How to Play Viola: Lesson 2 // A String Notes, How to Tune, Hot Cross Buns

[@techwitchkei]

Just wanted to say thank you for making this series of tutorials! Never played an instrument before and decided to start with the viola

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

You picked the best instrument to start with! Thank you for your kind words, and please let me know if there are any videos I can make to help you!

[@melissavictoria8819]

Thank you for making the viola so approachable! I completed this lesson today!

[@cassiesulbaran]

I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for watching, I’m glad the videos are useful!

[@dr.kenschmidt5726]

Thank you! I used to play in college, but stopped due to life’s challenges and work. Now, I am retired and want to play again. I'm starting from the beginning, but with your help I can do it!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Welcome back! If there are any additional videos, I can make to help you on your journey, please let me know!

[@mikes161]

Thank you so much. Just got a viola a week ago. Following your videos one at a time. Perfect. Q? After a practice my left arm hurts? Do I just to relax it more and watch my form?

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Thanks for watching, I'm so glad these help! Wher on your left arm does it hurt? If you're willing to send me a pic of you in playing position, I can send more pointed feedback. My email is [e-mail]

[@mikes161]

@@stringswithdrsulbaran thank you so much I will send some photos soon. Love all these great classes!!

[@itamarcastro278]

Great didactics. I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Thank you for your teaching.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

You’re welcome! Good luck, please let me know if there are any videos I can make for you!

[@davidbeauvais1364]

A very nice viola due to its very unique shape

[@melly_arttt]

thank u im in middle school and learning how to play viola. sometimes the class goes a little to fast and I’m behind 😭 but these videos r helping :)❤❤❤

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

I'm so glad they help! Keep up the great work and let me know if there are any videos I can make to help you!

[@melly_arttt]

@@stringswithdrsulbaran ofc they help :D thank u ur videos r very helpful and I’m learning more and more everyday :)

[@beverleygregory863]

Hi, thanks for sharing. I have been learning to play the violin since January and have been allowed by my violin shop to loan a viola for 3 months. I found your instructions clear and allowed me to feel confident that I will get some help and support from you. Thanks.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

That's so great, I'm glad the videos help! Let me know if I can make any other videos to help you on your viola journey!

[@ataucei]

The last time I tried to learn viola I was a teen. Now I´m trying to learn it again Thank you for the leasons!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Love it! You’re never to young or old to start! Good luck and please let me know if there are any additional videos I can make to help you!

[@caitlynbarrett8217]

Hey I have a quick question during the plucking of notes b c sharp and d my string does not make a sound what should I do

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

My initial thought was that you might not be pressing your left hand into the strong firmly enough. Imagine squishing into a marshmallow with the tip of your fingertip. They should depress the string into the fingerboard gently but firmly. Let me know if that fixes the problem!

[@romanyacik138]

I just got my first viola a few days ago. Thank you for the lessons, but I'm still having trouble finding first position, except to move my hand close to the pegbox, and check the tuner while plucking to check if my first finger is on the right pitch. Do you have any advice so that I don't have to do the guesswork I'm doing?

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Congratulations on starting viola! I use a silver colored sharpie to mark a line on the fingerboard where the first finger goes for my beginner students. The sharpie does not hurt the fingerboard, and it will wear off the more times you correctly place your finger in the right spot. Use the tuner to confirm the exact spot where your first finger is in tune, and using your other hand, mark a sharpie dot next to your finger. Using this as a guide, draw a line horizontally across the fingerboard. I would still recommend using the tuner to check, especially for beginner students. As your ear continues to improve, you will be able to find where first finger goes more confidently. I hope that helps!

[@laurieknapp5264]

This is so helpful! I wish my viola teacher had shown me this way. I never got anything like this instruction. Can you imagine I was thrown into an orchestra and no one ever even explained how to find your finger position? They just put dots on the neck. My mind is blown.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

I’m so glad these videos help!! Please let me know if I can make any additional videos for you:) thanks for your kind words, too, they keep me motivated to continue making videos!

[@dramamamafive]

Thank you! You make these lessons very easy to follow!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Yay you're welcome! Let me know if there are any other videos I can make for you!

[@MeaganWolf18]

Any tips for players with small hands

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

First is the viola the right size for you! No need to play a huge instrument if your hands are smaller. Next is using a center mounted chin rest, thus places the instrument in a better position on your shoulder and makes reaching 4th finger a little easier. Last is your thumb position- if the pad of your thumb is too high above the fingerboard it can prevent your fingers from “reaching” the fingerboard. Try adjusting where the pad of your finger touches the neck to see if it feels easier to move your fingers. I aim to have my thumb pad directly touch the neck with only a little bit of the tip going above the fingerboard. I hope this helps!

[@aridoks]

I'm trying to tune my A string and the tuner is reading f#, what am I doing wrong?

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

If it's reading F# it's too low. If you're comfortable using the pegs, I would recommend VERY slowly turning the peg away from you to bring the pitch up. F# is about a third too low!

[@aridoks]

thank you!

[@grudgehalo1787]

Thank you so much I just started and these are already making me feel excited for starting orchestra next year!!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

How exciting!!! Good luck next year, hopefully these videos will put you at the top of your class!

[@emma-dm3kq]

Thank you for lections

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

You are welcome, I hope it helps!

[@nancysulfridge7925]

How do I make sure I get the right shoulder rest for my instrument? It’s a 15.5 inch viola.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Hi Nancy, any shoulder rest specifically for viola will suit that size just fine. I have a few listed in the description above that I recommend, just make sure you select the viola size (some as listed as 5/4). If you purchase one that is for violin, it will be too small. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any additional questions!

[@joanoconnell5143]

This was really fun. Love, Emily (8)

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!

[@chrishoyt8234]

Thank you for the lessons and for the links below.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

You’re very welcome! Please let me know if there are additional videos I could make for you!

[@matthille1756]

This is my first time ever trying a viola. I bought one at a pawn shop, it has no grippy thing, and I have a beard. It keeps slipping on me. Can I buy a grip for it?

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

By grippy thing do you mean chin rest? If so then yes you can! You might also mean a shoulder rest ( the bar shaped thing that goes on underneath the viola) and yes you can also buy one of those. My favorites are linked in the description of the video. Hope that helps!

[@leighmarsden3200]

Thank you, enjoying these lessons.

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

I'm so glad they're helping! Please let me know if I can make any additional videos for you!

[@Angie-hz8dz]

I loved the tutorial but my strings are tuned but when I press down to play A B and the other notes it won’t make a good sound

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Thanks, Teddy! Can you describe the sound you're talking about? It could be a number of things. Check to be sure you're placing your fingers down on the tips, that your bow hair is flat on the strings, that your bow is rosined, and that it's placed between the bridge and the fingerboard. Let me know if any of that helps!

[@Angie-hz8dz]

@@stringswithdrsulbaran thank you so much I appreciate

[@chaithupenugonda5262]

even though I know most of these things, I got to learn a new song!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

awesome! So glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@Remy4300]

when you play second position do you still press 1

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Do you mean second finger or second position? Second position means I am shifting, or changing where my whole hand is placed. When I play second finger, sometimes I leave my 1 down, and sometimes I don't. It all depends on whether I feel like having 1 down will help or not. I do tell my beginners to leave more fingers down because it helps solidify the hand position. Did that answer the question?

[@leoangleleoangle4735]

thank you for your lessons

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

You’re very welcome! Please let me know if there are any other videos I can make to help!

[@ronaldjensen2948]

So pretty much the same fingerings as a violin just a fifth lower?

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Yes! You've summed up a big difference between the violin and viola perfectly!

[@basilbasilbasilbasil3169]

Thanks! i have wanted to learn how to play!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

glad to help!!

[@anjaturenhout7823]

my viola does not yet produce a nice sound. could that because it without waxing it first. I ám your dutch student

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Hi Anja! By waxing, I think you mean putting rosin on the bow? If so, the rosin is actually refined tree sap, and this is what causes the string to vibrate. If you have a new bow and have never rosined it before, you might need to apply quite a bit the first time. I hope that helps!

[@anjaturenhout7823]

Thank you, @@stringswithdrsulbaran

[@jdlambert8]

Thank you!

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

you're very welcome, please let me know if there are any other videos I can make that might help!

[@cherylswanson7772]

confusing because i cant figure out how to put my finger on the string with out making a bad note

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

Hi Cheryl, what do you mean by a "bad note"? Is it out of tune? Something else?

[@craigdriver8750]

you are going to fast for the songs

[@AaravAryal-u1v]

to hard

[@stringswithdrsulbaran]

what is too difficult? Can I explain something in a different way to help?