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Hello all,
I'm a violinist who also plays the viola and have a problem with my C string. It seems to be very unresponsive, particularly in third position and higher. I'm aware that significantly more pressure is needed but it's almost impossible to play quietly.
I use Dominant Pro strings and a top end Coda bow that shouldn't yet need a re-hair.
Is it possible that a lighter guage string will make this easier to play?
TIA
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Hi, @curranr I think, not positive the lighter gauge will workmeasier, but I am not positive. I am not that experienced on the viola. I am going to notify Violaman about your question.
Welcome to the forum.
Mouse
The Bumble Bee Flies
Learn Viola on Violaman and Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk
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Thanks for your help Mouse, very much appreciated.
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You are welcome. I am hoping for more violists and cellist to join in on the forum for more sharing and helping.
The Bumble Bee Flies
Learn Viola on Violaman and Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk
Regulars
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Hi curranr,
I couldn't answer your question -- clearly you are vastly more experienced than I am -- but I'm curious, have you managed to solve your C string issue?
(I have always had issues with the C string, but they're the 'beginner' kind of issues : not related to specific strings.)
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curranr said
Hello all,
I'm a violinist who also plays the viola and have a problem with my C string. It seems to be very unresponsive, particularly in third position and higher. I'm aware that significantly more pressure is needed but it's almost impossible to play quietly.
I use Dominant Pro strings and a top end Coda bow that shouldn't yet need a re-hair.
Is it possible that a lighter guage string will make this easier to play?
TIA
Hi TIA,
YES, you definitely need more pressure simply because the C string has to be higher on a viola to avoid the wide vibrations from that lesser tense low pitch string from touching the fingerboard when playing with power.
HOWEVER, in order to play softly on any instrument you need to keep a few things in mind.
1) play away from the bridge.
2) Even when you are pressing harder with your left hand, don't let the tension carry over to your right hand. Use angled bows so that less hair is touching the string if you want to play even softer. Less pressure will still work as long as the left hand fingers are sufficiently reaching the fingerboard.
Regulars
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Less pressure will still work as long as the left hand fingers are sufficiently reaching the fingerboard.
Less pressure with the right hand and more with the left? interesting. I'll have to try that - how light it's possible to go with the bow.
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Hi @Violaman and @wtw
Thanks for your reply. Angling the bow and playing further from the bridge are techniques I carried over from the violin so I'm guessing that my issue is solely pressure related. That's fine, I can work on that.
I have experimented with lighter guage strings and although there is an improvement it's minimal. I'm also starting to think about setup, since the effect on certain notes in higher positions is similar to a wolf note effect and seems to have worsened over time.
Thanks again,
Richard
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@curranr Just an FYI, I tried replying to the email from you, but it is always undeliverable. Weird because it was being sent as a reply to your email reply to my email to you notifying you of the comments to you by Violaman and wtw in regards to this post. Hope you followed that. Do not post your email address here to try to clear up the issue. 🙂
I did it as a reply, and the address in the reply to you was exactly what I used originally, and what shows in your email to me. So strange.
The Bumble Bee Flies
Learn Viola on Violaman and Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk
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