How to Play in High Positions More Comfortably | for Small Hands

Here are some tips on how to play in high positions on the violin, including where to place the thumb and some thoughts on vibrato up there. Demonstrations for players with small hands.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
1:39 - Path of the Thumb
3:52 - Optimize Weight Distribution
6:35 - Posture
7:31 - Bringing Instrument Slightly Higher
8:48 - Fingerpad vs Fingertip
9:48 - Thumb as an Anchor
12:32 - Vibrato in High Positions
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[@anndon690]

THANK YOU🙏 I WAS TRYING TO PLAY IN THOSE POSITIONS AND MY HANDS WERE HURTING AND NOW I KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING WRONG

[@Violinna]

Hooray! So glad it helped

[@nickcarroll8565]

Great tips. If just never been comfortable sul g beyond a high A. Will give your tips a try.

[@Violinna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bartmeijer1954]

When I was young I did not learn to put my thumb next to the fingerboard. So for me, this is a case of an old dog learning a new trick. Clear and detailed explanations such as in this video surely help!

[@SF-ru3lp]

Have dipped back in to the video again now that I have to learn double stops very high up. Am thrilled to see again the later tips: resting the base of the thumb on the violin 'shoulder' and strongly consider hand vibrato. These will save the day for me, Inna. Big thank you. G Ire

[@Violinna]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching

[@locxuan6251]

Cool !!!! I love it !!

[@gibcard]

Very very helpful! Thank you.

[@Violinna]

So glad to hear! 😊

[@MichaelWHull]

Really excellent as always!

[@Violinna]

Thanks so much, Michael! :)

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Very clear explanations!

[@Violinna]

Thank you, April!

[@kayaviola]

Inna your videos are so clear and helpful! Awesome!

[@Violinna]

Thanks, Kaya!😊

[@ramkatgroups]

Thank you for your clear explanation.

[@Violinna]

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching and subscribing!

[@ViolinHobby]

Thank you Inna for the great lesson. I'm actually applying your teachings in my practice nowadays. Third finger as anchor and thumb closer to third finger really make using the fourth finger so much easier like you've said. 👍👍👍😻🙏

[@Violinna]

Sorry if I was confusing in the video. Thumb should never be across from 3rd finger.. if anything closer to 2nd..

[@ViolinHobby]

@@Violinna 👍👍👍🙏

[@rogeriooliveira856]

Ótima explicação sobre o assunto,suas orientações técnicas me deu mais clareza sobre como tocar nas posições mais altas.obrigado por compartilhar seu conhecimento.parabéns

[@Guitarlessonsbybrian]

good job 👍🏻

[@Violinna]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@darlenerivest148]

Brilliant! I will definitely try resting my hand on top of my instrument in those really high positions. I'm currently playing the Passacaglia by Arvo Part. It's so high. These tips will really help a lot!!

[@Violinna]

Goodness...that piece is sooo difficult..and so beautiful! Are you performing it soon? Would love to listen!

[@darlenerivest148]

@@Violinna A friend and I are recording it tomorrow for her church benefit. It's rough 🥺

[@user-fl5mv4rm2p]

It's very helpful. Thank you. Can you give me a small hand high position vibrato lecture? Especially the little finger.

[@user-fl5mv4rm2p]

For your information, my pinky is 4.5cm long. The palm length is 9.2 cm. T.T Please help me..TT

[@Violinna]

Hi, do you take private lessons? I think this is something better addressed one-on-one but in more general terms/based on what you wrote, you would have to probably get your left hand more rotated/come around enough to reach with pinky. Again, can't say exact what is the best solution right off the bat. Also, remember that vibrato in high positions would have smaller amplitude since half steps are much closer...

[@user-fl5mv4rm2p]

@@Violinna Thank you for your reply. But I am Korean and I live in Korea, so it is hard to take private lessons^^;

[@SF-ru3lp]

I bought a 7/8 size violin, Inna. It really helped. Seemingly people (ladies) with small hands traditionally played on a 7/8 size instrument. It is a huge relief to me and now high passages and 'jumps' are much more possible. G Ire

[@Violinna]

Glad the 7/8 violin is helping you! =)

[@nickcarroll8565]

Do you find that you get as strong of a sound out of the smaller instrument? Granted I’m sure it’s worth the trade off to be able to reach even if you get a smaller sound.

[@SF-ru3lp]

@nickcarroll8565 Hi Nick, I'm not playing super duper top level instruments... I am getting a much better sound because my hand is poised correctly (and is not overstretched). I can make the large shifts and my hand dies not feel like it is on a medieval torture rack 😆. I can't even think back to a full sized violin now. This is one I can actually play with a good sound. I might up grade to a better quality one later. I also got the strings set more closely and lower to the finger board. And that increased the 'confort' level. Small hands, fingers and fingers pads are whole other ball game that's not much known about by usual teachers imo. Nice to chat. Best regards. G Ire (adult student)

[@SF-ru3lp]

​@nickcarroll8565 Hi Nick thank you for your question! Answering it meant that I watched thd video again and I need the later points as a matter of urgency! I had forgotten thst I'd seen these helps. Best regards. G Ire

[@DivaDeb1234]

This is off topic but your chin rest looks comfortable. Could you tell me the brand /model ?

[@Violinna]

It's called Berber model!

[@kyproset]

thank you. The only problem I see is the transition from the neck root to the side of the fingerboard and more importantly back from there to the neck.

[@Violinna]

Thanks for watching!

[@sm9846]

🙏🙏🙏🌹🌺🌷🌸

[@neopagan1976]

What about playing in 4th position? At this point, I'm learning how to shift, and I find it very difficult to shift to and play in the fourth position both my wrist get incredibly tense and my fingers can barely reach the strings especially the G string.

[@Violinna]

Practice left elbow swings under the violin - this motion comes from the shoulder. Swing the elbow to the right as you shift up. hand angle and thumb will come along.. This is all much easier to teach in a lesson than type out. Do you take lessons?

[@neopagan1976]

@@Violinna - I'm learning all of this on my own with the help of online KZbin violin tutorial videos. Unfortunately, my fixed income doesn't allow for me to afford private lessons from a qualified violin instructor.

[@gregorydocenko4019]

Her Hands Are Normal Not Truly Small.