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Beth Gilmore posted an update 3 months, 1 week ago
I am learning a tune for a group. I belong to that is predominantly on the g string. I have a lot of difficulties playing the game playing the g string because my fingers are short, Also I have a bad shoulder, so I can’t crank my shoulder back very much. I therefore have to hold the fiddle more towards the front of me. Any suggestions for exercises etc? That I can do to improve my reach on the g string.? Thank you
I notice having the instrument tilted is a big help in reaching the G string. And it can also take adjusting ones shoulder rest to accommodate a new angle of instrument. What I mean by this is changing the angle in which the instrument sits on our bodies. If my violin is on my left shoulder, I have it positioned tilting down and towards my bow arm, creating less of a reach for the furthest string away, the G.
As for the fingerboard arm, it helps to bring the elbow and the thumb further under the instrument – if using left arm, then bringing elbow more to the right. Try this without playing, have a really nice loose grip on the fingerboard, so your whole arm below your elbow adjusts with the elbow as it moves (wrist, hand, fingers tilt with it).
These simple movement/ergonomic exercises can be great to isolate on their own, and trying going in both directions of more angle/tilting to less, being gentle with ourselves along the way. Then eventually finding a position and range of positions that we are comfortable with.
Keeping openness to moving throughout our playing in these various ways will help with relaxing and releasing tension from staying in 1 position.
Thanks for reaching out on this, Beth. Be interesting to hear what you experience in working on this. 🙂