Fixing Finger Spacing On The Violin: An Essential Guide to Left-Hand Fingering

[@erictheviolinist]

Want to learn more about left hand finger spacing? Check out this video here --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnvVn6qDa9ylnJI

[@vincemcmahon9867]

My left hand starts to strain even when I’m laying down with the violin just fingering the notes. I played sports my whole life and all kinds of stuff but the violin is much more physical than I thought it was. I underestimated this beautiful work of art

[@M_SC]

It’s very physical, a lot of skill and talent is simply How many reps you’ve done on the various little motions and muscles and stretching ability. And posture.

[@BlueButterfly-77]

Thank you! As someone with a small hand, hearing you saying that the pinky doesn't need to be round it's really relieving! I'll start using your tip on my practice :)

[@erictheviolinist]

Awesome! I’m so glad. Let me know how it works out 😊

[@moniquemoreau3213]

Thanks, Eric. Was recommended your vid by another beginner. 1.5 years and still trying to get the left fingers comfortable and moving well to improve intonation. I will work on your advice as I definitely see my fingers staying too close together and hampering my pinkie.

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped . Thanks for watching, I hope you stay connected with the community 🙂

[@David__.]

Appreciate your explanations, good clarity! Esp as a beginner of about 6 months.

[@erictheviolinist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joannabarboza]

Thank you so much! This made so much sense. As a beginner i could immediately tell the difference from how i was doing it. Thanks again for your sharing your violin wisdom!

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome! I’m glad I was able to help 😊

[@claudio8313]

Very good and truthful video. When I extend and articulate hand and I feel good. However, it is also true that the articulation is more extended to the first position of the violin. More I go forward in the positions, more my hand shrinks and I have more difficulty. I am waiting for your new video on this thing.Thanks!

[@erictheviolinist]

I will put it in my notes to make a video for this! Thanks for watching and I hope it helped.

[@olgamarshall8965]

I'll check the other videos yes.

[@_pigeons_]

I play viola and I couldn't find any viola videos on this issue, but since the principals of both instruments are quite similar this video was still very helpful, thanks!

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome! It applies on viola as well. Thanks for commenting and engaging with our community ☺️✌🏻

[@barriereid9244]

​@@erictheviolinistI am a cellist, learning the viola to be able to assist in composing outdoors. Unlike Yo-Yo Ma I don't have roadie's to cart a cello up the mountain to play in a forest. I have open fingers on my cello but not so much with a smaller, tiny small fingerboard. Thanks for your advice 🍻

[@meiyara.manawari]

so helpful !! esp to me whose starting out learning the violin. tysm ❣️

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome!

[@NagarajanVasudevaRao61]

Very good teaching and demonstration. Clear to listen. Thanks.

[@fzakhia]

Very pedagogic!! Thank you!!

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome! Hope it helps.

[@fzakhia]

It helps greatly!! Many thanks, I love it!!@@erictheviolinist

[@masterpys2693]

Thank you so much. This is really helpful. I started practicing the violin around a week ago and had a lot of issues with how my fingers move around. Following your advice and tip I made good sounds and less mistakes.

[@erictheviolinist]

I’m glad it helped!

[@StephenTallon-x5x]

Great video. My "natural" left hand position puts my thumb behind my index finger. I actually place my thumb against the pegbox/nut to give me a landmark when setting my left hand on the neck. Is there any problem with my thumb being behind my fingers??

[@erictheviolinist]

Not at all!

[@jenniferconger7029]

Wow, you are amazing. Thank you for this video. My violin shelf was in the crease at the base of my left index finger, and I was struggling to reach the D string. Moving it down to the position you demonstrated fixed my fingering instantly. ThankyouThankyouThankyou!

[@erictheviolinist]

You're welcome! I'm so glad it helped! Thank you for watching and being a part of this community :)

[@diaxzathre]

Thanks Eric❤

[@erictheviolinist]

@@diaxzathre you’re welcome!

[@rebeccax42]

Thank you for breaking down the hand positioning so well. Explaining the left wrist angle was very helpful for me; I didn't realize i had my wrist "up." The notes became much easier to play once i started to keep my wrist more relaxed and curved outward! 🎉

[@erictheviolinist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Rebekah-c6n]

This video is very useful

[@erictheviolinist]

I’m glad!

[@Sing2YAH]

Im a beginner... thank you for your videos!!

[@erictheviolinist]

You’re welcome 😊

[@alonii.]

thank you so so much i've been playing violin for like 3 years now and my fingers were always flat and close together and i notice that advanced players had their fingers curved so i decided to fix that tonight and it is so much easier to play and switch notes. This is the most helpful video I have found about teaching violin techniques thank you so much.

[@JLARoxs]

Even after 20 years playing this video is very good information👍

[@erictheviolinist]

Glad you liked it

[@Bacon420]

I bought a violin today. I've seen tons of videos, but oooh this helped a lot. My wrist was totally trying to go too far. I was so excited for my first instrument in 5ths because it makes it so easy to know where all the notes are! I feel like I'm cheating a bit since I already know! I can pluck tunes like a boss, but oooh my bow shoulder hurts after the first few hours. Really working on all that noob stuff to make it more comfortable.

[@M_SC]

You shouldn’t be playing for hours at first..: sorry. Stop before it hurts much.

[@M_SC]

(Because you will injure yourself)

[@Bacon420]

@@M_SC Oh I did take breaks. I am so amazed. I do play lots of other instruments, but never anything with a bow! I promise to be careful. i'm just feeling the burn a little! I should work out more.

[@erictheviolinist]

Keep at it, slow and steady! Welcome to the community my friend 😊✌🏻

[@Bacon420]

So cooool.

[@tessahoward6044]

Brilliant video thank you 🇬🇧

[@erictheviolinist]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kummilsudheer]

Thank you so much dear

[@edwinjumbomedina2107]

Que opinas de Ruggiero Ricci? Su forma de poner la mano

[@shervinrezai5802]

Great tips

[@erictheviolinist]

Glad you like them!

[@xhotdog100]

Great video, thanks for posting! My pinky tends to curl up a lot, especially when my 3rd finger is pressing down. Any advice?

[@riohalawa5696]

Thanks bro. 🙏 I'm a guitarist, and learn violin to teach my little one. But i'm strugle with this fingering thing. 😂 Totaly diferent fingering and you help me alot. thankyou so much. 🙏🙏🙏

[@JustViolin-57]

YO WOW , YOU THA DOUG YAUY!

[@patriciahandy8447]

I love your videos

[@erictheviolinist]

Thank you!

[@hum596]

Can you make vid about resonant pls

[@erictheviolinist]

Absolutely

[@thatonespaniard6509]

​@@erictheviolinist Yes, please. If you have time, and you're willing to do it, it would be very helpful and I would be so grateful for it. God bless you, man.

[@samuelgerena6548]

Hi eric, thank you for your videos. I am practicing with my teacher the left hand sevcik, im currentlt playing open A , C , B , C and B, D, C, D and C, E 4th finger , D , E , and my 2nd finger always moves up the string when im playing the D note or the E 4th finger and it takes my 2nd finger out of tune more to the c# area, oh and im playing 16th notes with metronome. Any sugestions on how to work out my 2nd , third and 4th finger so i dont get out of tune? My teacher is working with me on this but running out of options lol😊

[@erictheviolinist]

Try spacing out your fingers using the back of the hand. Ideally, your hand frame will guide you fingers the notes naturally. Try taking a look at this video I made on intonation. Hope this helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i56aaad4ar2FmZI

[@xclucvt]

So the finger, especially 1st finger, doesn't have to fom a square? Good to know. Relaxed hand here I come!

[@erictheviolinist]

Let me know how it goes!

[@xclucvt]

@@erictheviolinist teaching myself, so I'll try to remember

[@lakshyagupta2841]

When I'm playing the d string ,the A string get silent because of my finger's side ( opposite side of nail) what should I do l

[@waelkash]

I have a problem fingering the correct note. I tried stickers, small tuning device that can fixed at the edge of a violin and also tried depending on ear. While playing, I think I'm doing fine, but when I listen to my recording, I find it very bad 😢. Any advice?

[@erictheviolinist]

Try experimenting with finger tip vs finger pad

[@isabellalucia7820]

How much does thumb position contribute to this hand position? It always seems to me that my tense students are pinching their finger board between thumb and fingers, but I don’t know how to fix it.

[@erictheviolinist]

The thumb plays a role in the hand position. The left thumb should be soft and not over-gripping the neck of the violin, this will cause the knuckles to go below the fingerboard and create even more tension.

[@edmcwv]

Thump placement??

[@frankprior924]

WHAT IS THE THUMB DOING

[@HayItsRhy]

Probably under the neck

[@dingo8mekids]

Summary of information: 1. Expand fingers using back of the hand If there is no space between fingers, the left hand will not relax. Relaxing the fingers will help agility. - Adjust the wrist inward so the pinky is over the fingerboard - An exception to the “curve” of the fingers is the pinky (flat). Using the pad of the finger will accomplish better intonation. - Spacing of left hand helps guide fingers to correct position

[@sparrowhawk7marlowe420]

Should i press down hard on the strings with my bow or lightly? I get the scratchy noise a lot. Lol

[@erictheviolinist]

Try using more weight on the bow by bringing your arm down. Let me know how that works out!

[@veroniquevanderveken8526]

I just started in September with violin. (I’m 43) and last Monday i used for the 1st time my pinkie on the D string. But i couldn’t get my pinkie there 🤣. I felt suddenly old and stiff 🤣. I tried to pull my elbow in.. but still no good result. But my teacher tomd me to not force my pinkie. It takes time and its the hardest finger. Needs lots of practice. So i hope that i will get my pinkie there someday

[@erictheviolinist]

Keep at it!

[@patriciahandy8447]

I have MS so both of my hands give out.

[@fasteddie8782]

I needed this lesson,I'm 2years in with really trying to play the fiddle.. muscle memories what I got to learn,indell these shapes into my muscle memory ..

[@mikmik6767]

Augustin Hadelich is italian ;)

[@erictheviolinist]

Italian-German ☺️✌🏻

[@boonsfrc]

I just posted a video of me playing after 3 days of practice can you please watch and give me some pointers, I really need it. Please and thank you

[@sabernoble1720]

3:54 had me geeking out, I’m only four days in though

[@olgamarshall8965]

So hard 😢

[@erictheviolinist]

Hope it helps!