Okay, this is the issue:

I want to play a simple sequence of 4 notes:

8th, 8th, quarter, quarter;

now these notes, played on the D string, are:

D-sharp, E-natural, F-sharp, G-natural,

and they are marked with that "swoosh" symbol that indicates playing all 4 in one stroke.


Okay, I hope that wasn't confusing, here is my junky graphic version:

=====================================

=====================================
1
================1=====1==============
_--- 1 1 1
===l=====1======1===( )==============
1 1 #( )
===l===( )===========================
#( ) .
. .
. . . . . . .


So here is the question (and I know it is a bit obscure, and hard to notate, but bear with me): what fingering should one use to play this? The problem is that in normal first position, the index finger is responsible for hitting two different notes- this would not normally be a problem, except that since it is meant to be played in one continuous stroke, if you lift the index finger, then you will briefly play D-natural, and if you slide the index finger from D-sharp to E-natural, since there is a continuos bowing, you hear the slide as a gradual rise in pitch, which sounds really odd and goofy.

In this situation, should one play the D-sharp with the index, the E-natural with the second finger, the F-sharp with the third finger, and the G-natural with the 4th finger? I suppose this works, but it feels really unnatural, as the last three fingers are used outside their normal range in first position......

Help!!!

The forum interface took out the spaces in my graphic- here is another version:


=====================================
.....................................
=====================================
......................1..............
================1=====1==============
...._--- 1......1 ....1 .............
===l=====1======1===( )==============
...1.... 1...#( )....................
===l===( )===========================
#( )...............ooo...............
... oo..........ooo..................
......0000000000.....................


<Added>

Sorry again, lol:

=====================================
-------------------------------------
=====================================
----------------------1--------------
================1=====1==============
----_cccc1------1-----1--------------
===l=====1======1===( )==============
---1-----1---#( )--------------------
===l===( )===========================
#( )---------------ooo---------------
----oo-----------ooo-----------------
------0000000000---------------------

Okay, just so that you don't sound like an idiot : The "swoosh" is called a slur.

I tried this out on my violin. You could finger the phrase either way; sadly, there is no shortcut That I can think of.

How you would play it depends on the situation you're in. If this is part of a piece for a large orchestra, then there shouldn't be a problem sliding your finger from D# to E. However, your hand will have to be very slick, quick and accurate. If you do this successfully, then it will come through clearly enough.

However, if it is a solo piece, then clarity is very important. In that situation I would reccommend you finger it 1 2 3 4. This would require that you shift your entire hand down a half step. If you have never done shifting of any kind before, this will pose as a problem, because if you do not shift back to home position accurately you are going to be extremely out of tune. The only way to get it accurate is to practice.
Here's how: Once you are shifted down a half step, the spaces between your fingers would be as if you are playing E F G G# instaid of D# E F# G. Your index and middle finger will be close together, then there will be a space and then your ring and little finger will be touching. Your hand will be farther towards the scroll, but only slightly, so you should get the notes. If you don't, play it until you do . The main problem will be shifting in and out of that position.

To practice the phrase in context so that it flows naturally, play a measure before that, the measure the phrase is in, and a measure after it at as slow a pace as you can take it- probably two thirds or half speed. Play it through about ten times, making sure that you are in tune. you are training your fingers here, and the last thing you want is to train them wrong. Then take it back up to speed and play it ten times.

Whenever you have difficult fingerings or shifting in a piece, it really pays to get it perfect, as you will then be more comfortable with it the next time there is that difficulty. Same with rythms.

Remember, when you do it right the first time, it saves time, because you don't have to do it wrong over and over again.
Hope I helped!

It is indeed a solo, so that is why I felt it was an issue.

Slur... lol, I knew that.......

I guess I wanted confirmation that the half-step shift up was the best solution, given the circumstance.

Thanks for the input! Now I can be a bit more reassured.