im a beginner violist and i was wondering, when i was watching some pros play, their hands kinda shake when they hold a note and it sounds better. do u learn how to do that or wll it come along after awhile playing?

Which hand? Because if it was their playing hand and not the bow hand then thats called vibrato. Some musicians find it harder then others but I guess it just takes time to learn it and being comfortable with it.

the playing hand, the one thats on the fingerboard

Maggie, don`t even think about it for years. i`m serious. Unless you are doing a vast amoutn of practice, that is.

Liz

What they`re doing is vibrato. You learn how to do it after getting fairly good at playing viola. Don`t try to do it yet... if you do, you`ll make a bad, out of tune sound.

k, thanks

hey guys,
does aanyone have some tips on how to improve vibrato? because im doing a grade 5 exam this year and my vibrato is really not crash-hot. its fine on the A and D strings but when i get to the G and C strings it sounds really bizarre. any tips?

WHat kind of vibrato are you doing? I found that for viola, a slow wide one sounds better on the C & G, usually for me, my vibrato sounds best on the C & G. Might try slowwing it down and making it wider? Just my 2 cents

Cliff

To tell you the truth, I can`t really comment - don`t know what (or if at all) you are doing wrong, sorry.

Ask your teacher for help, that`s my suggestion

Elizabeth ur pretty wrong cos Im a cellist and have been playing for less then 3 months and can already do vibrato very well. And its just as hard on cello as it is on viola.

negative cellist, it`s easier on the cello, my teacher said cellists and basses can do vibrato after a week of playing if they try, but it takes other nstruments it takes longer.

btw, keep the vibrato very loooosssseeeee

Hey,
Thats vibrato. U shud try it only after u got the first position notes right, or else ull mess up ur intonation, and ull have to learn ur notes over..jk. My vibrato sounds better on the A& D strings, on the C& G strings,its better to do it slowly, or else it will sound all fuzzy, and weird. You dont have to keep it all looose tho...LOL. How else r u going to reach all the sharp, flat, and natural notes? Ask tu profesor o profesora for ayuda.