How to get a nice sound on high positions on the G and D strings

Hi everyone, this is your instructor Joy. We are going to work on these passages. As you can see, they are all very high positions on G and D strings, which a lot of us have a hard time to play with a nice sound. So I thought I brought two different passages. One was loud and short and fast, and the other one was rather slow and soft, on a softer side, and then legato bowing. Because a subscriber shared that this violinist is having a hard time playing with a nice sound on a higher position on G and D and struggling and wondering how to solve this choked up, raspy and muffled sound. I think we all experience that. So it's very frustrating. Such choked up sound or muffled sound often happens. I mean, there are many causes, but I just brought it down to two main causes that could be. Number one, your bow is too heavy. So, let's say you are playing a long legato bow, whatever it is. If your bow is too heavy and too slow, yeah, it gets choked. I'm sure it's not as bad, but I have to exaggerate to make the point. So in that case, simply just taking the weight off and then move your bow a little faster often helps. Yeah, just move your bow a little light and fast. Sometimes just tilting the bow by using less air helps you already to make the bow lighter. And also, understand the G and D string, the lower string, when you get too close to the bridge, it doesn't sound good. You see? This is funny. Funny sound. So, away from the bridge. Find a spot, a spot playing open string with your passage. Just play the same thing without your left hand. Like this. And then find a spot where it sounds the best. And then, first, then add your left hand. Yeah, and then you would find it. Second main cause or the common cause would be your finger is not all the way put down to the fingerboard. So probably you realize the action, meaning that between the string and the fingerboard gets greater. It gets much larger and wider as you get higher, which means we have to put our fingers even farther down, which can be quite hard. Because you're already twisting your arm quite a bit and it's uncomfortable enough and you have to put more weight at the fingertip. So that is another reason why we often don't go all the way down because it's painful. So if that's the case, don't forcefully press your fingertip, but rather try a couple minutes and relax your wrist and then try again. Another, sometimes check your bridge. If the bridge is too high or that can be a little lower so that the action in the higher position is not too great. That way putting fingers is not too hard for you. But remember, you still have to have enough room between the lower string and the fingerboard because it vibrates quite big, so it needs room to be able to vibrate without touching the fingerboard. So within those lines see if you can lower your bridge just to find a solution. But other than that, just simply doing little by little, couple minutes and gradually increase the amount of notes that you would do. Then slowly your left hand will grow the muscle and you will be able to put all the way down. So those are the two things. Your bow is too heavy or too slow. Second problem could be your fingertip is not pressing or not putting the fingers all the way down to the fingerboard. So when it comes to bow speed, simply just moving your bow quicker solves. Whether it's slow, whether it's slow or fast. Moving your bow faster without making it heavy. Just rather... Both of them. So rather moving your bow faster solves right away. You will find it. And if you really want to make it louder, you can do a little accent in the beginning, but you have to still release and you move your bow quicker. That's one way of doing it. So let's summarize. So for a nice sound in high position G and D, place the bow away from the bridge. This part where it sounds the best. Not too close. That doesn't sound good. Not here. When it's a long legato line, turn the bow and then even though it's slow, still try to keep the bow moving. If it doesn't speak, move it faster. Then you will see. Doesn't speak though. Try to move it. See if it works. And then make sure your fingers are well put all the way down to the fingerboard. All the way down. Without that one, it will... It just doesn't speak well. So I hope this video was helpful. Thank you for watching. Please subscribe and check the description below for donations. And give me a click like below. Thank you. Bye bye.