Violin sound.

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Hi,

I think I need to try a new approach Rob; I'm trying to run before I can walk. I'd very much appreciate your advice. Would it be advantageous for me to spend time learning how to read and play the following;

https://www.violinclass.co/episodes/scalesandarpeggios

This is possibly like learning the English Alphabet before I could read; I need to sight read because of my poor memory so if I can learn each position off by heart I could follow the music score more accurately. I don't care how long it takes me I'm not in a hurry. Because of my circumstances I need to make better use of my studio time rather than messing around the way I'm doing at the moment and not progressing; I don't understand lots of the basics but I need to start somewhere and build on it. I'm acutely aware of my short comings but now I know four ladies who have tried to play a violin and given up; at the barbers this afternoon the lady cutting my hair told me she'd tried playing a violin many years ago; I don't have a violin playing friend I can personally discuss this with and I wouldn't be comfortable spending time away from Bron paying for violin lessons; I've searched locally on the web trying to find a violin teacher who would visit our home for one on one lessons. I'm like a blind person in an unknown location. The luthier who sets up my violins appears to have disappeared I can no longer find his website unless he's taken it down whilst on holiday.

Violin playing is extremely difficult for me and I'm sorry to be such a pest. When Bron finally has her knee replacement allowing freedom of movement after recovery then I'm sure things will also improve for me; I've got the drive and enthusiasm to learn but not the time just yet. Another busy day has rapidly disappeared and I'm too tired to wander into the studio.

I want to dump the bad habits I've already fallen into; if I don't I'll never improve. Next month we will be plunged into another nine month black hole due to altering the clocks; it's already getting dark at 7:05pm. I've spent our usual joke of a summer doing all the heavy outside jobs so winter won't be bad in that it frees up a lot more spare time for me.

Kind regards, Colin.
 
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Well, you picked an instrument that needs more attention to detail. If you tune your new guitars, them accuracy of finger placement isn’t an issue. The snag with wanting to play an instrument is aural acuity. Can you hear when you are not quite in tune, and teach your fingers the correct place? If this is a bit random, then you need to perhaps consider building your listening skills so you can detect when pitches are not close enough. In the video, you didn’t notice the note that was a complete semi-tone wrong. This suggests that it will be quite tricky to progress unless you sort it. Traditional music lessons do indeed place emphasis on scales and arpeggios. If you cannot detect what are called intervals when they are wrong, how will you judge yourself when playing scales? You are using your background to see a note on the staff, recognise its name, direct fingers to the right place, move bow. A mechanical system but with no error checking. The other day you posted a recording of Lara’s theme. Unless you had told us it was Lara’s theme, we would not have known because so many intervals were incorrect. It wasn’t Lara’s Theme, but a collection of notes some of which were one note on the piano away from where they should have been. There are lots of scales but the link you posted shows the scales in lots of keys. The interval between each note in each version is the same, but that means lots of adjustments to your fingering, especially if you play the open strings. These will be wrong in many keys and some keys wont have any of the open string notes at all. This means an adventure out of the basic position using fingers on the strings for every note. I bet that at least one school in your area would give you the name of their violin peripatetic teacher. I think human intervention is vital, so they can teach you what the correct intervals sound like.

Have you tried stuff like this?

The c Major one has no sharps or flats, but then he moves onto G Major and you must remember every F is sharp. Try this and see if you can play along.
 
When I did my music O-Level, one thing the teacher (I was the only student) did was play two notes, and ask me what the interval was.
I was hopeless at it, so don't feel discouraged Colin.
The trick is that we all know popular tunes, which are embedded in our minds.
A good one is from Sound Of Music - Doe a deer....
If you can sing it out loud, or just in your mind, you actually do know the intervals.
 
Raymond is spot on. Very few people cannot learn it. It doesn't matter if you can sing nicely, but if you play a note on your violin, can you sing it? As in hear it, sing it? The snag of course is that to do this you need a third person, maybe your dear wife, if she likes music. If she is feeling ok enough to chat, ask her to ‘test’ you. This supposes she has a good ear too, or course, but might be fun? Violins are tuned in fifths, so if you bow two adjacent you should get a nice drone type effect. Do it on lower strings and see if you can finger the octave up on the next string so it enhances the drone. Get it wrong and it will sound horrible. That is good practice for exact fingering, but also for training your ear to hear mistuning.

I bet you have bought a tuner and use it very precisely. Tune the lowest string. Then detune the second, and put it back by ear till it sounds right to you. Then check with the tuner. My guess is you will find you were wrong. Repeat and repeat till your ear dials it in. Do NOT be disheartened if you discover you get it badly wrong at first.

After all this, if it does not get better, then you chose the wrong instrument for you.i cannot play the violin because the distance between notes is too small for my chunky fingers. I can play bass and cello fine. In your case, if tuning v ears is a real issue switch to a fretted instrument, as you have bought some! Guitar of course are tuned sort of in fourths, so very different to your violin, but it is a new adventure, and i have to say, easier.
 
Hi,

What a lot of information to take in; Thank you Rob; I've just watched The Major Scales video finding it very interesting. As I got more into the video I noticed E Flat Major started playing on the D string (D sharp/E flat) which puzzles me; I thought E notes would be played on the E string but it's just an observation from a novice; I've so much to learn. No I'm unable to hear when I'm out of tune so need to work on this as discussed by both you and Raymond. Yes I have electronic tuners and use one of these to tune the violin also in the past I've used the tuner for finger placement trying to remember positions but I'm starting to understand a bit more; it's listening to what is being played rather than where my fingers are; both important but listening is the more important.

I fully agree Rob I'm playing more like a robot and the outcome is harsh without flow and intervals are all over the place; with yours and Raymond's generous help I'm being guided in the right direction. I have a laptop in the studio so I now need to include this but it's sound output is very low; I might be able to boost this with one of the amps.

Yes Raymond I can sing the Sound Of Music song so I'm in with a chance; I've got Lara's Theme and others on memory stick I can play through the studio radio.

Is there any way I can play against my laptop showing what notes I'm playing; I can do this with the tuner showing both flats and sharps but often my fingers get in the way of the tuner; you mention stubby fingers Rob; I'm built like a stick insect but when I first played against the tuner I think on the A string I had difficulty with just two notes. It's a long while ago Rob you brought my attention to fifths. I don't understand the drone effect but I'm sure as I practice more I'll catch on.

I've got four lady friends who tried and gave up trying to play violins; I'm a long way from giving up; I've wanted to play a violin for the best part of 50 years and it's violin playing I'm interested in. If I end up just playing to please myself I intend to keep my violins; I don't have the same enthusiasm for playing a guitar of other instrument.

Bron is much too ill to help me in any way; she is in so much constant pain it distresses me watching her struggle to visit the bathroom; hopefully this will improve once Bron has her knee replaced but she also has other health issues like Parkinson's.

Whilst typing this I've just broken off for ten minutes to get Bron comfortable with a mug of tea and fruit scone; I even baked the scones a couple of days ago. Today I've got some spare time and feel more relaxed; I've printed the scales off on A4 paper but will have this enlarged making it easier for me to read; a company in nearby Ossett enlarges files for me at only 50p per page.

I've hit a rare lull in daily demands on my time possibly until next Monday when we start the hospital visits again. I do get rather disheartened Raymond but I always think however down I get; Bron is so much worse off than I am. Both you and Rob have reignited my deep enthusiasm to carry on learning to play a violin; thank you both so much it means a lot to me having people like you to discuss violins with. With Bron being housebound I too am virtually housebound afraid to leave Bron home alone; the longest journey we've done is to Leeds for an hospital appointment; I worry about Bron whilst I'm out shopping and visiting local stores. Violin playing is at the moment well down on my list of priorities.

I'll get the scales enlarged and play around with the studio laptop which could prove useful. I've removed the two videos from YouTube; I did achieve what I set out to do getting music from my studio onto YouTube; I can record any progress I make to memory stick and assuming I learn to play better then I know how to proceed with YouTube.

Dinnertime approaching so got to go; everything takes so much time to accomplish.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Hi,

Yesterday afternoon I drove over to Ossett and had the violin scales enlarged to A3 together with the "Fools Rush In" score so I've got something to work with. Today has been busy as usual but this evening at 6:30 I got into the studio for half an hour and I think two things clicked. I didn't understand the major scales; I thought all the scales were played on the four strings with only four fingers or three fingers before moving to the next string.

Now for the first time I looked very closely at the scales and at last I think I understand them; these scales are played on just one string such as "A" (A Major) but without leaving the string all the notes can be played if this makes sense. I was fascinated and was playing adjusting fingering against the electronic tuner noting even the smallest movement made a lot of difference but also what I thought was previously wrong I can now hear the ringing; I thought when I heard this it was wrong but is this ringing the "Sharps" if I've got it right? Some notes like A string E&F really did ring out as did others; on the G string they were rather more subdued but I'll get used to hearing the ringing; open strings are easy enough and if I can now hear the sharps then I'm on my way.

I just feel like the fog is clearing; I had to pack in because my left hand was hurting so much; I've been rotavating in the garden today and because I've not yet mastered using a shoulder rest holding up the violin with my left hand shifting was proving painful; I've only ever played where I could reach without shifting so there are a few things I now need to sort out; I need to free up my left hand then I can play strings full length.

This is because I took to heart the information you Rob & Raymond have been telling me; I hope I'm on track; I can tell the slight differences in tune now but I've a long way to go in memorizing them; I'm as keen as ever to play more with time permitting; I feel really cheered up. Without the tuner I can find the ringing.

I'm tired and worn out but wanted to add this before bedtime because it's important to me.

Kind regards, Col.
 
The ‘ringing’ is called beating. Its actually maths based and is what piano tuners do all the time. If you want to Google for the background, its essentially the musical version of the harmonic series, where the relationships between frequencies make interesting things happen. Back in Beethoven’s days, strings were tuned in a way that meant the early pianos could not play music in every key (as we do now). One key would sound slightly out of tune, while another would sound more melodic. Since those days, we sort of use a compromise tuning that allows keys to be changed.

The drone sound i mentioned is that sound you get when you play two string together, tuned to what is called a perfect fifth. So C and G or E and B etc. The peaks and troughs of the two waveforms align in a particular way that is pleasing. It also works on things like guitars that are a 4th apart, because a 4th up is also a 5th down! This is how we tune instruments by ear, when we did not have tuners - listening for that beat sound.

Its also tricky when instruments have sort of rogue notes. These seem to sing out, as louder and a different tone. These though are unwanted, and are resonance based. The difference between beginners and established unfretted instrument players is accuracy of tuning. With a teacher, your first steps are a two stage process. Correct finger on the correct place, but also then micro-tuning. This develops muscle memory. In ensemble playing, strings constantly micro-tune. You play a B, your neighbour plays a B, and neither of you is bang on. You hear this and shift slightly up, but they hear you and shift slightly down. What happens is the real version of the electronic chorus effect. THEN, they add vibrato. Watch any violin player and you see their finger tips wobble. A little or a lot, but very rarely not at all. This disguises errors in pitch a little, but further enhances the sound. Beginners play a B, miss it by a few mm, but do not correct. The only pitches that are in tune are the open strings. Open strings sound different to fingered notes. Composers use this for effect. This is why guitarists play chords all over the place. They sound different. The open strings change the feel.

If your intention is to fill a few hours and progress is not important, then what you are doing is fine. What i have noticed is this lack of progression. You probably play more than many kids having lessons, where they always say they have practiced when they haven’t. Their teachers always know. You are at one of the barriers. Decision time. Move forward, or not? You’ve just found out about scales, and what are called accidentals, the sharps and flats, but have not really put them into a musical perspective.

Try to think about scales having 12 notes, not 8. Draw yourself a piano keyboard with about 20 notes, with the black and white note labelled with letter names. Remember that some of them will have two names. F sharp is also G flat! Then start on C and go up the Major scale of C. Its the white notes of course. Then start on D and repeat. To maintain the same note spacing it goes D, E, but then the next note has to be F sharp, not F. When you did the C scale, you ignored C sharp and D sharp, but the E was followed by F, both white notes. Starting on D, you must maintain the same not skipping/not skipping spacing.

This will keep you busy for hours. Very important stuff to get into your head as you need to learn scales. Its not about just playing them, but understanding them.
 
Hi,

This is so interesting Rob; thank you; it's a great deal to take in all at once and I need to stop gathering more information at the moment in order to allow me to study your instructions. I'm very aware of my lack of positive progress and as I've explained many times I've often been under a lot of pressure whilst in the studio when I should be elsewhere; I think over the last year I've gone backwards and now want to correct this; I've been playing the same tunes the same way for a long time just to pick up the violin unable to concentrate on doing anything differently; by doing this I've tried to keep my interest in violins alive rather than simply give up in failure.

I'm still under considerable pressure and stress but with luck things should improve over the next few months; Bron will always come first.

Progress will be very slow but I'll make a determined effort with learning the scales and finger placement; I've now got something positive to aim for rather than dashing in and out of the studio doing the same thing over and over again. I've now got the video camera which is very easy to record on and play back through my PC so I'm interested to play correct notes then listen to them; the notes sound different whilst playing to what I hear as a recording; it's all down to learning and lots of practice.

9:45 this morning as I headed into the studio Bron mentioned I'd forgotten something; later today a guy is collecting a machine from me; at 77 I feel I need to look at my life in general; I'm forever bogged down with work so I'm clearing out some of my heavy machines and lots of other items I've been busy using over the years; if anything untoward happens to me all my heavy machines and tooling etc will be a big liability to Bron who wouldn't have a clue what to do with them.

I did try many months ago browsing the web looking for local violin tutors and even emailed one asking if he could visit my home for one on one violin lessons but he didn't even reply; I think the luthier who sorted out a violin for me and sold me a violin seems to have disappeared. If I do find a violin tutor it will be a male tutor; my studio is small so I'd feel uncomfortable with a female tutor; it's possible when Bron is more mobile then I can travel locally but I know I'd worry about Bron falling due to her suffering Parkinson's; life isn't at all easy. Next Monday & Tuesday are hospital days at different hospitals with yet another hospital visit later in the month.

With all the information you've kindly given to me Rob taking your precious time I need to absorb it and stop messing around; I'm sure this information will also be of use to other violin novices if they follow this thread. I can help myself by watching YouTube videos searching for things like Fifths; violin drone sounds and learning to use vibrato; I'm pointed in the right direction so know what to search for.

Emails now to catch up on; I'll get into the studio this evening.

Over to me now and once again thanks so much Rob.

Kind regards, Colin.
 
Hi,

With many thanks to the forum member who contacted me by PM kindly asking if I'm OK; I quickly replied thanking him.

Time has flown by since Sept 7th my last posting so I'll add an update.

Bron is increasingly unwell due to awaiting her knee replacement but now having the operation date set for mid January so we're both counting the days. I'm still troubled by the remains of a severe cold I've had for over three weeks; I'm saddened to have passed this cold to Bron who is now into her second week on top of all her other health issues. The weather which is usually dire has turned wintery; we've had a bit of snow but temperatures are very low making it difficult to get into the workshop or studio; aged 77 I'm keenly aware if I start being silly I could end up with pneumonia so with this in mind and spending increasingly more time looking after Bron I'm virtually grounded.

I'm in a dark place at the moment but I'll never give up; I still wander into the studio when I have a bit of spare time; Over the last few weeks I've bought a new desktop computer and am now using it; I've subscribed to AVC Pro lifetime. In the studio I'm learning to use my laptop; "Fools Rush In" I've got the sheet music but also I've now broken the violin tune down into short bites using Audacity. My excellent headphones are being used to play these short bites set on repeat over and over until it sinks in; my memory is terrible; as I play I'm also using a tuning indicator allowing me to hit the correct notes; I'm playing my Yamaha YEV-104 through the Yamah amp and although this method of learning is highly frowned upon at least I'm playing my violin.

I'm having lots of trouble trying to adjust my Bon-Musica shoulder rest and for the time being have packed it in; my neck is long and I wasted lots of my precious free time messing around with the Bon-Musica. I've watched lots of YouTube videos and I believe as usual I've been totally wrong in concentrating trying to get the Bon-Musica to work for me; I came across videos explaining the chin rest is very important and is the place to adjust first regarding chin height so I'm now looking into this.

I have already bought a number of chin rests but all appear to be a standard height so rather than spending an increasing amount of money I'm going to do a bit of experimenting when it warms up enough to let me into the workshop. Being an old fashioned mechanical engineer I was taught to make just about anything from scratch. This week I've brought one of the chin rests into my warm office to inspect it; unable to get into the workshop to use my digital vernier callipers I used a steel rule and the chin rest adjusters appeared to be 4mm dia which I thought wonderful; I can live with this having already got a 4mm die and taps; what I needed was a left handed 4mm tap and die then I could make the extension parts I need?

How typical of my luck; when the LH die and tap arrived they weren't the correct size; yesterday in frustration I visited the workshop to collect my thread gauges and vernier calliper; 3.5mm is the correct size and none of my thread gauges matched the threads; out of curiosty before spending even more money I went into the studio and compared chin rest metal adjusters; they aren't interchangable although they look identical; OH hum I'm used to this kind of luck.

This is just a minor set back; when I can get into the workshop I'll make entirely new adjusters/clamps from scratch at 4mm; I've got plenty of 6mm steel and brass stock to make the barrels of and as yet are unsure if I've got any 4mm steel round bar stock but it's not a problem; I have a metal lathe. I've been fighting problem after problem since touching my first violin over three years ago and still I'm troubled as life won't leave me in peace to enjoy a bit of retirement.

Two days ago I wandered into the studio having had the heating switched on for half an hour; it was nice and comfortable as I set everything up; with the first part of Fools Rush In playing on repeat through the phones I settled down and started to enjoy playing feeling reasonably peaceful for a change; I was now playing near the correct notes and in time with the phones so I felt quite pleased with myself until I was slapped in the face once again.

I should have paid a great deal more attention to your excellent instructions and advise @rob aylestone; I thought I was doing pretty well until I realized the score was in SHARPS.

If only I could relax and settle into the studio without constant pressure upon me I'd notice a great deal more but I'm doing my very best under difficult circumstance to play my violins at all. Everything is taking so much time; life at the moment isn't good for me and even worse for my wonderful Bron; the weather is terrible; yesterday a heavy storm blasted the bungalow front pressure washing it with cold horizontal rain driven by high wind; last night before going to bed I checked all ceilings for water ingress but was relieved all was well.

To add to our trouble we've had our winter fuel allowance withdrawn and it's stated in the news over 3,500 state pensioners will die because of this during the coming winter due to freezing or starving to death. Where there's life there's hope and we're far from beaten; 2025 could be the turning point we've waited for so long to arrive; Bron will have her new knee and after recovery she'll have her freedom of movement allowing us both to get out of this prison; we have a beautiful detached bungalow but it's a beautiful prison for Bron who is housebound apart from constant hospitsal appointments; I'll carry on as I am until then with Bron my priority but I'm determined to sort out my shoulder rest and chin rest time permitting; it's now 14:17 pm and already getting dark. Life isn't all bad it just seems like it at the present time.

Sorry for the ramble but I've no intention of quitting my violins.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Hi,

Things aren't improving but I've been making time to get into the studio and also the workshop.

This morning I used Audacity to break down into bite sized pieces Scarborough Fair; 21 short pieces to practice over and over the way I've been practicing with Fools Rush In. Having to support the violin with my left hand whilst I attempt to play it is frustrating.

A few days ago outside temperature hit a whopping 12C so I wandered down to the workshop and made a start on the new chin rest taller fittings; I managed to make two extra long adjusters from 6mm dia brass bar stock; these I drilled and tapped at 4mm but then I had to break off to make another meal; it's very difficult indeed juggling my time but I do what I can regarding violins.

Chinrest_017.webp

One way of drilling the small diameter adjusting holes. A lot of care is required in order not to break these small diameter drill bits and taps.

Chinrest_018.webp

An original adjuster in the middle with two extra long adjusters; these can easily be reduced in length if needed. The adjusters were drilled axially to 3.2mm then the 4mm tap run down by hand creating both right and left handed threads. the die holder has one of the dies installed ready for when I can next get into the workshop; after making these two adjusters the outside temperature dropped like a brick so I need to wait until it's in double figures; after my terrible cold lasting over five weeks I don't want to follow it with pneumonia.

I'm juggling with studio heating; do I turn the C/H radiator on for half an hour then just as it warms up I'm wanted somewhere else; so many demands upon my time unaided by this winter weather; it's now 15:30 and almost dark not that it's really been daylight today.

Scores_008.webp

I thought I was doing OK until I noticed I should be playing sharps? No problem though I'm finding sharps aren't too difficult; I'm forever rushing around and when I'm in the studio or workshop I can't settle always with the feeling I should be elsewhere. It's pointless complaing because my violins aren't going anywhere; they're just waiting for me to get a life.

Kind regards, Col.
 
I was watching the morning news program yesterday and they had a short segment about a 10yr old cancer survivor who is learning to play violin. He got to play for the conductor of the Louisville Orchestra on TV during the fund drive for a children's place called Home of the Innocents. It was quite touching.

Don't get discouraged.
 
Hi Colin. Looking for what sharps are in the key signature at the start of the line is the first thing you shoud do.
I was at my guitar orchestra rehearsal on sunday, and I sprinkled more than a few unwanted sharps into the tunes.
The conductor knew it was me.
 
Hi,

Many thanks Rich. It would be so easy to get depressed and discouraged not just with our own personal problems but living here in the UK. Bron and I have had our winter fuel allowance removed; prices for everything are going ballistic; energy prices to increase again from Jan 1st; cars heavily taxed and insurance cost forever increasing. 4,000 state pensioners to die this winter; it's grim. The UK is all over YouTube; what we see of America on YouTube it's no better. Not getting political just the way things are.

Yes indeed; it's very touching to see how youngsters cope with life threatening illnesses; it makes our own problems seem much less. Cancer at such young ages is absolutely terrible.

Thanks Raymond; I always do things backwards way round; if a mistake can be made 100 times I'll make it 103 times because I often repeat my mistakes; I once measured a length of timber five times and still cut it too short; such events aren't quickly forgotten.

Scores_007.webp


Having messed up not playing sharps on Fools Rush In; here's another I've been playing wrong; this time flats on Scarborough Fair. I do learn though because I never quit.

I've a long way to go to catch you up Raymond but at least I know I'm not the only one to play wrong notes; I've become quite proficient at doing this.
30 minutes in the studio this morning and I'll enjoy another session shortly; I don't care what the heating costs; the gear in the studio cost a lot and hasn't been bought to sit doing nothing. Ironing to do first; what fun I enjoy every day.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Col - I think it may be time for you to start a few scales. You threw yourself straight into playing from a set of notes on the stave, but I suspect may have missed the basics of what a Major and minor scale sound like.
What I mean is that you need to start on a note. Any note will do, and with your eyes closed so you cannot see where your fingers go, play a do-re-me scale going up. What you are doing is making sure you are training your ear to that framework of whole step, whole step, half step. If you are playing a well known old tune that has (like above) the three notes for "only fools" and you play one wrong - you should now have a warning bell sounding when you forget the accidental - the F sharp, in this case.

It is CRITICAL you now learn the sound of a wrong note. Remember - you picked a non-fretted instrument, so it is vital you train your ear to adjust your tuning. The slight difference between the note and where your finger makes it a bit sharp or flat. This is something string players must master as quickly as they can. If you get to the end of a song and didn't realise every F sharp you played as F, it's a huge barrier. I'd stop picking new pieces and concentrate on the sound of what you are playing. This ear training is part of what a teacher would have drummed into you. I think you've worked around it and are now playing confidently, wrong - but not noticing. This will be very hard to break the habit, so it's something to work on. Intervals are very important and in the dark, all you can go on is the sound. No marks, not electronic tuner - just the sound.
 
Hi,

Thanks so much Rob for taking the time to add such useful information and suggestions. As I've stated many times my world is upside down and when I do get into the studio I'm constantly clock watching. Because it's so cold it takes the studio time to warm up and this is often longer than I can remain in the studio; not excuses but I've tried my best to get decent studio time for over three years; earlier this week early morning I turned the heating on in the studio looking forward to a nice practice; whilst the studio was warming up I came back to the computer and five minutes later turned the studio heating off; I received an email resulting in a twelve mile car drive each way; when I returned home I then had to sort the dinner out; it never lets up; Bron's in agony every time she moves due to foot and knee pain; she's relying on me full time which I'll never begrudge but I have extremely little time to call my own.

Since tea time today I've done the ironing and now I'm awaiting a guy to visit to collect a DSLR camera I posted for sale on Gumtree; yet another day taken care of; I can dream of a bit of studio time tomorrow?

Sleet showers forecast for tomorrow; is it worth heating the studio for such short practices given the energy cost and losing our winter fuel allowance.

Yes I fully agree I've picked up quite a few bad habits but I've got your generous help and guidence to work with; if I can get into the studio tomorrow I'll adopt your suggestion of learning to recognize notes by sound; it's going to be very difficult indeed because of poor memory but I'm sure I'll make steady but slow progress if I stick with it. I'll reply with how I get on. I can't even add a post onto the forum without having to be somewhere else; my life stinks but Bron's life is even much worse. Got to go but thanks again; it's appreciated.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Hi,

Very early yesterday morning I was determined to enjoy a bit of studio time; I turned on the studio central heating radiator because it was very cold in there; next I made breakfast then did the dishes; after getting things ready for dinner I finally headed into the studio by now it had warmed up sufficienly not to freeze me to death. Not having much time I did a quick practice of Fools Rush In recording this. 30 minutes later I was loading the washing machine. As the day progressed I kept popping onto my PC to export the new violin practice from my Tascam to the PC then in and out during the day I managed to convert the practice and this is the result;



Just doing this occupied the bits of spare time I had yesterday; it's highly frustrating trying to play my violins like this but although you experts will be able to instantly notice my mistakes it's the best I can do at the moment,

This morning I enjoyed another 30 minutes in the studio until I had to come out to get on with the days chores like making dinner; yesterday I completed the washing and drying now I need to do the ironing before yet another mealtime arrives; it all drives me mad and I'm unable to concentrate I'm now playing to suit myself the best way I can; I'm not under any pressure to study violin playing in depth after all it's my hobby but I do enjoy my studio time.

I'm just enjoying a mug of tea before doing the ironing; I sleep well at night.

Happy New Year.

Kind regards, Col.
 
Did you put delay on it? If so, try reducing it (wet/dry). You may find it sounds better without it or less.
 
You've forgotten some of the accidentals, Colin - only fools rush in. The 4th and 6th notes are a semi-tone away from where they should be - maybe you miss-marked them in the music?
 
Yes, there were a few semi-tones gone astray, here and there.
Had an interesting haunting tone to it.
The timing does show a bit of confidence.
I don't even know where my iron is.
 
I hear the missed notes. Being a musical illiterate, I can't read or write music (at least not at speed), but I can hear the notes just fine. You are playing in D major, which has 2 sharps, C# and F#. Remember that there is more than 1 C and F note in the scale, so you play all the Cs and Fs as sharps.

Dmaj scale.webp



Rob is absolutely right that you need to learn the sound of the notes. If you know that tune, you should hear if the note is right or wrong.
 
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