Rookie fiddler here, wondering what are some good drills I could/should be doing to improve finger speed/reach. I also would love any input on stretches as well. Like everyone else who is starting out, the G string seems SO far away for my pinky and ring finger.
Yes, Murph, that's what I meant. Now that I read my post, it does sound pretty silly-proofreading is so important. We use open strings all the time in our session tunes, and that can constrict the left hand fingers as we play the same patterns over and over again. Playing scales without open strings (G string excepted!) and using the 4th finger is great practice.
Hey Chef! South Park just ins't the same without you!
Actually, the G string on fiddle isn't that much harder to reach than the other strings--assuming you're holding the fiddle in a reasonable posture.
If you hold the neck out in front of your body--at a right angle from your chest--then the G string will be harder to reach.
Instead, try keeping the scroll end of the fiddle pointed out at about 45 degrees to the left. And tuck your left elbow in and forward a bit, so your hand doesn't have to rotate so far to reach the strings.
Also keep your left thumb as relaxed as possible--no need to grip the neck or press the thumb against it.
put your fingertips on the table and lift them one at a time from left to right, right to left, left to right, etc etc... also doing mini-aerobics with your little finger and using it as much as possible on the fingerboard to build up strength seemed to work for me.
Lxx
Reaching into the next position with your 4th finger is pretty common:
Once you can play your first position scales without open strings, reach up and play a C natural on the E string from 1st position without moving your palm up too.
I like to play scales entirely from 4th position but not use my 1st finger at all, so you have to play the note you "would have" played with your index finger by reaching up on the lower string with your pinky.
Another good stretch is to play your scales in double stop unisons (exact same note on two different strings). That'll drive you batty, and probably anyone within ear shot too. Once you finally get them under control, they make a great embellishment that you'll rarely hear anyone use without relying on an open string. The Kruetzer studies has an exercise on these.
One reason some players find the reach with the 4th finger (pinky) awkward or difficult is that they have the thumb too close to the nut, more or less opposite the the first (index) finger. This constricts the hand. Try moving the thumb towards the bridge so that it is more opposite the second finger. This gives the hand a more balanced position and that reach with the 4th finger will be more manageable. With practice you'll find that reaching the high C (or even C#) on the E string will be no longer be a stratospheric event!
It's worth noting that classical violinists, even at an early stage of learning, are taught to get that good reach with the fourth finger. It's all part and parcel of standard technique for anyone who plays the instrument, no matter in what genre.
The "death-grip" with the left thumb, which is seen only too often, really is "death" to a fluid left hand and finger technique, as well as being tiring. You should be able to move the thumb around easily when playing. One useful exercise is to play a long slow G on the E-string and move the thumb around without altering the quality or pitch of the note you're playing.
It depends on the anatomy of the individual player’s hand, of course, but it also helps to have the last joint of the thumb more under the neck of the fiddle than sticking up in the air by the side of the neck. This makes access to the D on the G-string with the fourth finger that much easier. A relaxed and mobile thumb will enable you to do this when you need to.
BTW, I prefer to use the term "reach" instead of "stretch", because "stretch" has an implication of strain and effort.
No, tradpiper, monkey wasn't saying do the scales in octaves - he was saying do them using exacly the same pitch on two adjacent strings - totally possible, and some old players did use to use this as an embellishment from time to time.
The fingering, in case it isn't obvious, is 1 on the upper of the two strings (say, the E string), and 4 on the lower one (in this case, the A string).
Drills and Stretches
Drills and Stretches
Hi all,
Rookie fiddler here, wondering what are some good drills I could/should be doing to improve finger speed/reach. I also would love any input on stretches as well. Like everyone else who is starting out, the G string seems SO far away for my pinky and ring finger.
Thanks in advance,
Chef
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by chef4life
Re: Drills and Stretches
One way is to play a two-octave scale starting on the open G string without using any open strings. Then, try the same thing starting on low A.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Drills and Stretches
"....starting on the open G string without using any open strings."
Eh?
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by seisflutes
Re: Drills and Stretches
I think he means other than the first note- using the fourth finger to play the D, A and E rather than the open strings.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Murph
Re: Drills and Stretches
Yes, Murph, that's what I meant. Now that I read my post, it does sound pretty silly-proofreading is so important. We use open strings all the time in our session tunes, and that can constrict the left hand fingers as we play the same patterns over and over again. Playing scales without open strings (G string excepted!) and using the 4th finger is great practice.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Drills and Stretches
Hey Chef! South Park just ins't the same without you!
Actually, the G string on fiddle isn't that much harder to reach than the other strings--assuming you're holding the fiddle in a reasonable posture.
If you hold the neck out in front of your body--at a right angle from your chest--then the G string will be harder to reach.
Instead, try keeping the scroll end of the fiddle pointed out at about 45 degrees to the left. And tuck your left elbow in and forward a bit, so your hand doesn't have to rotate so far to reach the strings.
Also keep your left thumb as relaxed as possible--no need to grip the neck or press the thumb against it.
Hope this helps.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Will Harmon
Re: Drills and Stretches
Thanks folks, especially for the tip about hand positioning. I will give it a shot!
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by chef4life
Re: Drills and Stretches
put your fingertips on the table and lift them one at a time from left to right, right to left, left to right, etc etc... also doing mini-aerobics with your little finger and using it as much as possible on the fingerboard to build up strength seemed to work for me.
Lxx
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Lizzy
Re: Drills and Stretches
"...access to the G string..."
Just be careful. I've been thrown out of Gentleman's Clubs by aggressive bouncers for that.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Drills and Stretches
Reaching into the next position with your 4th finger is pretty common:
Once you can play your first position scales without open strings, reach up and play a C natural on the E string from 1st position without moving your palm up too.
I like to play scales entirely from 4th position but not use my 1st finger at all, so you have to play the note you "would have" played with your index finger by reaching up on the lower string with your pinky.
Another good stretch is to play your scales in double stop unisons (exact same note on two different strings). That'll drive you batty, and probably anyone within ear shot too. Once you finally get them under control, they make a great embellishment that you'll rarely hear anyone use without relying on an open string. The Kruetzer studies has an exercise on these.
# Posted on August 24th 2007 by monkey440
Re: Drills and Stretches
One reason some players find the reach with the 4th finger (pinky) awkward or difficult is that they have the thumb too close to the nut, more or less opposite the the first (index) finger. This constricts the hand. Try moving the thumb towards the bridge so that it is more opposite the second finger. This gives the hand a more balanced position and that reach with the 4th finger will be more manageable. With practice you'll find that reaching the high C (or even C#) on the E string will be no longer be a stratospheric event!
It's worth noting that classical violinists, even at an early stage of learning, are taught to get that good reach with the fourth finger. It's all part and parcel of standard technique for anyone who plays the instrument, no matter in what genre.
The "death-grip" with the left thumb, which is seen only too often, really is "death" to a fluid left hand and finger technique, as well as being tiring. You should be able to move the thumb around easily when playing. One useful exercise is to play a long slow G on the E-string and move the thumb around without altering the quality or pitch of the note you're playing.
It depends on the anatomy of the individual player’s hand, of course, but it also helps to have the last joint of the thumb more under the neck of the fiddle than sticking up in the air by the side of the neck. This makes access to the D on the G-string with the fourth finger that much easier. A relaxed and mobile thumb will enable you to do this when you need to.
BTW, I prefer to use the term "reach" instead of "stretch", because "stretch" has an implication of strain and effort.
# Posted on August 26th 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Drills and Stretches
No, tradpiper, monkey wasn't saying do the scales in octaves - he was saying do them using exacly the same pitch on two adjacent strings - totally possible, and some old players did use to use this as an embellishment from time to time.
The fingering, in case it isn't obvious, is 1 on the upper of the two strings (say, the E string), and 4 on the lower one (in this case, the A string).
# Posted on August 26th 2007 by ethical blend