO MUCH and I fight to control bounce - it is a finely balanced thing - and I now always re-adjust the tension if I know I'm going to be (largely) playing double stopped pieces.   I'm not AT ALL HAPPY about this - because I need some kind of "happy medium" when paying pieces that are largely single string, but on occasion demand double stops.  So - I don't really know yet what the complete answer for me is.... 

Just thought I'd share that !

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
Schaick
Members

Regulars
July 19, 2015 - 8:20 am
Member Since: December 25, 2013
Forum Posts: 878
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
15sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Thought of another thing that has been mentioned on the fiddlerman forum - playing 2 strings is easier closer to the fingerboard, away from the bridge.  

Violinist start date -  May 2013  

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius.  BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
August 7, 2015 - 9:04 am
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
16sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Here is the latest video...

http://youtu.be/yvpQlfIIz04

The things I know I need to work on is the sequence of my double-stopped harmony. For example: I must stop the harmonic arpeggio with more order (to say "alphabetical" order / not so random) and use full bow strokes,

Secondly I would like to change the harmonic string at any given time. According to my theory this can create the illusion of two fiddles playing in harmony.

Thirdly, you should notice that my "scales" have changed. I now take half steps at every alternation of traverse- whether incremental and or decremental. This adds a major/minor feel and really enhances the colour of my style of improvised timbre (freestyle). Though counter-intuitive; this really helps me with intonation because it simultaneously allows room for self correcting no matter how sloppy the intonation may be, I will now half-step over flats and sharps to play the correct tone.

 

Side notes: I've lightly sprinkled the seven planes of bowing philosophy around and have applied it lightly' though I still need to work on it. I do need to use full bow strokes to "Pull out sound" from the instrument.

A mixture between how I want my music to sound, and how fast I want to play it - i neglect the importance of full length bow strokes; thus often enough to fix this - the sound neither pulls out nor is expressive enough.

I really want to be able to master harmony, and I've gotten closer; and the notes are beginning to illuminate in my mental vision. Tying them together is often a mystery. I find myself not knowing whether to play the harmonic string or the melodic string at any given point in time.

Avatar
AnnyJ
Members

Regulars
August 7, 2015 - 10:46 pm
Member Since: June 18, 2015
Forum Posts: 262
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
17sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Sounds good!  It's interesting, I like it.

It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
August 8, 2015 - 2:29 am
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
18sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

AnnyJ said
Sounds good!  It's interesting, I like it.

That is precisely what I want to hear!

Thank you so much

-Trey

Avatar
Jacques
San Diego

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
August 13, 2015 - 6:46 am
Member Since: December 15, 2014
Forum Posts: 210
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

https://youtu.be/d32M5rSLcvY

9/10 pure passion here.

Do you all prefer my videos with or without reverbed audio.(006 is normal 005 is reverbed)

Avatar
mad8
Members
August 13, 2015 - 10:55 am
Member Since: May 25, 2012
Forum Posts: 5
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
20sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

how long have you been playing?

you make me won't to take mine out back stomp it and burn it,lol

1

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: stringy
Guest(s) 109
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today Michael Browder, EBurrell
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7759
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31662
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10589
Posts: 134217
Newest Members:
SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08, creativestringsinfo
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5306