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Original poster

Violin - any musicians out there?

31 replies

Moominsarehippos · 31/12/2012 16:02

DS got a new violin today - he's moved up a size, so we took the old one to the hire shop and got the next size up. W

hen we got home he tried to play a tune and it sounds like it's 'whispering'. Is this because the violin and bow are a bit bigger or is there a problem with them? Not all notes are very very quiet - some sound ok!

I am very unmusical, so have no idea! Do I need to take it back or should he persevere?

OP posts:
OhyouMerryLittleKitten · 31/12/2012 23:44

I reckon he needs a lot more rosin on his bow.

Original poster
Moominsarehippos · 31/12/2012 23:35

Oh. How long? He was really hacked off and pronounced it broken! What a shame - he was really getting into his practise too!

OP posts:
TotallyBS · 31/12/2012 23:31

If a violin hasn't been played in a while then the sound won't resonate. I would called it a boxed-in sound but others might call it 'whispering.

It is not beyond the realms of possibily that the instrument has been 'waiting' for a customer for a few months.If that is the case then playing it regularly will warm it up.

Original poster
Moominsarehippos · 31/12/2012 16:12

Not scratchy just very very quiet! He did pop on some rosin though and the bow looks new.

OP posts:
SanityClause · 31/12/2012 16:05

Does it sound "scratchy"? Maybe he's not squeezing in the bow enough.

I don't play myself, but have 2 violin playing DC.

AMumInScotland · 31/12/2012 16:05

DS says make sure the bow is rosinned well, which it may not be if it is new, and try with a bit more pressure on the bow, and make sure his fingers are properly down on the strings - they might feel different than he is used to.

HTH!