Comments | fiddle: Update on the fiddle situation

crysania4 in fiddle

Update on the fiddle situation

Jun 22, 2004 22:31

So I got my fiddle last Tuesday...thanks everyone for all your help with it! It's a decent instrument...definitely a fantastic deal for the small amount I paid for it. I had a really good violinist play it and it didn't sound wretched ( Read more... )

Comments 10

hobbitblue June 23 2004, 12:29:14 UTC

You'll need your pinky a lot to reach up for higher notes, its just a matter of it growing in strength over time, with practice (mine is pretty strong from playing the guitar but still feels a bit odd and weak on the fiddle strings ::sigh::). The easiest note to get with it is on the top E string as you don't have to press quite as hard, work on that for strength maybe.

crysania4 June 23 2004, 15:59:47 UTC

Yeah...I thought about that...the only note that consistently appears in Irish tunes that would definitely need that pinky for sure would be the higher B on the E string...a good place to start for strengthening it...you're right. I guess I'll start including that in my little practice sessions! Thanks!

ryanjones June 23 2004, 13:45:00 UTC

What you might want to do is pick up a Hand & Finger Exerciser or something equivalent. They work pretty good for strengthening your fingers. I needed it when learning guitar as the strings were much harder to push down compared to fiddle strings. Hope that helps.

crysania4 June 23 2004, 15:55:01 UTC

I used to have one of those things about 10 years ago...probably long gone by now...lol. It worked well for my first three fingers (there was a time they were all incredibly weak), but I never could press it down with my pinky. Maybe I should go get one again and just keep working at it. It's just frustrating how week it is. The first three fingers I can press down the strings easily with, but that darned pinky...ack!

healing_coyote June 23 2004, 14:04:26 UTC

In traditionnal Irish tunes, the 4th finger is never used, because the open string sound is preferred. And, as one sessiuner(sic) told me, "You will never be out of tune if you use the open strings!"

For me, I use the open strings for airs and such, but for really fast jigs and reels, I have to use the 4th finger or my bowhand can't keep up. :)

Sadly, it's just something that takes time. Technique-wise, the fourth finger does not have to be on it's tip, like the other three, and that might ease your tension.

The best strings I have ever used for fiddling are spirocores, from Shar Music Online.

crysania4 June 23 2004, 15:57:32 UTC

Thanks for the suggestions! I have about a zillion string suggestions now, so I think I'll just start trying them one by one when I need new strings...decide which works best for me. I'm guessing the main use for the pinky in Irish trad tunes would be the higher B...gotta strengthen the darn finger! On the good side, if it gets strengthened from this, it'll help my clarinet playing too.

shortyzazu02 June 23 2004, 20:44:18 UTC

Yeah, I'm a music major and my principle instrument is violin and I have super weak pinkies too. My studio teacher recommended I just try pushing down on my forearm with my pinkie and see how much pressure it can take before collapsing (which isn't much) over and over to strenthen it or apply more pressure to the pinky area when carrying my case if that makes any sense. Don't despair! I've survived 10 years of playing with my weak pinkies, fiddling and music major in all!

crysania4 June 23 2004, 20:48:49 UTC

Well, that's definitely good to know!! Thanks... :-) Good luck with the strengthening exercises.

human_league June 28 2004, 00:04:16 UTC

i've been playing about 4 years now and have only used my pinky this last year. it's almost as strong as the rest, what with guitar and fast orchestra pieces and all. in irish music, the open string is usually preferred but for jigs and such it's a hell of a lot easier, especially when you're frollicking around from string to string. make a 4th finger tape to practice being in tune and just work on using your pinky as much as you can to strengthen it, even though people get quite pissed doing it.

and about the strings, maybe the brand isn't very high quality. break them in a bit and see where that takes you. if nothing different happens, it's probably time for another brand.

<3 lindsay.

crysania4 June 28 2004, 01:36:35 UTC

I'm sure the brand is probably low quality...hell, so is the fiddle. ;-) I'd imagine they put cheap strings on a fiddle that cheap. I have my second lesson tomorrow so I'll probably ask him about that stupid A string and why it sounds so bad...maybe he can correct the way I'm holding the bow for that particular string or something. If not, I might pick up some new strings and look into that avenue!

Thanks! :-)