Czardas: Monti - The Harmonics Section, How do you play it? Options

[Claudia's Mum]

Just wondering if anyone can help?

The section in Czardas with harmonics in it: they look like double stops with harmonics at the top but on You Tube they seem to play the top harmonic notes only. Or do you have a choice and can play the bottom normal notes only? Or are they meant to be double stops?

Many thanks!

[Celeste]

They're called stopped harmonics. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Basically, the lower note is fingered as normal, whilst at the same time the upper note is played as the harmonic - ie with the appropriate finger touching the string lightly. Both fingers need to be on the same string, so for the first stopped harmonic - the D with the G harmonic above it - you would play it by pressing your first finger on the D in 3rd position (on the A string) and lightly touching your fourth finger on the G, also on the A string. It's not an easy technique... but it's well worth persevering with. Hope that helps! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jojo]

They're called stopped harmonics. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Basically, the lower note is fingered as normal, whilst at the same time the upper note is played as the harmonic - ie with the appropriate finger touching the string lightly. Both fingers need to be on the same string, so for the first stopped harmonic - the D with the G harmonic above it - you would play it by pressing your first finger on the D in 3rd position (on the A string) and lightly touching your fourth finger on the G, also on the A string. It's not an easy technique... but it's well worth persevering with. Hope that helps! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

yes it's like that, I am practicing this bit at the moment (whenever I am not busy practicing my 'usual stuff') as the day I am 'good enough' to learn this piece, I will feel part of the battle has been won by having 'mastered' the harmonics already (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Violin Hero]

I always thought they were called artificial harmonics not stopped harmonics.

Anyway each note wil be played by moving the 1st and 4th fingers from position to position. The 1st finger will always be placed on the fingerboard with regular pressure whilst the harmonic sound will be made by lightly putting your fourth finger down, like you would do with a natural harmonic.

It is very hard to get these notes bang in tune but keep practicing and you will be able to please them with ease, eventually!

[Celeste]

Oops! I suspect they can be called both, but artificial harmonics is probably more conventional.

[Flossie]

If you are talking about the technique I think you are, then I learnt them as 'stopped harmonics' - admittedly on a different string instrument. I'd guess that both names must be used, although I've never heard them called artificial harmonics (maybe it's a posher name or something). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Claudia's Mum]

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful, we'll give it a go tomorrow (or rather my daughter will as there is no way I can play this piece!).

[ffliwt]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

but yeah as people have already said just play the bottom notes with your first finger and put your 4th finger touching the string... has to be bang in tune for it to sound and use fast bow and bow near the bridge

i originally had trouble with them in this piece and i practised d major scale with only my 1st finger, and 4th finger scales, making sure everything is right on tune! that helped a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) hope it goes ok

[Violin Hero]

Remember that you should always play these notes forte even if it tells you otherwise.

[jojo]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

life is 'funny', I've only ever heard of them as 'artificial harmonics' (rather the opposite than the others on the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

[Flossie]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

life is 'funny', I've only ever heard of them as 'artificial harmonics' (rather the opposite than the others on the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Maybe there's a north-south divide on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[jojo]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

life is 'funny', I've only ever heard of them as 'artificial harmonics' (rather the opposite than the others on the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Maybe there's a north-south divide on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif) could be but violin hero is in the south, just 'up the road' from where I am so....not sure (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Flossie]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

life is 'funny', I've only ever heard of them as 'artificial harmonics' (rather the opposite than the others on the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Maybe there's a north-south divide on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif) could be but violin hero is in the south, just 'up the road' from where I am so....not sure (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Yes, and the two of you are using the same term, the rest of us (Wales, north, and Scotland) are using a different term. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[jojo]

They can be either called stopped or artificial harmonics but i've almost always heard them called stopped harmonics...

life is 'funny', I've only ever heard of them as 'artificial harmonics' (rather the opposite than the others on the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Maybe there's a north-south divide on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif) could be but violin hero is in the south, just 'up the road' from where I am so....not sure (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Yes, and the two of you are using the same term, the rest of us (Wales, north, and Scotland) are using a different term. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

apologies, it was ffliwt who mentioned mostly hearing them called 'stopped harmonics'

anyway, in that case 'us southerners' are always right, therefore they 'are' artificial harmonics (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Little Elf]

just to add another name into the melting pot...my teacher always called them false harmonics (we were in the west midlands)

and once those harmonics are learnt in czardas they are never forgotten. It is over 10 years since I was learning that piece and even now, sometimes when I'm on the bus coming home from work I find myself "playing" the harmonic section and the double/triple stopped section whilst leaning on my right hand and using my right arm as the fingerboard.....

sometimes I catch myself "playing" the first movement of the Bach double violin concerto. I must like a bit of variety in my subconscious violin playing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)