The best way to tune double stops - advanced level

Professor of violin Julia Bushkova demonstrates the best way of tuning double stops (consonants) . Just intonation vs Pythagorean intonation.
Listening to Tartini tones or overtones.

[@shawnchristopherwhite3271]

Today I showed my piano accompanist Tartini tones in the double stops from the development passage in the first movement of the Kabalevsky violin concerto - and then you posted this great video on the same technique! I forwarded it to the pianist who appreciated it very much! I tune my violin using the Tartini tones (you hear the note an octave below the bottom note of the fifth). Also, I have the short part of the strings on the other side of the bridge tuned exactly two octaves and a fifth higher than the open string (same pitch as the third finger harmonic in 1st position) - I can't get my violin in perfect tune when this short string is just some random pitch - I have a very sensitive ear and absolute pitch. It makes my violin sound so great - and I no longer needed a fine tuner on my e string because of this setup. I haven't used a fine tuner for two years.

[@clareshef]

This is a very interesting demonstration and brought to the fore something I had realised I heard - but did not know I heard. Thank you.

[@michaeltaylor7407]

Thanks professor! This was a fascinating talk!

[@elisabethkernroos]

I love, love, love you, Julia! Your exquisite violin playing and technique teaching inspires me so much! During this election week I have listened to your performance of the Theme of Schindler's List many times and it has brought me such solace. The Chaconne with your students is wonderful too. Your students are so lucky to be able to study with you. Thank you for sharing your beautiful soul with the world.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I thank you very much for your kind words

[@leif1075]

@@ViolinClassUSA please help..I'm learning violin as a young adult..can you recommend any beginner or intermediate songs to learn doible stops and vibrato more quickly? 🙏and how to learnt tonplay and practice pieces instead of monotonous exercises..it jist gets so depressing and discouraging so much of the time. Thanks and hope to hear from you.thanks for your videos.

[@Sara-wd5lk]

Thank you very much for the useful explanation!❣

[@adi_demian]

Wonderfully explained and demonstrated!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thank you, Adrian!

[@codexotis]

This is so helpful Thank you

[@Karina0950]

Thank you so much, this explanation was very helpful!

[@animoceria]

Wonderful and clear.

[@andaruuleegaming4072]

Omg I was searching for the exact same double stop but I couldn't find them. But I am so grateful thatbit found this. Thank you very much

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You're welcome!!

[@erosfreestyle18]

Thx for the tips

[@michaelfelzien6765]

Thank you for this information.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rudolfbalazs3726]

Leopold Mozart's violin treatise is explaining this matter as well. How beautiful! 🎻💜 greetings from London, UK

[@edmonda.9748]

I wish you could put an insert or something that visually shows what notes are being played each time. This is much more valuable tool that it seems. Great video, thanks

[@fritzkreisler3467]

I use PC speaker I can hear the 3rd tone clearly. Thank you professor for this demonstration it's very helpful.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Wow, the Fritz Kreisler!!! :)) You are welcome!

[@togmor]

This was a very good demonstration of overtones, and your recording did convey them strongly. I've tried many times to get my students to listen for them. Mostly successful and definitely useful for them. However, some students have found it hard to listen in the correct way. I also play a lot of electric violin and recently I bought a new amplifier to play through. Using certain sounds with a little distortion/gritty sound the overtones are almost louder than either notes of the original double stop! So much so that I have to be careful what I play using these particular sounds. This week is the last one for the term and I have brought my electric set up for the students to listen to these tones, mostly using grade 8 scale of E flat in sixths. It has been a very powerful lesson for these more advanced students. I will also be recommending your video for them to hear your demonstration. If you ever try to play electric violin, it really is quite amazing. I use a Bridge 4 string violin playing through a Boss Katana 100watt with 2 x 12 inch speakers. The best amp I've ever played fiddle through. Thanks for your excellent video! Subscribed!

[@anacolakovic4201]

I love your violin sound. Could you please tell me which maker this is? Thank you!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

It is made by Carl Becker, an American luthier, in 1928

[@deperonnet]

Dear Professor, when I am tuning my violin (after checking the right A string) using double stop with the others string, a “special vibration “ or upper note indicates me that the double stop are in tune. When I am studying double stop with the fingers in sixth , fourth and different intervals instead of moving the violin pegs I move one finger in correct position to find the correct interval indicated by the right vibration or upper tone. Is this sensation the same in both cases?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I am afraid I do not quite understand the question... What I am explaining in the video is to listen to the very low tone (the overtone or "oberton"), not the upper note. So I am not sure what you mean by the "upper note." And yes, you do move one or another finger to put the interval in tune....

[@user-uy3bh4ze6g]

Юлия, спасибо за Ваши прекрасные уроки! Очень жаль, что из-за языкового барьера они недоступны для детей в России и СНГ. Может быть Вы подумаете над расширением своей аудитории, хотя бы снабдив свои видео субтитрами? Было бы прекрасно как для Вас, так и для Ваших земляков.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Вы знаете, я бы с удовольствием, да вот не хватает времени! У меня огромный класс, да еще и мой ансамбль, уже не говоря о семье. Если бы кто мог сделать субтитры, была бы очень признательна.

[@timperalta9430]

What shoulder rest are you using? I’ve seen all your visits and made revisits to them when needed, but your shoulder rest is still a mystery! Would you like to share? Thank you!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I use Wolf Forte Secondo.

[@edmonda.9748]

Thanks for your amazing explanation, If you could make a video on that scale, 8:27, and demonstrate it, it would be very helpful, It would be unique, I have not seen any similar video on KZbin

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Your request it noted. I will see it is feasible to record. (It might not be possible to clearly demonstrate on the simple equipment we are using.)

[@tokyunihon1856]

Dear Prof Bushkova, can you share with us what kind of recording equipment do you use to record such a clear sound? All the different tones can be heard so clearly.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I will ask my recording engineer and post the answer.

[@edmonda.9748]

Thanks for your technical lessons, Just a suggestion, Number your videos somehow so they can be referenceable, for our own future reference of course Thanks

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thank you, it is a good suggestion but I think it is a bit late for me now... I never thought I would be posting many videos

[@harmonyrose7344]

Hello, Prof. Bushkova! So for major 3rds & 6ths, we lower the interval by moving the higher finger down? So for example if it was a G on the D string & a B on the A string, we would make the B more flat. Is that right? What if the B is part of the melody though? Would making it a bit flat disturb the melody line? Same for minor 3rds and 6ths. We make the interval larger by moving the higher tone finger up more? I tried searching the Internet for this topic before asking but couldn’t find much, which was surprising.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Yes, it would, so I would not recommend it. There is no blanket prescription on which finger to move to make the perfect consonance, we always have to negotiate which would make most melodic or harmonic sense.

[@harmonyrose7344]

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you for clearing this up for me!!

[@zth9917]

Do you have your own website online program which teach violin from beginning to advance level?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

No, I do not as I have a more than full time job teaching at the College of Music at the university.

[@jerrydavis1475]

While playing double stops and chords we play in tempered scale just like how a piano is tuned. Only octaves will be in perfect intervals.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

No, we play double stops in just intonation, not the tempered one. We use tempered tuning when we play a unison with piano but not when we play double stops or chords. Perfect intervals are octaves, fifths and fourths.

[@evgeny_violinist669]

Hello! Please tell me how to work on "Wieniawski's Staccato" (with a tense hand)

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Put the bow on the string and press quite hard with your pronated hand. Tighten the muscles in your upper arm and move the bow extremely slowly. You might get some staccato right away or you may have to train like this for a while without much result.

[@evgeny_violinist669]

@@ViolinClassUSA Спасибо!

[@Firegon_]

Hi, I loved your channel, but I have a question, I'm self-taught, but I don't know any way to go about techniques and things, how can I guide myself?

[@harmonyrose7344]

Hello! I’m not sure of your level, but I frequently refer to two places to learn about different techniques: Simon Fischer’s Basics series & ViolinMasterclass (links below). Simon Fischer has a book called Basics which, in my opinion, can be a bit too wordy to be quickly and easily understood, so I prefer the link below in which he posts similar ideas but in a more digestible format. He sometimes uses repertoire in his exercise examples that are for advanced players, so sometimes I’ll just take those exercises and apply them to something on my level. His articles are very thorough and helpful. ViolinMasterclass is a really great website that has short video clips teaching different techniques in ascending order of difficulty. For example, for Spiccato there will be a video for a beginner, a video for intermediate, a level for an advanced player, and a level for mastery. There are videos in this format for sautielle, vibrato, Martele, finger dropping & lifting, bow hold, etc. I only recently found Prof. Bushkova’s channel, but so far the content here seems super helpful too! www.simonfischeronline.com/basics-series.html violinmasterclass.com/

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thank you for your helpful comment!

[@fjolle.8186]

i don't understand , i hear them sometimes but not all the time

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Yes, it is hard to hear on the recording... When practicing, try thirds on A and E strings. After you made a third very very in-tune, make sure to play them loudly with very even bow speed. That's the way to start hearing them.

[@chriss6356]

I have the hardest time hearing the overtones for minor sixths. I don’t know why.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Because it is actually much harder to hear those... so you are correct here. Try those sixths in higher register (III position on A/E) and place the fingers just a tad more "apart" - maybe it would come out easier.

[@MeowfaceMusic]

Why are double-stops called "double" "stops"? What is a stop?

[@Picasso_Picante92]

I could never take lessons from her. I'd be too attracted to her and wouldn't concentrate. But I lover her video lessons.