Boo - this is a deep subject. Can you describe the problem and your approach in more detail? What part of the bow are you using generally - tip, middle, near the frog? Does your bowing arm stay down regardless of what string you are playing? Do you slur much or play mostly single bows? There are lot of smart people here (myself excluded) who can probably help you, but we need to know more.
Joe
Boo, the number one hint for getting rid of problems with fast passages is to stop trying to play them fast. Really. That's the very flip and semi-funny version, but honestly, try playing very very slow -- so slow that you could scream with boredom. Do that with one tune for a week that you're having problems on. Practise every day for at least 20 minutes, the same tune, really glacially slow -- use the time to concentrate on feel and emphasis of the beat and bowing. If you do that for a week, bet you'll have that tune much faster and much better afterwards. Just like magic, only magic usually works faster than a week.
Try it. You won't like it, but you'll improve.
As for your bowing wrist, if you know you play with it bent (I'm assuming you mean bent the wrong way), then stop. Watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you're not doing it wrong while you're practising slowly. And, btw, I know lots of great players who keep their arms down.
I'm with Zina... if you're having trouble with "fast bits" you're probably playing too fast for your ability. As far as bowing technique is concerned, your wrist and forearm should be relaxed and you should be communicating the weight of your arm to the bow through your index finger. Your wrist should be fairly straight - ie. in a straight line from your elbow, not arched above the frog - and loose. The quickness you're after comes primarily from practice, but you'll find loosening up your wrist will help you throw the bow around with a bit more freedom.
You'll probably need to lift your bowing elbow as well. When you're on the G string it should be fairly high, and drop closer to your side as you move to the E. It sounds like you might be doing too much work with your wrist already keeping the bow in place to allow you to use it for rhythm and speed.
There's the technical approach... Here's the wholistic approach: Give 'er. Don't be afraid to make some noise. The low elbow, arched wrist phenomenon is common with people who are trying not to be offensive. Go see a really phenomenal fiddler and pay very close attention to what she does with her bowing arm. Then, as Zina says, you can learn a lot from watching yourself play. I, personally can't watch myself in a mirror because I can't seem to play the way I would be playing if I wasn't watching myself in the mirror. I do watch better players than myself (and there are oh, so many) and rip off their technique, one succulent morsel at a time.
Zina has a good point. A guy told me one time that if you can master a tune slowly, the playing it up to speed will come on it's own. I've found that to be true in most cases. There have been exceptions.
fiddle technique
fiddle technique
I am problems with my technique. I play with my bowing wrist very bent and arm down and have problems with fast passages. Any suggestions?
# Posted on March 3rd 2002 by boo
Re: fiddle technique
Boo - this is a deep subject. Can you describe the problem and your approach in more detail? What part of the bow are you using generally - tip, middle, near the frog? Does your bowing arm stay down regardless of what string you are playing? Do you slur much or play mostly single bows? There are lot of smart people here (myself excluded) who can probably help you, but we need to know more.
Joe
# Posted on March 3rd 2002 by Carrmuse
Re: fiddle technique
Ha to that, Joe.
Watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you're not doing it wrong while you're practising slowly. And, btw, I know lots of great players who keep their arms down.
Boo, the number one hint for getting rid of problems with fast passages is to stop trying to play them fast. Really. That's the very flip and semi-funny version, but honestly, try playing very very slow -- so slow that you could scream with boredom. Do that with one tune for a week that you're having problems on. Practise every day for at least 20 minutes, the same tune, really glacially slow -- use the time to concentrate on feel and emphasis of the beat and bowing. If you do that for a week, bet you'll have that tune much faster and much better afterwards. Just like magic, only magic usually works faster than a week.
Try it. You won't like it, but you'll improve.
As for your bowing wrist, if you know you play with it bent (I'm assuming you mean bent the wrong way), then stop.
Zina
# Posted on March 3rd 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: fiddle technique
I'm with Zina... if you're having trouble with "fast bits" you're probably playing too fast for your ability. As far as bowing technique is concerned, your wrist and forearm should be relaxed and you should be communicating the weight of your arm to the bow through your index finger. Your wrist should be fairly straight - ie. in a straight line from your elbow, not arched above the frog - and loose. The quickness you're after comes primarily from practice, but you'll find loosening up your wrist will help you throw the bow around with a bit more freedom.
You'll probably need to lift your bowing elbow as well. When you're on the G string it should be fairly high, and drop closer to your side as you move to the E. It sounds like you might be doing too much work with your wrist already keeping the bow in place to allow you to use it for rhythm and speed.
There's the technical approach... Here's the wholistic approach: Give 'er. Don't be afraid to make some noise. The low elbow, arched wrist phenomenon is common with people who are trying not to be offensive. Go see a really phenomenal fiddler and pay very close attention to what she does with her bowing arm. Then, as Zina says, you can learn a lot from watching yourself play. I, personally can't watch myself in a mirror because I can't seem to play the way I would be playing if I wasn't watching myself in the mirror. I do watch better players than myself (and there are oh, so many) and rip off their technique, one succulent morsel at a time.
# Posted on March 3rd 2002 by Kerri Brown
Re: fiddle technique
"Give 'er"? *giggle*
# Posted on March 4th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: fiddle technique
Yeah, give 'er! Tear up them strings there, bye! That's what it's all aboot, eh?
# Posted on March 4th 2002 by Kerri Brown
Re: fiddle technique
Zina has a good point. A guy told me one time that if you can master a tune slowly, the playing it up to speed will come on it's own. I've found that to be true in most cases. There have been exceptions.
# Posted on March 8th 2002 by flyinfiddler
Re: fiddle technique
Thanks for all the help. I will try to slow down and straighten my wrist. If I need any more help I know where to come.
Boo
# Posted on March 10th 2002 by boo