Hi Everyone,

Wondered if anyone had any tips at all? I have a little problem. On my old violin, I have finger strips, all well and good. I just got a rather snazzy new violin and felt better than to deface it with such things But I have a problem in that some things I play - particularly Ode to Joy - constantly sound out of tune on the new violin, no matter how much inching I do either way on the strings. It seems to get worse the longer I play. I've tried moving from one violin to the other to get the placings right, but am not having much success. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

You can check if your third finger is correct since if it is the string below will vibrate sympathetically--D3 is G, A3 is D, E3 is A, it might only be playing the D3 that causes the G to noticeably visibly vibrate, but you should hear the others.

Get your teacher to show you how to play in tune (if you have a teacher), someone showing you and explaining things step by step is a great help.

Like Jacobi said....in 1st position, check your third finger against the string below, and you can check your fourth finger against the string above (of course make sure your violin is tuned properly, if it has new strings, it will go out of tune even every minute you play, you might have to tune it twenty times or more during your first practice session after new strings are placed).

So, third finger on D string is a G, listen to the sound you get from 3rd finger on D then listen to the sound the sound you get from open G, of course the G you get from 3rd finger on D string is an octave higher but it will still sound like a G.

For fourth finger on D, this will be an A so you can check it against the open A, these 2 will be exactly the same.

Play the scale in the key your piece is on several times before you play the piece, very slowly, listening to the sound you get from each note, again when playing the scale check against your open strings, is Ode to Joy in A major?? (can't remember), if so play A major scale (it's either A major or D major being a grade one piece )

Also play the arpeggio many times over before you play the piece.

Can you sing it in tune, or hum it in tune?

If so, play the piece by humming or singing each note, just before you play it - you'll then hear if you're in or out for each note. This will develop your ear to listen for each interval as you attempt to play it. Remember that your interval tuning is more important than your note tuning - technically if you start sharp, then all the other notes must be sharp too for the thing to remain in tune and you need to develop your ear to the point where you are always listening to every interval and making sure that it's in tune and adjusting it (albeit very quickly) if it's not.

It's a listening thing much more than it's a finger thing, in my opinion.

Do you look down at your fingerboard as you play? I find a lot of beginnners do this, to the detriment of their playing. Make sure you keep your eyes on the music and listen for the notes rather than looking. You will ony get a distorted (foreshortened) view if you look down at where your fingers are; your ears are a much more accurate guide.

Have you tried playing the scale of Ode to Joy before you try the music itself? That'll help you get used to getting your fingers in the right position.

Another tuning tester is that 1st finger in 1st position will be at the same note (an octave lower) as the open string 2 strings up. Only works on your G and D strings, but it can help.

Yet another idea - play your scales very, very slowly adjusting fingers as need be.

It will take time to learn to find the notes yourself - a bit like it takes a kid longer to learn to ride a bike himself after relying on stabilisers than it does for one who never had them, but it can be done. Stick at it and you'll find, one day, it just falls into place.

How long have you been learning? Everyone plays out of tune from time to time!!

Or that it will ring a perfect fourth with the string above.

Thanks everyone - it's helping a lot!

Keep at it, bob... it's frustrating, but it's well worth training your ears so you don't need the finger markings any more. In the long term, you will be glad of it!

is playing in tune really a faux-pas? i knew i was doing something wrong... ;-)