I am a new Violinist, started on Christmas. (It was a present.) I have had no lessons yet (can`t afford them) but I have made alot of progress. I teach myself online, and need some pointers. I am playing Spanish right now and cannot move my fingers quick enough at certain points. I try but end up messing up. Is it because I need more experience before playing fiddle et cetera, I started at begginer, and still am! I am fine with my bowing, but like say I may need to change froom say.. Oh I don`t know string D finger four to String E finger 2 and then G two really fast. My fingers would have to flail. So what do I do, to do this properley. Any pointers?

I`m not sure what you mean by "Spanish". To be honest it sounds as if you are trying to run before you can walk. The string corssings you are describing can only be done as staccato leaps and that is an advanced technique.

Liz

Maybe you would do better to save money and have lessons, after all a computer screen can`t point out any mistakes or bad habits you may make. I also agree with liz, and altough you may find it slighty boring it would be a wise investment to take it steadily and begin with the basics....?

Very true. By Spanish I mean Spanish. The real stuff. Nothing hard, meant for begginers, it says the level is begginers, so I can play it. Now I can anyways, just figured out the full tune of it today. Ratehr simple stuff`in if`n ye` ask me`h. It`s on the site... Just a minute.. Here it be; http://www.8notes.com/scores/391.asp and then be clinkin` Midi gif to hear it, I can play it. Not the piano of course. I don`t like to play piano. I have an electric one, my grandma got it for my to learn, I hate it so much i would burn it if I was aloud, but mom says I have to stop lighting things on fire inside... She never said anything about the outside? No no. I love the sound of a piano, just don`t have the taste to play one. But anyways, back to the topic, I know I should get a lesson person.. Wassacalled? Teacher! (I am out-sane, Fear me!)(Technically in my land of far awayness, I am normal, but not in my eyes, most likely not in yours either. :S) I will be, in near the end of this month we get 7 grand canadian, so then I will get lessons. Until then, fend for myself. I am actually donig rather well for no teacher, or so I am told. Three piddley songs I can play. Pfft.... Not much to talk about to others, let alone boast. No I don`t bost.. *Rubs chin* Or do I...? I should tape record myself. I am sorry for my acts... I just ate cookie... *Gives everyone a cookie.*

That cookie tasted crap!!!? Hmmm... you really are crazy!!? And as for pianos, who needs em, they`re for lazy c*nts like Maksim and Mylene Klass. V`s the way to go!!?

Yes, I am crazy. I am sorry you did not like my cookie. I didn`t cook `em.. Mom did... :P I put poison in yours... :D Anyways.. I like the sound of piano yes, why do you not like them? They have a ancient sound...

I do really. I like the intro to `newborn` from muse, its my fave!!!? Your mum still makes you cookies.... HA... didnt realise you were that young!!?

Pfft... I made them.. My mom mixed it.. I was posting this while she mixed... I burnted the cookies. I amthirteen... Fourteen this year. Lol... Anyways.. I broke yet another string today. Stupid thing.

Melissa, you must be doing something wrong. they just don`t break like this.

liz

I know they don`t break.. They shou;dn`t. Today I will be taking the pegs out and sanding them down lightly, then they will not be so stiff. I would think that works... Did with others. Anyways... I will just go purchase a new string now. Tootle pip everyone!

Melissa, I don`t think you should be messing with the pegs at all. I wouldn`t, and I sell violins for a living. you don`t know what you`re doing. They could end up too losse and therefore slipping all over the place. My advice is to take the violin into a music shop and ask them to show you how to tune it (buy some music while you`re there or it looks bad!), you simply must be doing something wrong unless perhaps there is a very serious problem with the nut but I`ve never seen one bad enough to break strings at this rate.

Liz

I, myself, did a stupid mistake, when i was tunning the thing for the first time. My G string went *CAPIIING*... then i noticed that i was tunning it... for the D... lol... just tune it right - it`s not the fault of the pegs!

Well.. My father played like 40 years ago, and showed me, and said to me that they should not be doing that, and I DID go to a music store, and asked them (didn`t buy music though)what to do. They told me the same thing, sand it LIGHTLEYto remove and bumps for a smoother tune of things. And if it`s so slippery come back to him, and he will give me some funky glue-like stuff... But hte good news is I broke NO strings today. :D And I can play Spanish Violin perfectley. I am also getting lessons next week. (This week I am going to the states!) Thanks for your help everyone!