Hi, when I play I sometimes get squeaks and from what I understand this is from bad bowing technique. BUT I don't have a teacher to tell me how to improve my bad technique.
Is there some generic advice or any online tutorials which anyone knows of that might help. If it helps it's mostly on my E string.
Thanks
- Make sure that that bow is always making a right-angle with the stings, and that it is at always at a constant distance from the bridge (i.e. not "skating" up and down the string). Using a mirror may help you with this
- Make sure that the bow is at the correct tension (you can experiment with this, by tightening or slackening the bow a little., and testing the result
- Make sure that you are using enough (but not too much!) rosin.
This is Todd Ehle's video on getting a good tone---playing into the string. Combine that with good clean string crossings, and that should eventually solve your problem (it takes lots of practice). If you don't have a teacher, you should definitely watch all of his videos---he explains things beautifully (I wish some Irish fiddler would do the same kinds of videos on YouTube!). They're all listed here:
a word of caution about using alcohol to clean strings: i've been told by people who make violins to be VERY careful about this because alcohol is a solvent, and can affect your instrument. also, you can use a cork to clean the rosin off strings, and i've found this works pretty well, and it's easy to keep one in your case. i like a glenmorangie cork, but that's a personal choice.
Basic technique (good tone, straight bow, clean string crossings, etc.) is the same whether you're playing Irish fiddle or classical violin. Lollypop can ignore the videos on vibrato, spiccato bowing, and other things she won't need for fiddling.
years ago when i started playing fiddle my strings would sometimes squeak. i changed the strings. the problem was too much rosin. just a couple of drags of rosin on the bow is enough for quite a few tunes. you can try wiping the strings off like i did but you may end up with just changing the strings and moderating the amount of rosin rubbed into the bow hair.
Lollypop that point by Mix is crucial - keeping the bow square to the
strings. I found in my own playing more of a tendency to have a crooked
stroke on the E and G. One thing that may help is thinking about keeping
your right shoulder back in the normal position. In other words, if you
stand straight without the fiddle, arms at your sides, shoulder relaxed and
back (class "good posture") that's the right position for your right shoulder
while you're bowing.
One other point regarding the use of alcohol to clean strings (apart from the point already made about making sure that the alchol dooes not get on to the body of your instrument).
If you are going to use it, buy surgical spirit for the purpose. Methylated spirt contains various nasties which might damage the strings.
Don't be conerned about the # of tunes and be sure to listen to good irish players... leave the classical technique to the classical musicians... regardless of the good intentions the classical advice falls short of what is needed to play irish music.
Oh McCracken! Well that goes without saying. Would you like to play jigs and reels and sound 'Irish'? How do you achieve 'nyah' and 'lift' in your music?
Classical technique is not going to help with that.
How do I bow without squeaking? We don't need to consult the mysterious old oracle in the paddy cap near the back of the pub, we have several hundred years of musical study to help with bowing without squeaking!
Fiddle Squeaks
Fiddle Squeaks
Hi, when I play I sometimes get squeaks and from what I understand this is from bad bowing technique. BUT I don't have a teacher to tell me how to improve my bad technique.
Is there some generic advice or any online tutorials which anyone knows of that might help. If it helps it's mostly on my E string.
Thanks
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by LollyPop
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
A recent thread about it:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/21000/
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by Ramiro
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
A few thoughts:
- Make sure that that bow is always making a right-angle with the stings, and that it is at always at a constant distance from the bridge (i.e. not "skating" up and down the string). Using a mirror may help you with this
- Make sure that the bow is at the correct tension (you can experiment with this, by tightening or slackening the bow a little., and testing the result
- Make sure that you are using enough (but not too much!) rosin.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZR_vx0Ghfc
This is Todd Ehle's video on getting a good tone---playing into the string. Combine that with good clean string crossings, and that should eventually solve your problem (it takes lots of practice). If you don't have a teacher, you should definitely watch all of his videos---he explains things beautifully (I wish some Irish fiddler would do the same kinds of videos on YouTube!). They're all listed here:
http://www.toddehle.com/id69.html
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by kennedy
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Clean the strings, remove the rosin with alcohol.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Thanks you guys, I'm going to give all your suggestions a try! Wish me luck!!
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by LollyPop
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
a word of caution about using alcohol to clean strings: i've been told by people who make violins to be VERY careful about this because alcohol is a solvent, and can affect your instrument. also, you can use a cork to clean the rosin off strings, and i've found this works pretty well, and it's easy to keep one in your case. i like a glenmorangie cork, but that's a personal choice.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
why point him to a violinists site when we're on an irish site talkin about fiddle?
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by McCracken
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Same instrument McCracken, exactly the same. Every fiddler has a different set up, but the Violin is the fiddle by a different name.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Basic technique (good tone, straight bow, clean string crossings, etc.) is the same whether you're playing Irish fiddle or classical violin. Lollypop can ignore the videos on vibrato, spiccato bowing, and other things she won't need for fiddling.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by kennedy
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
years ago when i started playing fiddle my strings would sometimes squeak. i changed the strings. the problem was too much rosin. just a couple of drags of rosin on the bow is enough for quite a few tunes. you can try wiping the strings off like i did but you may end up with just changing the strings and moderating the amount of rosin rubbed into the bow hair.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by pitcairn
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
so its the same is it? thats a new one for me...
sounds completely different to me...
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by McCracken
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Well McCracken, you _can_ teach an old dog new tricks.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by Hup
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Lollypop that point by Mix is crucial - keeping the bow square to the
strings. I found in my own playing more of a tendency to have a crooked
stroke on the E and G. One thing that may help is thinking about keeping
your right shoulder back in the normal position. In other words, if you
stand straight without the fiddle, arms at your sides, shoulder relaxed and
back (class "good posture") that's the right position for your right shoulder
while you're bowing.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by Hup
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
'classic good posture' is what I mean to write
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by Hup
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Amen to good posture. There's no substitute for playing relaxed.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
One other point regarding the use of alcohol to clean strings (apart from the point already made about making sure that the alchol dooes not get on to the body of your instrument).
If you are going to use it, buy surgical spirit for the purpose. Methylated spirt contains various nasties which might damage the strings.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
I'll try the cork first then lol!
I've been practicing getting my bow in the correct position and it sounds a lot better already so thanks!
Now I just need to learn more than ten tunes and I'll be off to a session lol.
Cheers
Lauren
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by LollyPop
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Ten is enough; go right now! You have to do a lot of listening and talking
to people, not just playing.
# Posted on May 5th 2009 by Hup
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Don't be conerned about the # of tunes and be sure to listen to good irish players... leave the classical technique to the classical musicians... regardless of the good intentions the classical advice falls short of what is needed to play irish music.
# Posted on May 6th 2009 by McCracken
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
McCracken
Just curious ,do you play the fiddle ?
# Posted on May 6th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Fiddle Squeaks
Oh McCracken! Well that goes without saying. Would you like to play jigs and reels and sound 'Irish'? How do you achieve 'nyah' and 'lift' in your music?
Classical technique is not going to help with that.
How do I bow without squeaking? We don't need to consult the mysterious old oracle in the paddy cap near the back of the pub, we have several hundred years of musical study to help with bowing without squeaking!
# Posted on May 6th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler