[Video] 3 Tips To Improve Your Tone As A Beginning Violinist Or Violist

by Zlata | Jul 8, 2013 | Beautiful Tone | 7 comments

Hello Zlata. My name is Wendy. I’ve been playing violin for 19 months. Now I’m kind of lost because I don’t know what should I practice to improve the tone. If you have time to take a look at my video and give me some advices I’ll be really appreciated. Thank you!

In this video I will give 3 tips on tone improvement for beginning violinists and violists. I share the mistakes that most beginners make in tone creation.

Tip 1: Bow straight!

The sound of the violin is different depending on the place of the bow on the string. Going from one place to another on the string while bowing gives a sound you don’t want. You can’t see if you’re bowing straight, so practice in the mirror and correct yourself.

Tip 2: Bow in the string, not over the string.

Do this with the weight of the arm, not pressure. Pressure will kill the tone while you are creating it. Weight will create a nice rich singing tone.

Tip 3: Have a relaxed bow hold.

Although the bow hold can seem very unnatural in the beginning, try to relax your fingers (gummy bears!). A bow hold is something in motion, not something rigid. The motion in your fingers should come from your under arm. Your fingers move along with the bow, your bow doesn’t move along with your fingers.

Thank you for watching Violin Lounge TV!

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7 Comments

RAJAN on October 18, 2014 at 7:28 am

thanks
very informative & educative
Reply
- Violinist Zlata on October 18, 2014 at 11:37 am
  
  Thanks for watching and commenting!
  Reply
Kate on June 7, 2015 at 10:30 pm

Love the videos. Thankyou!.
Do you have a video / tip on learning positions?
Reply
- Violinist Zlata on June 8, 2015 at 9:42 am
  
  Thanks for your compliment, Kate, I’m happy you like the videos.
  
  Perhaps you can start with this one: https://violinlounge.com/how-to-play-in-the-second-position-on-the-violin/
  And perhaps this one: https://violinlounge.com/9-things-you-can-do-about-sloppy-position-play/
  And here are all videos I made on position play: https://violinlounge.com/?s=position
  
  And if you really want to know all about positions and how to play all over the fingerboard with confidence… subscribe here: http://www.violinloungeacademy.com (soon to be: http://www.violinviolaacademy.com for those who read this comment later).
  
  All the best,
  
  Zlata
  Reply
shehzad on December 22, 2016 at 1:14 pm

Hi
I am shahzad.and i love the sound of voilin from childhood.in each our song voilin used.on hearing song my attention on voilin sound.now i want to learn it. I have not a voilin.
Reply
Thisbe on January 29, 2020 at 9:33 pm

Good tips again! I did hang a mirror in the livingroom in the corner where I practice. It works so well, by one look I can be surprised about yourself, sometimes see my body or arm in a strange curve although it did not feel as unnatural. And it makes it easy to correct yourself.
Reply
- Violinist Zlata Brouwer on January 30, 2020 at 8:51 am
  
  Good work!
  Reply