You've saved my hand, I rarely comment on videos but this has been the single most important left hand technique video I've seen. Coming from classical guitar technique, the correct mental imagery is to close the hand, today I found out the same is not true for the violin. Thanks!
This has helped me so much! I was starting to have pain in my left wrist. I was gripping the neck way too hard and finger tapping is a great mental reminder to keep things loose. Thank you so much!!
I was working on left hand placement, and felt lots of tensions. After my practice, I found this video, and out of disbelief, I just reopened my case and tried to mimicate this motion. It is a life changer. Gotta introduce this in every practice from now on! Thanks!
I'm really impressed with this advice. I was trying to fix my index finger hand to not be on the wood. That gived me a lot of tension, difficulty with speedy notes and a weird vibrato. Now everything makes sense!!!!
Thank you so much, just for the comment about patience! I get so frustrated as every other instrument I play I pick up quickly. But this one...jeez. And it's my favourite. I get so frustrated. I needed to hear that.
Thank you so much for this video. Everyone has always told me to imagine grabbing a ball... which doesn't work right for an athlete because a ball is nearly whole hand contact with relatively small fingertip use for the grip (primarily tips are used in the release to control trajectory). SO MANY things fell into place and feel way more natural with this technique you just spoke of!
It helps to show the other side where the thumb is and in relation to the violin touching the first finger. (I'm no pro, played a LOT in my youth, have had not good habit with my thumb being right under the finger board). Would have loved to se you play showing both sides. With that said, thanks!
This seems like a GREAT tip!!! I have a question that I hope I can explain with words. I have very large hands and a fairly high thumb position. If you try using a high thumb position yourself, where do you imagine your fingertips tapping? I don't mean on the strings but with your concept of the fingertips touching the pad of the thumb, where do you imagine your fingertips touching when you have a high thumb position and the neck is resting much lower down the thumb? Thanks in advance for your input.
Great question! It's actually exactly the same. The idea of this mental exercise is that, once your thumb touches the neck of the violin, the entire neck and fingerboard is now just an extension of your thumb, so it doesn't really matter what kind of thumb position you use, because in none of the other thumb positions will you be touching the fingers to the pad of the thumb either. It's the concept of the finger motion and the thumb leveraging that is important. I've got some students that use high thumb position, and this idea worked just as well for them, at least when they remember to do it, haha.
Thanks for helpful advise! Today started to learn Violine and made very first and totally experiences to produce few sounds. But it is a great challenge to work on it to play at least a simple song soon!
not sure if ill do that or not. I played guitar for so long i dont think its worth it for me to regress my muscle memories. I was at least doing vibratos and one paganinni arpeggio on key but trying it this way in the first position just throws all of my dexterity out the window that i acquired from guitar. i did however learn to be able to play higher up the neck note vibratos without hitting my wrist. i've only had a violin for a month and its a terrible brand ive discovered, also feels kind of too small like it could be a cheap one for someone smaller(bought at pawn shop). i may be getting a better one this Christmas. I did find other than standard tuning i like sawmill tuning , any cross tunings you recommend for bluegrass or maybe a more sad sounding cross tuning?
Hi, beginner fiddler here. So should you aim for your thumb to be on the opposite side of the neck as opposed to the side of the violin? I totally get where this video is coming from, it does seem natural but where it differs from the real thing is that the pressure of the thumb and finger aren't canceling each other out since they're "pressing" in different directions as opposed to pressing towards each other... if that makes any sense.
The key is developing complete control of the shoulder and elbow. If you can completely shut off the shoulder motion and turn on the elbow motion, then you'll be on the right track for keeping straight bow. Now, there are times to use the shoulder, but the shoulder motion must follow the elbow, and this usually only happens at the last portion of the bow near the frog. Other than that, it's all elbow. But, even so, having that absolute muscular control is a must. The next thing, and this is very important, practice in front of a mirror, obsessively. That will be the main thing telling you how perpendicular your bow is to the strings. After you can play with straight bow watching yourself in a mirror, then the key is to take that same feeling in the arm that keeps the bow straight away from the mirror. So start playing in front of a mirror, watching yourself, and really try to feel what your arm is doing while playing with the bow straight, and then close your eyes and try to keep doing it. Then open them and see if you are still playing with straight bow (you are still standing in front the mirror while your eyes are closed). Keep doing this until your arms know the feeling of playing with perfectly straight bow without having to look in the mirror.
I was watching a Yehudi Menuhin left hand technique video. It appears he only contacts the violin with his thumb and has a space on the other side of the neck. It doesn't appear you play this way. I find it near impossible to support the violin doing it Menuhin's way. I can see how if you could you would gain incredible freedom in the left hand but it seems impossible for me. I think many violinists do not play this way so I would say it's not necessary but I wondered if you could comment on this. Have you tried at all to play that way?
Ineffective explanation that only makes sense to you. You seem convinced of the effectiveness of your explanation. I guess making another useless video is cost effective
You've saved my hand, I rarely comment on videos but this has been the single most important left hand technique video I've seen. Coming from classical guitar technique, the correct mental imagery is to close the hand, today I found out the same is not true for the violin. Thanks!
How are you converting between the two instruments? Do you find your guitar playing has changed after playing violin?
This has helped me so much! I was starting to have pain in my left wrist. I was gripping the neck way too hard and finger tapping is a great mental reminder to keep things loose. Thank you so much!!
I was working on left hand placement, and felt lots of tensions. After my practice, I found this video, and out of disbelief, I just reopened my case and tried to mimicate this motion.
It is a life changer. Gotta introduce this in every practice from now on!
Thanks!
I'm really impressed with this advice. I was trying to fix my index finger hand to not be on the wood. That gived me a lot of tension, difficulty with speedy notes and a weird vibrato. Now everything makes sense!!!!
Brilliant. Can't wait to try this. I'm old and have picked up my violin again after a long gap. The tapping idea seems a good thing.
One of the best violin tips i ever saw. Thanku!
I think this is very good actually,; not ill-considered at all. It has imnediately helped me! Thank you.
That’s a good one. And to say enjoying and learning from all your content so far. Thank you..
Glad you are enjoying. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much, just for the comment about patience! I get so frustrated as every other instrument I play I pick up quickly. But this one...jeez. And it's my favourite. I get so frustrated. I needed to hear that.
Thank you so much for this video. Everyone has always told me to imagine grabbing a ball... which doesn't work right for an athlete because a ball is nearly whole hand contact with relatively small fingertip use for the grip (primarily tips are used in the release to control trajectory).
SO MANY things fell into place and feel way more natural with this technique you just spoke of!
Thank you for everything.
Awesome explanations, thanks!
I was squeezing the violin and your demonstration of tipping the fingers helped me understanding the correct technique thank you 👌
Great video and terrific instruction!
Thank you so much for this, your simple explanation is going to help me fix so much!
4:00 the point
It helps to show the other side where the thumb is and in relation to the violin touching the first finger. (I'm no pro, played a LOT in my youth, have had not good habit with my thumb being right under the finger board). Would have loved to se you play showing both sides. With that said, thanks!
I'll give that a go! Thank you!
This seems like a GREAT tip!!! I have a question that I hope I can explain with words. I have very large hands and a fairly high thumb position. If you try using a high thumb position yourself, where do you imagine your fingertips tapping? I don't mean on the strings but with your concept of the fingertips touching the pad of the thumb, where do you imagine your fingertips touching when you have a high thumb position and the neck is resting much lower down the thumb? Thanks in advance for your input.
Thank you! Your insight is so helpful and very appreciated!
Great question! It's actually exactly the same. The idea of this mental exercise is that, once your thumb touches the neck of the violin, the entire neck and fingerboard is now just an extension of your thumb, so it doesn't really matter what kind of thumb position you use, because in none of the other thumb positions will you be touching the fingers to the pad of the thumb either. It's the concept of the finger motion and the thumb leveraging that is important. I've got some students that use high thumb position, and this idea worked just as well for them, at least when they remember to do it, haha.
Great tip I’ll use it
Thanks for helpful advise! Today started to learn Violine and made very first and totally experiences to produce few sounds. But it is a great challenge to work on it to play at least a simple song soon!
Can you explain please what you mean by leveraging, a term i’m unfamiliar with. Having pressure?.. thanks, Chris, N Z
Thank you
I think I’m one of those students you mentioned at the end who clenches the thumb - any videos on how to work through that?
this solves all my problems, my hand kept cramping up and wouldn't you know this solved it.
That seems legit. I'll try it out. 👍
matur suksma
not sure if ill do that or not. I played guitar for so long i dont think its worth it for me to regress my muscle memories. I was at least doing vibratos and one paganinni arpeggio on key but trying it this way in the first position just throws all of my dexterity out the window that i acquired from guitar. i did however learn to be able to play higher up the neck note vibratos without hitting my wrist. i've only had a violin for a month and its a terrible brand ive discovered, also feels kind of too small like it could be a cheap one for someone smaller(bought at pawn shop). i may be getting a better one this Christmas. I did find other than standard tuning i like sawmill tuning , any cross tunings you recommend for bluegrass or maybe a more sad sounding cross tuning?
My son has double jointedness and his thumb tends to curve backwards, which leads to clenching. Any suggestions for that?
Hi, beginner fiddler here. So should you aim for your thumb to be on the opposite side of the neck as opposed to the side of the violin? I totally get where this video is coming from, it does seem natural but where it differs from the real thing is that the pressure of the thumb and finger aren't canceling each other out since they're "pressing" in different directions as opposed to pressing towards each other... if that makes any sense.
I'm still not getting it
Could you advise me how to keep my bow always straight? Xiexie
The key is developing complete control of the shoulder and elbow. If you can completely shut off the shoulder motion and turn on the elbow motion, then you'll be on the right track for keeping straight bow. Now, there are times to use the shoulder, but the shoulder motion must follow the elbow, and this usually only happens at the last portion of the bow near the frog. Other than that, it's all elbow. But, even so, having that absolute muscular control is a must.
The next thing, and this is very important, practice in front of a mirror, obsessively. That will be the main thing telling you how perpendicular your bow is to the strings. After you can play with straight bow watching yourself in a mirror, then the key is to take that same feeling in the arm that keeps the bow straight away from the mirror. So start playing in front of a mirror, watching yourself, and really try to feel what your arm is doing while playing with the bow straight, and then close your eyes and try to keep doing it. Then open them and see if you are still playing with straight bow (you are still standing in front the mirror while your eyes are closed). Keep doing this until your arms know the feeling of playing with perfectly straight bow without having to look in the mirror.
I grip the finger board like I hold a wrench 😢
I was watching a Yehudi Menuhin left hand technique video. It appears he only contacts the violin with his thumb and has a space on the other side of the neck. It doesn't appear you play this way. I find it near impossible to support the violin doing it Menuhin's way. I can see how if you could you would gain incredible freedom in the left hand but it seems impossible for me. I think many violinists do not play this way so I would say it's not necessary but I wondered if you could comment on this. Have you tried at all to play that way?
Ineffective explanation that only makes sense to you. You seem convinced of the effectiveness of your explanation. I guess making another useless video is cost effective
Why do bitter? Just from seeing the other comments u can tell it isn't useless
Sorry it didn’t work for you. But it helped a lot of folks. Keep watching videos and someone will explain it in a way that it will click for you!