Violin Lesson #6; The Hold & Finger Placement pt. 3

Visit www.toddehle.com - 3rd in the series.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• violin
• technique
• Todd
• Ehle
• hold
• tone
• lesson
• galamian
• suzuki
• paul
• rolland

[Nixlplix]

I'm 40 and just now learning for the first time (viola, actually). Avoiding pain/discomfort is my main concern. Plus not many people want to teach someone my age from scratch, so doubly thanks for these videos. I have been playing guitar for 24 years so my odds of learning are good, I think. Slow and steady :)

[professorV]

Good luck to you, Nixlplix!

[joaovitorcb]

ProfessorV, I'm a brazilian who really enjoy your violin classes online, because i dont have any other way to have violin lessons, but... As I am starting now, I'm having some pains in the neck, holding the violin as you teach and I don't like and dont need any shoulder rest. I do just like you but when i stop playing something like... 10 minutes i feel like my neck "wants" to turn to the left, what should I do? Thanks!

[professorV]

H joaovitorcb, It sounds like a muscle in your neck is going into spasm. The most important thing is good posture, and you need to fill the gap between your chin and shoulder to get this. Try different combinations of chinrest and shoulder rest to try to get comfortable. Also, make sure your shoulders stay down and your head does not drop forward or turn to the left very far. Feel tall while you play! Good luck with this.

[Microview248]

Professor V,

Do you have a solution for getting a thunk sound when applying the third finger (currently on the D string) and in another exercise holding down 3 fingers on the D string and playing a open A string. Fat fingers are obstructing the A string. Any help appreciated. Thank you for great series.

[professorV]

Try pulling your elbow under the violin a little more. It should move the 3rd finger away from the A string.

[endlosigkeit9]

This is exactly what I was looking for, such straightforward, practical guidance which will go a long way toward helping me avoid subtle problems in the future. Thank you so much.

[loravio]

your straight forward videos are awesome! Thanks!

[taadaagottapee]

Ummm i'm 12 and i developed the habit. now i'm relearning the whole thing :(

[MrStrangeSensation]

I'm a 25 year old beginner. Ive played electric bass for almost 15 years so I have some background with strings, including a fretless bass, so I understand intonation problems. But Ive been having a tough time finding the notes on this tiny, unmarked neck. I also have no teacher for violin yet. But once I was told (by you) how to properly hold the violin and position my hand, it became a lot easier to find the notes. I still have to fine-tune my intonation, but this was a big help. Thank you!

[EwanMcGreggor]

Dear Proff V, thanks very much for these tutorials, i just bought my very first violin a few days ago and i'm now able to play Mary had a little lamb, twinkle twinkle and i'm also in the middle of trying to figure out fields of athenry which is great. Ultimately i would love to play that irish jig you did, the 'something' child. My only obstacle is my V grip on the violin, i see my thumb slipping up on occasion, but when i put it down again i find it difficult to keep my hand flat and even...

[OackyStik]

Hi professor V, I have a question: I've been playing guitar for 6 years and just now started learning violin. Do you think my guitar playing will affect my violin playing?

[christiawi9]

hi professorV

your vids are amazing and a big help. the only thing is my pointer finger wont curve fully like how you showed. my hand feels uncomfortable when i try and do this. i'm holding the neck in the correct 'V' hand shape, i simply can't twist my finger that way

am i holding it incorrectly or something? thanks for the vids =)

[ryucorrea]

You are awesome!!! I can't really afford weekly lessons and I just started playing. I am in no rush to play yet. I just want to know that I am holding and positioning everything right. I plan on trying to get get a lesson a month in order to make sure that I am on the right track. I haven't watched passed the 7th video but I was very excited to find such a practical guide to help me get started. Thank you so much for taking to time to do this series.

[adamflight1]

Thank you Todd. I love your videos. Someday I hope to repay your for your efforts.

[13rawk]

How to you adjust your chin rest?

[13rawk]

I have a metal allergy and can't have the chin rest's metal pieces touch my skin. I usually use a cloth in between when I play, but it's a little distracting. Do you know of a different fix i could use?

I was thinking about putting a layer of clear nail polish over it, but I'm afraid I might ruin the sound or something.

[Guri9898]

hi

i used to have like dots on the violin to help me place my fingers correct, but now that i have taken them away, i'm struggling a bit to place them right. can u plz help? :)