hi everybody,

does anyone have any tips for violin players w/ long and skinny fingers? would that make a difference at all to the placement on the violin bow AND when pressing onto the string?? would it affect the sound produced with smaller surface areas pressed against the string? i`ve seen a couple of violinists play and most have fleshy finger tips. any tips for holding the violin bow or placement on the fingerboard?? i appreciate any advice. thank you..! =)

Well, the truth is fleshy fingers produce a better warbing/vibration, thus giving u a more resonant, richer tone. U can make up for the thin fingers by placing more imp. on yr bowing. Making it more secure and precise. That will make up slightly for the difference in tonal quality. Or alternatively, this is what u can do. This`s a cruel but effective method to help yr fingers become more fleshy. I picked this up from a friend of mine. He was a retired associate violin professor with the Beijing Conservortory of Music. He gets students with thin, boney fingers to rub their finger tips hard against the table evryday for at least half an hour. And what u get after this prolonged rubbing is a buldge of flesh underneath the finger tips. The idea sounds crabby, but it actually works. But I personally will not use it, caz the idea itself is disturbing. These funny Chinese men...One simply must respect their will when it comes to getting what they want.

my advice to you is to trust your own ear , keep in mind that some things you may need to adjust on your own for goo tone etc... I have THE longest, skinniest bony fingers

Quoted...:my advice to you is to trust your own ear...
That`s some wise advice really.

BTW, another method is to articulate yr notes more by doing the `thump thump` for each and every note. Lift and throw your fingers.