I just got a violin for Christmas and it comes with a video and all of that. I got rosin on my bow and I can get a decent sound out of it (sometimes), but it`s hard for me to tell if it`s out of tune. the G string sounds a bit strange to me, but my Dad says it`s fine. How am I supposed to know? The video let`s you hear how it`s supposed to sound and how to tune it, I think there`s also a CD. But I`ve always been bad at tuning instruments (such as the guitar). For some reason, I just can`t hear if it sounds right. Although I do know if a song sounds right or not (of course I can`t play any songs on the violin yet!). Help!

Another thing, I seem to make the violin sound worse when I look in the mirror to try and play. Do you think it might be better just to bow it without looking in the mirror to see how it`s done and just listen and feel for the right sound? Or do you have to look in the mirror to see if you`re bowing it straight? I dunno.

Also . . . Know of any website that will show you where the notes are and where to put your fingers on the fingerboard? Just wondering.

~ Stravinskysaurus

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

Scroll down on the page for some very good lessons on the Folk of the Wood website. But keep in mind that this really isn`t a substitute for having a teacher.

Years ago I couldn`t afford both a violin and lessons. I rented a violin and tried to learn from a book. I ended up giving up in frustration, unable to even hold it comfortably. Now I`m back again, this time I`m armed with a violin I purchased after lots of research and recommendations and an instructor ready to teach me beginning monday morning. Wish me better luck this time!!

that is fair comment, violin is NOT an easy instrument.

Yes you do need to be bowing straight!

If you can`t tell whether the G string is in tune or not then no-one online is going to be able to help you. I should try tuning it and see if you can get it to sound better.

We always send ours in tune, makes life a bit easier for the person receiving it.

Liz

I too got one. Resin, and case. Well.. .Tuner. Thats it. Lessons are to expencive right now. So I teach myself. I ahve made alot of progress for one month and a bit. ^_^ My strings keep breaking. I have to take my pegs out and sand them. They were sticky when it was make, and were shoved in while they were still wet. Oh well. My Violin scares me. Today I broke a string, hit my eye. So right now I could not care less about tuning it, I will get someone else to do it for me!!

Melissa, if your strings are breaking then you are doing something wrong. Cheap strings just don`t break very often. Are you sure you`re not trying to tune it to the wrong pitch?

Liz

Err... No? I am rather unsure of what I do. The stirng, hanging loose, was pulled tighter. I played it to teh tuney thingy, and it was still to loose, tightened it more. It was still to low, literally touched the knob, and the string broke. And it was G too! I would tink that one is hard to break!?

Yes that one is hard to break. You have me baffled now!

Liz

Think my violin does not like strings? Pfft... Stupid thing. It was expencive too..

you could try cheese cutter wire
i havn`t tried it yet
but i`m sure
it will make you look like you`ve been practicing for an insane amount of time every day.

Heh heh... No thanks... Cheese cutters... And Violins? Just not happy time.