HOW TO AVOID SCRATCHY VIOLIN PLAYING !
HIGHLIGHTS
• Avoid tension in bowing arm.
• Practice bow holding with relaxed wrist.
• Practice bow holding with the relaxed fingers and thumb.
• Adequate resin on the bow.
• Appropriate tension of the bow hair.
• Violin strings should be free of resin before and after performance.
• Change to good quality strings and frequently.
• Respect the 'highway' with reference to the bridge.
• Tilt your bow away from the bridge.
• Maintain enough bowing speed while on E string near the frog.
• Avoid undue bowing pressure on the stings while playing.
• Regular perfect practice keeps the violin and the violinist perfect.
1.THE PLAYER! - BOWING ARM
1- A. Tension in the bowing arm: Playing with too much tension in the bowing arm can produce
scratchy noise. One should learn to keep the arm relaxed.
1-B. Relaxation of Bowing Hand: Way to learn relaxation of the hand is to alternate the right hand
( bowing arm) to make a clenched fist and a relaxed hand rapidly and then leave the hand in a
relaxed fashion with a dropped wrist and the fingers below the wrist level.
1-C. Position of right hand: Bow should be held gently at this position holding it between the thumb
and the ring finger around the bow. Bow is held at the frog ( metal end)
2. THE BOW
2-A. Tightening of Bow: Before playing, the bow should be tightened to tense the hair. Appropriate
tension is verified by inserting the index finger between the bow in the middle of the bow and the
hair. Naturally after playing , the bow should be loosened before returning it to the violin case.
2-B. Resin: There should be enough resin on the bow. Too much resin is not good for the tone ; nor
is too little which can lose grip of the bow over the strings.
3.THE VIOLIN
3-A. Strings: Strings should be free of resin and they should be cleaned with a dry cloth (flannel)
after every use of the violin before returning it to the case. Strings should not be frayed or old.
Appropriate good quality strings matter in the tone. They generally are changed every 6 months and
before any major performance for good quality sound. Scratchy noise is more with E string ; so pay
more attention to E string while cleaning and also while playing.
3-B. Bridge: Bridge needs the be placed at the level of the sound post. The placement of the bridge creates a reasonable distance for the bowing. Bowing too near the bridge can create a harsh loud tone.
Kreisler has referred to as 'the highway'. Playing close to the bridge for loudness and harshness.
Playing away from the bridge for soft and mellow sound.
4. THE TECHIQUE
4-A. The bowing technique: Bowing technique involves dedicated practice. 'Perfect practice makes perfect performance'. Bow should be placed across the strings with the relaxed arm without any tension. In the beginning, this can be practiced in the static mode without playing the bow, but gently keeping it across and balancing it in the middle of the bow. Too much pressure of the bowing on the strings will create
friction and harshness. Too light a pressure will not produce a good tone. This comes with repeated
practice.
4-B. Bowing is performed at right angles midway between the bridge and the end of the finger
board. Too close to the bridge as mentioned above creates a harness and loudness.
4-C. In addition to the correct pressure, the amount of bow hair on the string also matters. Scratching and whistling noises become more prominent when playing on the E string. Playing near the Frog with
too heavy a pressure will create a scratchy noise. Avoid this by tilting your bow forwards so that
less of the hair is exposed to the E ( and other) string.
4-D. Bowing Speed: Use enough bowing speed ( do not be too slow on the bowing speed)
especially on the E string. Do not be too slow near the frog on the E string . Too slow at bowing
near the frog especially on the E string will subconsciously make you increase pressure which will
in turn will create a scratchy noise.
4-E. Constant and regular practice keeps the violin in shape. A 'played in violin' prevents stiffening
of the violin and improves the tone of playing.
SUMMARY
• Avoid tension in bowing arm.
• Practice bow holding with relaxed wrist.
• Practice bow holding with the relaxed fingers and thumb.
• Adequate resin on the bow.
• Appropriate tension of the bow hair.
• Violin strings should be free of resin before and after performance.
• Change to good quality strings and frequently.
• Respect the 'highway' with reference to the bridge.
• Tilt your bow away from the bridge.
• Maintain enough bowing speed while on E string near the frog.
• Avoid undue bowing pressure on the stings while playing.
• Regular perfect practice keeps the violin and the violinist perfect.
