Violin Lesson #4; The Hold & Finger Placement Pt. 1

[more2love04]

thanks for making this video it is much appreciated and helpful i'm unable to afford a teacher atm so for someone like me the way u explain things nd take it step by step aids me in my mission to learn the violin. XD yay 

[darrenknaus]

If only there was some clue as to what time of the year you made these videos.

Anything -- any subtle hint at all!

[Dualz101]

Sir Todd ..I have a Question.. Im playing a F Major ... im A bit confuse what finger am i going to use at "B flat" note at 4 string? is it my 3 finger? or my pinky one? im using my 4 finger on it.. but i dont know if its correct

[brace77]

I started violin 2 days ago without a teacher for now, even if I'll for sure visit one soon. In the mean time I have a doubt: my violin has a chin rest on the left, not on the center as the one as you have. I guess that this affects the direction the violin takes. With the chin rest on the left the violin direction gets closer to the line that connects my shoulders, while with your chin rest it goes in the other side. Is this ok?

[goldenwingsoffire]

lol your thumb goes back mine almost makes a perfect right angle. so that idea with using it as a shelf is the same thing i use on my guitar or any instruments that i must slide or hold

[maryam0psy]

interesting how my teacher never went through any of these pointers with me . i wonder how many bad habbits i have piccked up so far!

[guilvenphantomhive]

my! this tutorial will help me alot! thank you for uploading the video professor v! i am currently a beginner in violin and i knew it would take a lot of time for me to be good in playing violin but im trying my hardest to learn^^

[AlexT1994]

How do you rest your jaw on a chin rest that's at the side not in the centre like your one?

[dwaynedibbly]

I'm a little confused as to the angle the violin should go- facing out to the left vs. facing in front as I've seen mixed opinions. I wonder cos I think I was playing too far to the left since I was having a hard time reaching a full bow stroke and found it considerably easier when I moved it round in front of me more, lime 45 degrees. I found this position more comfortable all round. thoughts?

[MocchaKupo]

Hi Proffesor V, i would like to ask a question, is it normal to have back, arm, and clavicule (?) pain at the same time while playing violin? am i holding my violin wrong or something? ive been having this problem about 2 yrs now.. i asked my private teacher (when i use to hav one) if i was holding my violin right she said yeah but the problems kept insisting.. i found it annoying and painful while playing for long time.. is there anyway i can fix this problem?? = /

[kingsroyal1979]

Hi i really really love what you are doing i belive it will help me to go far in my violin studies because i just wheel into your sit and i saw great things, May God strengthen you, amen.

[jehovahuponyou]

Have you ever had the button pop off your bow due to an incorrect hand on the bow?

[gregravens]

thanks for posting this... hope you will not stop uploading these wonderful videos that teaches neophytes like me

[kutasbros]

Hey professor, my violin doesn't have a shoulder rest which is fine with me, but I find that if I play for a long time it starts to hurt my collar bone. Am I holding it wrong, or will I just get used to it?

[iluvKH4eva]

Do I have to have a teacher? I can already play flute and piano, read music and have very good co-ordinational skills, and I did all that in five years. (I'm only 15).

[xpktro128]

hi profesor

i got a question when i hold my violin i feel that is little high and i see other players hold it more lower but i feel comfortable using my position could you give me an advice

[princesofpurple]

Finally, a teacher who doesn't assume you know how to play violin before he starts teaching.

[jakedasolid]

Super helpful!!

[irkin75]

Dear Todd, im a girl 35 years old and a passionate beginner. while i'm playing i have always palm tension between the big finger and the first finger, actually in the whole palm in this area... maybe its just because my hand is not used to it, but i'm still holding hand (actually the base of my first finger) closely to the violin neck and cant release it because than i loose the neck, it comes naturally i dont know. what do you think?

thanks for any advice and your wonderful work!

[azhar13579]

Hello Professor V....I just bought a violin and I am just starting on the basics from you...I admire your effort and spirit. I also have a question...Do you mind if I save your videos on to my hard disk for reference?

[kevinzki21]

thank you so much sir!!!

[kaon1953]

I labored for a long time under the impression that the jaw and shoulder need constantly to hold the violin tighly enough to free the hand to shift. Michael Schallock summed up the correct principle quite nicely: "The violin may be held briefly by increased weight of the head on the chinrest in order to free the left hand but ongoing support of the violin shifts constantly between the left shoulder, jaw, and left hand, with contact with the collarbone remaining constant."

[s2macdon]

My left wrist is very painful - I'm sure it's because of my positioning, but I'm worried my anatomy won't let me flex my wrist in an optimal position to hold the violin. My violin teacher just says I have to be more "loose", but I feel like I can't be lose in that position at all. What could I be doing wrong?

[Djole0]

You are great! Thank you very much!

[Mr6XXX6]

you know the thing were you put your jaw? well mine is in the left side and i dont think there is a way to put it on the middle.. would that be a problem??

[ladyfoiegras]

im confused.. if you are right handed do you hold the bow in your right hand and use left hand for strings? or if you are right handed do you hold the bow in your left hand and use right hand for strings?

[anny0513uchiha]

hi , can you insert subtitles in spanish}?please

[duncansantan]

thank you professor todd ehle!!!!!!!

[beetlefull]

gracias maestro

[amrosik]

i can not slide my hand because the violin and my hand are to sticky, and i pull the violin out of its position.

[NikitoZ1989]

Hello, Professor Ehle!

Thanks for you videos as usual. I've started to play violin without a shoulder rest, and the question is whether the violin is placed on the whole collarbone, if I do it, then the violin is turned more to the left, and is more horizontal, and I have to turn my head to the left more, and it's difficult to reach G. Or it's placed only on the right tip of the collarbone, that' a bit painful, but easier with the previous problems. It's difficult to see this from the video...

[bluetche]

Hi Professo Ehle!!

Sorry to bother you, but.... do you have any advice on hold & finger placement for long armed/fingered players? I´ve heard once Simon Fischer talking about it. But i just don´t know how exactly far, should i set the violin to my left, without "breaking" the square in my right arm, and disrupting the string crosses..

is that make any sense to you? If it don´t, sorry!

Thanks!

bye bye

[Ryuu2009]

violin*

[Ryuu2009]

How do I know if my voilin is right or left handed?

[nameUnavailab1e]

I don't know that they make left or right handed violins... but the strings from left to right (as you look at the front of it) are "G, D, A, E" on a violin, and maybe you could reverse the order of the strings by yourself. I don't know if they make left handed chin rests.

You should probably just play it normally though, because it's new muscle movements for you to learn with both hands anyway and it shouldn't matter.

[dontobeay]

but be sure the bridge is correctly placed also, the bridge is made specificly for each string

[LittleTeddie]

If the chin rest is on the left or right side.

Left side - right handed violin right side, left handed violin

[pbfiddler]

that's incorrect. chinrest is always on left or in center. There is no such thing as a different violin for someone who is left handed. Violin is always on the left, bow on the right.

[pbfiddler]

doesn't matter if you are right or left handed. Bow is always in right hand, violin in left.

[videogamehelp45]

i dont know how but mine was made only for rightys, but iam lefty,so you should probably check with your band teacher, or private instructor

[dienerl]

Hey, you are really a good teacher. I am grateful for your wish to share these very important information.

[hussrif]

Being left handed I followed your videos and practiced the bow hold (which worked out), i kept having trouble holding the violin until I realized that my my right handed violin (strings reversed for left handed) chin rest was actually still right handed. I hadn't noticed the difference but now i understood why i couldn't keep the violin in place.

I have looked to find a chin rest and came up with a lot of dissuasion to continue playing lefty,

I would appreciate some advice on that topic

[ErktheEngineer]

I am also a lefty. We lefties have had to adapt to many things and consequently end up being somewhat ambidextrous. I like to use it to my advantage and have convinced myself that I am better at fingering than I would be if I were right handed. Your bridge is also right handed unless you remembered to flip that as well. I would recommend switching.

[Sokkata]

i love how you give us steps on what to do.

You're a great teacher.

[hypereactiveGBU15]

My guess is that this might be due to too much finger pressure, or maybe the angle of my fingers or just simply that I hold my violin wrongly. (I started to notice the pain when I had to place my middle finger near my index finger for neutral C and such). Do you have any advice on this? It's making me really worried and so I had no other choice but to ask you. (I know you're really busy though... Sorry :) )

Anyway, Thanks for the vids!! they're very informative.

[hypereactiveGBU15]

Hi Professor V,

I have this problem with my left hand. I'm still a beginner (only been playing for 2 months), and my left index finger (the joint above the base joint) hurts. Last week, it got a bit swollen and red so I had to stop playing for a while (until now it still kinda hurts but not as much as last week). No matter what I do to try to figure out what causes it I really can't. And I asked my teacher about it and she said she's never known anyone who had a pain in the index finger.

[uktabifaerie]

thanks for these videos, they've been so helpful!

[Giron45]

thenk you

[tehmockingbird]

Hi professorV, your videos are really a tremendous help. However, I have a question on the correct finger postures for vibrato, especially the third and fourth finger. When vibrating from my third or fourth finger, where should the correct contact point be at? For some reason, it feels a lot less secure using third or fourth finger vibrato. Thank you for any suggestions!

[Linkpojken]

Wow this really helps! thanks! + you have a very erotic voice when you talk slow deep and dark ;) rawr

[figgypro]

Hi Proffesor V,

I was wondering if you could help me clear up a violin related mystery. I get this pain in my tongue after playing the violin for a while. Could it be due to improper placement of the violin under my chin? Have you ever heard of this problem before? I always thought it was the most bizarre thing, and although I love playing, this pain/numbness of my tongue makes it painful if I play for more than five minutes. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, from California.

[professorV]

Figgypro, That is an interesting, and clearly uncomfortable side effect. I'd guess it's either caused by too much tension in your jaw or by a chinrest that doesn't match your anatomy. If there is a violin shop close to you, you might be able to experiment with other models. Or you could try a Strad Pad, a latex foam cover for the chinrest. That might be just the thing, and probably worth a try. Good luck!

[silverwings00]

oh my, you are amazing and you teach very well. i'm 19 and i have just started studying basic violin. it's my childhood dream to play it and i guess age doesn't matter right??? anyway, thank you very much for posting the videos. they are blessings for a neophyte like me!!! :)

(um, do you have any advice in reading notes.... it proves to be challenging for me...)

Bless You!!!

[professorV]

Hi Silverwing, I do have a few opinions on age and learning the violin. Please go to my web site and look under FAQ, I believe it's the first thing mentioned. My web address is listed is in the "more info" section, upper right hand of this page.

Good luck!

[silverwings00]

thank you very much!!! i've looked at the things under the FAQS section and the things posted there helped in boosting my motivation. ive also checked your site and i'm thrilled to learn more using your videos. :) i will put in mind to take my learning one step at a time.

thank you very much

God bless you!!!

[20BlueJay09]

Prof. Ehle,

I think I have followed your advices regarding the correct posture but my right left arm (holding the violin) and left arm (holding the bow) gets tired easily. Is this normal for a beginner like me? Do I just need to get used to it or I am doing something wrong?

Please help!

Thanks in advance.

[ambercullen]

yay finally a use for duel jointed fingers

[matinxs]

You're great. I'm from Argentina and this is helping me a lot.

Nice pumpkin toy behind you jajaja

[nicowolfangs]

whats that?

is your chin rest at the center?

how do you get those?

chin rest at the middle or right

[elnino2k]

Excellent instruction. I am addicted. :D

[abica618]

Thanks a lot for all these videos!

I'm teaching myself how to play, and my biggest problem so far has been proper left hand position. I'm going to try the "V" tonight...so far I've had to support the neck with my palm (yuck).

[beama78]

Great posts on teaching the violin Mr. Ehle. I really appreciate the time you've put in to try to show some of us the basics of violin. I just started teaching myself the violin. I'm 30 years old and the last time I touched a violin was the 2nd grade but I still remembered the hold. Thanks again for your posts.

[splendorfulguris]

I have a long neck and have tried different shoulder rests and eventually got rid of my chin rest. Can you make a video about shoulder/chin strain, rests, etc. and specifically talk about people with long necks? thank you :)

[samknul]

Thank you! I'm 15 and i really wanna play the violin, but actually I only have a broken violin without strings, but this is giving me a little base before I can get lessons. You're my hero!

[kristenkirby0111]

for some reason, i dont know why, but his voice sounds like criss angel to me.

.

[CtlBrandon]

noo now i hate his voice lol

[cooldude2121212121]

my violin teacher...when you put your feet together..it's called red position...when u put your feet apart...green position...it helps.

[greeny987]

thank you todd(teacher on vid)...im 14 and i need help on my mind before getting a violin on my birthday...so thank u very much on filling my brains with info...who knows,i might be training with joshua bell in the future,haha...

[remixinglife]

Thank you Todd!

[rawrloler]

wow how do you hold a violin w/o a shoulder rest....

[kaylabreannaspicer]

put it on you collar bone...?

[claredowling]

very clear and concise, thankyou

[sibelius27]

SwiggleE. Oh dear, that has to be the least informed opinion I've ever heard. Think about what you are saying for a minute.

[SwiggleE]

ah, this is great for young players! I don't believe much in teachers (no offence) I think it destroys part of the creativity of figuring it out yourself and learning from mistakes. (i had a friend who took guitar lessons for a year, and you could tell it did that compared to those who were self tought (like myself)) but still this is great. you're a wonderful teacher :)

[batusawa]

I'm planning to buy my own violin... there are some times that I grew jealous of those kids who learned to play it during their early years. But I've come to realize that in my learning how to play the violin, I'm not supposed to be focusing about how good will I get, will I ever be great at it, or whatever, because my goal is to learn to play it by heart and enjoy it! Express yourself! ^_^

[mehradyos]

you look a god man! thankx professeur for al that lessons.

[fiddlinmatt]

Hello professorV I have recently started studying the Kreutzer Etudes, and I'm dismayed to find that there are few vids of these Etudes on YouTube, and the ones that are there do not treat them in a thorough manner and certainly not in their totality. If you have the time could you do videos for the Kreutzer Etudes, discussing and/or playing through them. Thanks much!

Matt

[Evanator757]

I'm 15, and I've never played the violin in my life, but I'm renting one at my local portmans store tomorrow. Is it too late for me to become a master violinist? I learn quickly, and I'm very experienced in playing the guitar, but I don't know that knowing the guitar fretboard is the same as the neck (I don't know the parts) of the violin. Any suggestions for someone completely new to the violin?

[saisutetsuma]

I really find your videos very helpful, I'm already 18 but i'm just a beginner. It really help a lot because I don't have a teacher, its just too expensive to have one in our country. I really apreciate it, thanks a lot.

[bbpiglet]

Hi, the chin rest of my violin is placed on the left, should it be placed in the middle? and what will be the different?

[hikarumichiyo]

so do i have to get a teacher then?or learn myself from your videos???

im rather confused rite now..hehs

and i dun even own a violin yet.

so any recommandations?

[professorV]

These videos are really just to help people with difficult techniques, but not intended to replace a teacher. If a person has a good (qualified) teacher, that teacher can give direct feedback, something a video can never do. Since the violin is so difficult, we need all the help we can get!

[Laurelindo]

professorV, could you please tell me how to avoid the scratchy sound when using the bow?

I'm learning this instrument right now, but the bow keeps making ugly sounds.

I can play clean tunes alright, but every other second or so there's this ugly screech.

[plasmasword10]

ROSIN YOUR BOW MORE MAYBE....

[Laurelindo]

I've already done that enough. -.-

My parents told me that I simply need to practice using it correctly.

[plasmasword10]

maybe tune the strings

[rawrloler]

do it till dust clouds come out lol

[rawautube]

1)Practice Practice practice

2)always listen to your teacher.

3)don't rush it,it may take months to produce an unscratchy tone.

4)don't forget to practice.

[hikarumichiyo]

thx a lot...i think i know wat to do now

[hikarumichiyo]

wat if im like 15 now ..is it too late to learn? i'm currently learning piano...i wanna learn violin too.I'm starting to take interest in violin more and more but i've just tried playing a few times using my cousin s violin and i like it so much..reply if u re free ok?

thx for replying

[professorV]

It is never too late to learn to play.  You may be too old to be the next Perlman, but you can still play. Now to be a professional classical violinist, one must start very young and work very, very hard. That is probably not an option for you at this point, but you can still learn to play, and enjoy the process. I hope that helps you.

[shpdsgns]

Hi Professor, I bought an electric violin today to play around with it and learn some violin basics for fun. Your videos helped me a lot so far - thanks! - but I have a problem with holding the violin. For it's an electric violin, it's thinner than a normal one. When I put the violin an my collarbone it's really uncomfortable and hurts. I tried putting it against my collarbone. This feels way better for me, but the instrument nearly doesn't touch the shoulder at all. Still ok? Thank you! :)

[shpdsgns]

Should be "on my collarbone". Hope you understand what I mean... Not on top of it but against it from the 'front'

[professorV]

I think you should be able to attach a shoulder rest to the instrument. It would probably make it a whole lot more comfortable. The Wolf and Kun are two of the most popular brands.

[shpdsgns]

Ok, I'll get one the next days. Thank you!

[introtophilosophy]

you are aweseome professor!!!!!!!!!!!! the best!

[bluetche]

sorry, sharing the weight beetween the thumb and this "little bone"

[bluetche]

Hello Professor!It´s me again!

Last time i think i was a little confuse!

But now i got it!

I was squeezing too much in the neck with my thumb.. Bu when i got the right grip,(i dont know if it is correct, but i´am holding the violin just with the little bone located in the root of the index finger, and dividing the wight in two). Sorry to bother you, i just don´t want to disappoint you!

Thanks from your Brazilian student!

[professorV]

That sounds like you have it. I'm glad you figured out where the tension was coming from!

[bluetche]

its possible for me to walk on the fingerboard despite of the size of the violin?

Thanks again from your brazilian friend! and sorry , my english is terrible!

Obrigado amigo!

[bluetche]

When i hold my violin like a cello, the sound that comes outo out the violin is gorgeous, i can "walk" and slide on the fingerboard like it was made of ice!

But when im holding it, i can move to higher positions, but when i need need to return! im completely stuck!!

Im sure that im making something wrong whith my thumb, i´am holding it by putting my thumb below the neck, and i think that´s wrong..

Probably because i´am 1,86m and i have a 3/4 violin...

[professorV]

If I'm following you, you can go up high, but not get back down... Correct? Unless you are very comfortable playing in the lower positions, I don't think you really need to go up to the high positions yet.  Try to find a good violinist to help you through this difficult process.

[bluetche]

Ok man thanks again!

[bluetche]

Hello Professor!

I don´t know how to thank your for all the information that your gave me!

I´m getting better day by day!

But i´m still can´t hold the violin in a proper position!

[brian777999]

This is great. I am trying to learn how to play without a shoulder rest but I have to wait for my centre mounted chin rests to arrive from the US.

[verthius]

Hey Pro V, after playing few minutes on the violin, my left-hand got tired and experienced excruciating pain. No, I don't have any muscle disorder. I think the way I holding it is wrong. I've followed your advice and yet, whenever I play, I felt such discomfort on my wrist. Was it the wrong posture of my hand? Or is it wrong placement? My teacher told me that I should be relaxed. I tried, ain't that easy!

[professorV]

You need to make sure that you are not squeezing the neck of the violin with you thumb or fingers. While in playing position, tap your thumb lightly to relax it. Only push the strings down to the point where they touch the board. Next, is your wrist bent? The most dangerous position is with the wrist pushed out, away from your face. It needs to be straight. Pain like you are describing is nothing to mess around with. Rest, heal, watch position in mirror. Good luck.

[bambampira]

hi professor V! thanks alot for your videos! they are really helpful! i was wondering if it is normal that my left shoulder ahces after i play the violin? or is it because i was holding the violin incorrectly? i guess my arm is short and it's hard for me to reach some strings...

[professorV]

Hi babbabpira, You are probably squeezing the violin with your shoulder. Part of this may just be from a desire to do your best, but you need to relax to play the violin well. Also, make sure your shoulder rest-chin rest combination really fills the gap between jaw and shoulder.  You should not have to raise the shoulder or lean your head sideways. Good luck!

[bambampira]

thank you so much professorV!! yes i guess i'm so eager to play the violin that i squeeze the violin with my shoulder. i'll try to fix it. thanks alot!!

[menuhin]

Hi Todd,

I'm trying to hold the violin without a shoulder rest, but I always have to clamp my head down or raise my shoulder, especially during shifting down and vibrato.

How can I tell if the space between my collarbone and my jaw is fully-filled? And should I be able to hold the violin without my left hand if I'm not using a shoulder rest?

Thank you very much! Your videos have been very helpful! :)

[professorV]

Hi menuhin,

I was not able to hold the violin without a rest until I had a neck injury force the issue. I purchased a Flesh-model chinrest (with the hump in the middle) and then added 1/4 ince of wood to the feet for heighth. I can't let go with the left hand or the violin will fall to my chest. It took two years to learn how to play it comfortably...

[professorV]

BTW; I'm NOT recommending this way of holding the violin, just telling my story.

For me to make it work, I need the ridge of the chinrest. I hold it with my jaw, collar bone and left hand.

As for the gap; the head should turn to the left - without leaning - and be able to easily drop into the rest. The shoulder should not raise up at all - with or without a shoulder rest. Also, If your head drops forward too much you can't see a conductor!

[LiliDD]

One request: could you give more details about Paul Rolland's advice/methods? I'm very impressed with the way his method is applied by the Buskaid Soweto String Project and would like to use it in my teaching and playing.

Actually, another request: will you put all your lessons on a DVD one can purchase, so that kids without broadband can use your lessons too?

[professorV]

Hi LiliDD, Since I'm actually a former student - of a former student of Rolland's, I may not be the best to do this. Let me think about it a bit.

Also, I have not actually saved any of these videos, I just deleated them once they were posted. I'm honored by your request though!

[LiliDD]

Hi Todd,

I think you're doing a really wonderful job. I've just started teachinig (.5 hr classes in schools), and I find that the kids don't practice much at home. I'm going to get them to use your videos as their 'home teacher', as you're teaching exactly the way I play and want to teach.

[professorV]

Wow, that is very cool. Thank you for such a vote of confidence!