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Defective string? Part of violin string near bridge sound dull/scratchy/quiet, but not the part father away
Why does a part of my violin D string near the bridge sound dull, quiet, and scratchy? The part farther from the bridge sounds fine, and the rest of the strings of the same brand sound fine, too
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (3 votes) 
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CreativiTimothy

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October 9, 2021 - 9:40 pm
Member Since: October 10, 2021
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Why does a part of my violin D string near the bridge sound dull, quiet, and scratchy? The part farther from the bridge sounds fine, and the rest of the strings of the same brand sound fine, too.

 

I attached a video for reference: t=2s

 

The brand of the strings, I believe, is D'Addario Prelude Violin 4/4 with J810 4/4M solid steel core and medium tension.

 

I asked my my friend who's really good at violin said she doesn't really know and thinks it's probably just a defective string. I looked on the Internet, and most people generally have the whole string sounding bad rather than just part of it, so it's hard to find, so I wanted to ask here.

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Mouse
October 9, 2021 - 10:28 pm
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Well, the normal place to bow is midway between the bridge and fingerboard. Closer to the fingerboard makes it softer, although I never notice it. Towards the bridge is scratchy and you need to bow differently if you need to bow there for an affect or something. So your strings are behaving normal.

It would be better if the video was of you playing it and not just running the bow across.  But, I think it is because you are at the bridge. 

                  Learn Violin and Fiddle

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AndrewH
Sacramento, California
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October 9, 2021 - 10:50 pm
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That sounds normal to me. Sometimes, in orchestral music, composers deliberately ask string players to play close to the bridge (sul ponticello) in order to get that thin, scratchy sound.

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ELCBK
USA
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October 10, 2021 - 7:07 am
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@CreativiTimothy -

Welcome to the Fiddlerman Forum! 🤗 

Watch your video again. 

You are NOT playing your other strings close to the bridge - this is GOOD! 

STOP playing the D string so close. 😊 

There is nothing wrong with your string.

https://www.howcast.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTU5NzA0ODM3MDMwMDkzOTI5/u-what-are-different-bow-strikes-on-the-violin-promo-image.jpg

 

Play STRAIGHT ACROSS your strings in the MIDDLE. 

Having any other problems? 

- Emily

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