Violin left-hand finger pressure: how to find your MVP
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- I'm Nathan Cole from natesviolin.com.
If it looks like my head is in a vice, it's because today's topic is pressure! Left-hand finger pressure, that is. Some violinists are taught that you really need to slam the fingers down on the string in order to have a clean technique. But in fact, the opposite is true: you only need the minimum pressure to fully stop the string!
If you use too much finger pressure, over time you'll find that your technique is compromised: it can be difficult to play quickly and effortlessly, and accuracy suffers as well. In the worst cases, your hands and arms will tire quickly and you will build up tension that can cause injury.
That's why I'm going to show you my system for finding your MVP: Minimum Viable Pressure.
Imagine the possible finger pressures on a scale from 0-10. Zero means that you aren't touching the string at all. Ten means that you're gripping as hard as you can.
In between 0 and 10 there are four different checkpoints to find. Those checkpoints occur at different numeric values for different people, but in order from least to greatest pressure, they are:
First: Harmonic sound (no pitch audible except for harmonics)
Second: mostly noise, with just a little pitch
Third: mostly pitch, but with a little noise
Fourth: pure tone (all pitch)
Note that whenever you practice finding your MVP, you must use a strong (forte) bow at all times. This will likely feel unnatural at first, but it's a requirement for this technique to work properly!
Now pick a passage, preferably something fast and slurred. If you would like to practice a passage of separate notes, simply slur them for this exercise.
The first checkpoint is always at pressure 1. After getting comfortable with harmonic finger pressure but a strong bow, increase the finger pressure just a tiny bit, to 2.
At 2 or possibly at 3, you will find that you can detect the intended pitches, but it's still mostly noise. That's your second checkpoint.
As you increase bit by bit, you will come to the third checkpoint: where you hear mostly the intended pitches, but a bit of noise along with them.
Then, after one or two more increases in pressure, you've found it: your MVP. For me it's always 4, 5, or 6. That's the pressure you should play with all the time.
Watch the video to see how to practice once you've found that number for yourself! - เพลง
I had violin lessons for 4 years and played in many training orchestras but left hand pressure was never mentioned in my lessons. Thank you very, very much.
This channel is such a treasure! The way you lay down these very nuanced and complicated concepts, but useful at any violin playing levels, in quite scientific and methodical ways, is just priceless! Honestly by far the best violin instruction channel on TH-cam.
This MVP technique is the single most effective piece of advise I've come across for transforming not only playing, but serendipitously my vibrato also. I thought is was natural for my left hand to become numb while playing long stretches of passages, I assumed everyone experienced this, but of course it is not. Since I've greatly lowered my mvp, I've noticed that both my shifting and especially my vibrato improved greatly, as well. Miss you so much on Artistworks, Nathan! It was quite and honor to be able to take lessons from you. I knew it was too good to last ;) Love your videos and your awesome podcast, thanks so much for all that you give to music. Best of luck to you and your family...
Hey Nathan i'm an old begginer i had one year playing violín And really improving so fast ,your videos has been so helpful big thanks
pd: greetings from Colombia
OUTSTANDING advice! You're reinforcing something I stumbled across in my obsession for the best possible intonation ever. My excessive and inconsistent finger pressure was causing erratic intonation issues as well as transitioning efficiently. Your 1-10 scale is an excellent idea...Thanks!!!
Btw...The vice was a perfect backdrop for this! My 1st thought was I should crush my violin after a bad practice.
This is a timely tutorial for me since I am currently working on the last movement of Mendelssohn. I tried out your finger pressure technique just now and immediately notice an improvement. It definitely helps to keep the left hand relaxed. Thank you, Nathan!
Glad to hear it, funny I chose your piece!
Nathan -- I performed Mendelssohn with my community orchestra on Friday (you can find the video on my YT channel), and I kept this tutorial in mind during the 3rd movement, which helped me out immensely. Thanks again!
Awesome, thanks! And I loved your video. Congrats!
This is a great video, thanks for it (and all the other ones on your channel)! I'm not a violinist but on the percussion side of the orchestral profession and I love to find similarities on your topics and how they might relate to my instrument when you explain different things on your videos. Here the mvp is exactly the same as the pressure of a percussionist holding a stick - too tight of a grip equals bad rebounding and slowing down because of thension and too loose equals to dropping the sticks and no control over the rebound. Thanks for your great advices and all the best!
That vice in the backdrop is hilarious.
Yes...I think Nat was smart to use that. I took it as tension in the left hand and/or wanting to crush my violin after a bad practice day.
You're great at explaining these intricacies. Thanks!
Very good teacher...doesn't waste too many words...always proposes good techniques for progress...
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! I have been playing the violin for 3 months as an adult beginner. My left hand thumb had a lot of pain when I was practicing recently, then I tried out your suggestions. 30 minutes into my practice after watching this video I did not experience any pain anymore! My vibrato also sounded a lot better because of the reduced tension from my left hand.
Well said! “Tension is enemy of anything” & love your golf analogy.
I love the 'tickle-itch" in my left hand fingertips when it's the right pressure and relaxation.
Wonderful helpful video for string players and also for pianists!
Your tutorials are the most inspiring around! Each time I listen to one of them and I try to apply your tricks, it tremendously helps my playing! Thanks so much! If you could make a video on playing double stops (especially octaves and thirds), I'm sure many viewers would appreciate!
Thanks, and I have an octave video planned. They're so important!
Thank you very much for this video. I am a returning player after 20 years of not playing and I learn everything from scratch more or less. This video was an eye opener for me, improving the sound and releasing left hand tension. I found out my finger pressure was too hard, and bow pressure too light, and doing the exact opposite made a big difference!
Looking forward to new videos! Cheers!
Great! Just what most people find, so congratulate yourself on actually doing the work and making a positive change. There will be more videos for sure!
Holy crap!!! I was just watching the video plucking on my violin and when i tried to play at minimal pressure it worked. I found it immediately!!! I guess my brain was subconsciously idk telling my body what to do. It took no effort!!
I love how to the point these videos are ❤
Wonderful 👍 Got my first violin a week ago, your video is great. Thank you.😊
Six months for me. Keep it up, it gets better.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 I will and I hope so. Happy practicing. 😊
This was really helpful. Thank you!
This lesson is pure gold. Why nobody ever told me this? I'm playing with so little effort and intonation is better. Many thanks for this
Thanks for the help Nate!
Thanks as always for a great vid! One immediate, positive side effect I found from practicing this way that I was not necessarily expecting since it wasn't talked about in the video at all....... rushing tendencies started to diminish quite a bit right off the bat!
Very interesting! Rushing will often follow tension, so I'm not surprised you got this result. A bonus!
Very well explained congratulations..greetings from Romania
Hi Nathan, thank you so much for the extremely helpful video! Now I know an extra method in practising loud and fast passages.
I think you'll be happy trying it out!
Paul Rowlands light touch in Birds at sunrise together with string crossings makes a start at tuning finger position without pressure.
what a coincidence!! I'm practicing this movement! :D Thank you very much, it's an interesting tip
Exceptionally helpful video as always! My question is about the placement of the finger to achieve the lightest pressure. Conventionally, as I understand it, violinists stop the string on the top with the tip of the finger. But I've come to the fiddle from the cello, and because of the potential for injury from pressing down on such strong strings, some cello teachers promote a technique where you stop the string from the lower side. I've experimented with this on the fiddle, and find I can stop the string cleanly with less pressure if I move the finger a little to the lower side of the string, so the contact point is a little more towards the finger pad than the finger tip. But what I don't know, as a beginner, is whether this is a bad habit that might cause problems in other areas. Do you have any views on this?
Awesome! thanks Nat 😎
Wonderful! Thank you very much, Nathan.
Is this technique useful only for slurred passages?
excellent video, it was very useful!!! I had never seen MVP named MVP, for me it was always an idea without a name. Regards from Uruguay.
Yes, sometimes giving a name helps me remember the idea!
Great videos Nathan, thank you, BTW what violin are you using for the videos?
Thanks for a very informative and helpful video. I am and adult learner, at present learning mostly from TH-cam videos. Practicing the MVP, I note that I have to exert more pressure on G and D strings to produce good sound compared to A and E strings. Is this a valid judgement?
Nathan, your videos are a Godsend to this old student. MVP vid really helped me. Thank you. BTW, I’m looking for help with maintains a proper bow hold but remaining relaxed and free. Help🎻😱
thank u so much for this
Well explained.
Good lesson. Thank you. By the way, D# on the A string is a harmonic, the 11th, in fact which is a (low) D#. If you listen closely to your D# E D# C# B on the A string you will hear harmonics 11 3 11 5 9 reproducing the same actual melodic notes with octave transpositions: Mendelssohn meets Webern.
Thanks for nice video. How about pressure while vibrating.
Thank you so much
Awesome! thanks Nat ;D
Hey very nice video, could u pls tell me how do u press properly, my fingers are big...
THANK YOU
This is a really fantastic video and was a huge help for me today! I am curious if the same concept in regards to levels of finger pressure would apply in the context of vibrato in melodic passages? I personally find that an intense or fast vibrato also causes me to press harder resulting in tension and so I wonder if there is a useful way to practice "levels" of vibrato and how they relate to finger pressure?
In general the concept is the same, for sure! Those vibrated passages are problematic for that. My favorite way to work on that is actually contained in my previous video about "effortless, flexible vibrato" where you lessen the pressure as the note flattens from the top. So each vibration also has a release of pressure. That has helped me quite a bit to avoid accumulating pressure that way.
I was pushing twice too hard. Thank You.
Hi Nate! Is the passage to practice this MVP technique on your website? Thanks for the video!
Amazing Nathan! It's interesting to see how the arms always want to do the same or almost. I think important you don't keep the finger on the board but left the strings free to vibrate; it's another good point! I have he 1th finger very hard, too much and the 3th so fragile. Some tips?
Sometimes that extra 1st finger pressure goes along with squeezing the neck sideways with the thumb. I don't know if that's true in your case or not, but make sure to look for that. You can try some trill work between 2-3 and 3-4 (without the 1st finger on the fingerboard) and see if that develops more independence in those upper fingers.
@@natesviolin Thanks. I have the same problem and this should help.
thanks!!!
Great!
I have no problem with pressure but phrase shift move, what i can do?
I am enjoying these videos, Nathan! Great playing. My issue is, and I don't know if this is a common problem or not, that cheaper violins seem to come with tall bridges that make it really hard to play higher up the fingerboard without applying an exorbitant amount of finger pressure! I don't understand how one is supposed to get past that without lowering the bridge?
Also, are you supposed to use more than two fingers to press down the strings in higher positions like you'd do on a cello? I watched your position change video and i can't tell if you are doing that for the high shifts with your beautiful vibrato.
Thanks for making these! Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks Kenny, and that's a bummer about the bridge. I have noticed that until you spend a certain amount on the instrument, not all the pieces will fit the way they should. Since a new bridge properly fitted will cost at least $150 if not more (sometimes the fingerboard must be changed as well) it's not worth it for everyone. But for those playing in higher positions I'd say it's a necessity.
As for using more than one finger, I tend to leave at least my first finger resting on the string all the time, not for added pressure/strength but to "remind" my hand what position I'm in, and to assist with intonation. But since our pressure is so much less than cellists, we don't do that for the same reasons.
I am planning a series on how to practice a piece from scratch, quite slowly, and that will also help to erase old habits and build new ones. So you'll start to see that series hopefully in the next couple of months!
That's fantastic, Nathan. Thanks so much for taking the time to teach us some of what you've learned through your years of hard work. It's much appreciated.
I'm finding that I prefer lower bridges than higher ones overall. It just feels better to me. I've also played the cello for a number of years and honestly everything on that instrument feels much more comfortable. Vibrato is easier, intonation is a little more forgiving, bowing is more straight forward. It just feels easier in every way, not to mention how you have to hold the violin.
Got any advice for a stiff wrist? I'm getting older, my joints are more stiff . My wrist won't rotate far enough to get in the proper place. Help...
Great video! Can you please elaborate on the difference between finger independence and finger strength, particularly re the 3rd and 4th fingers, as well as the balance of the hand for such independence, length of fingers, position for individual variance of the left knuckles, etc? :)
That's a big question! Let me start with independence, since that's important. It can take some time to train the fingers to work independently, and it's so easy for tension to creep in that way. It may seem like you need to really stick one finger down in order to let another one move independently, but what's really needed is that flexibility that comes with time and repetition. Take trills, for instance: we're often taught that the lower finger needs to be super strong on the string in order to have a clean trill. But in fact, if that finger is as light as possible (while still stopping the string) the trill will be freer and faster. Does that start to answer?
Also, regarding things like scales in thirds, I've always found that a hand/arm position that favors the support of the 3rd and 4th fingers, making them more comfortable than 1 and 2, to be quite beneficial.
Also, you catch the string in a way even Zukerman may envy! :)
Yes, that's the way I think about it too.
Also William, I got an email about a longer question you left here about the 3rd and 4th finger, but now I can't get it to show up here. My email didn't show the whole question. Want to try asking it again?
I will have to rewatch to sink in thank you
sangat bermanfaat ! matur suksma
Your video was very helpful. I'm an adult beginner and only 4 months after beginning, I felt a sharp pain all the way to my elbow. Six weeks in hand therapy with an injured finger taught me that tension is not a good thing. Ouch.
Oh no! I hope you've come through just fine and can continue playing.
Nathan Cole oh yes. I am hooked. My practice was limited to 15 Minutes during recovery but after that I was good to go. My teacher also taught me a practice technique called "ghosting". Very similar to a level 2 finger pressure. I am hooked on my violin. I'm about 15 months in and finishing. Suzuki book 2. My next challenge is shifting. Thanks for making videos.
Im starting my first piece with 32nd notes. The advice should come in handy.
Ok great news! You'll get more hooked the further you go, I predict!
At first I was like "why the vice?" then i realized...
Everytime I press down the string it sounds scratchy no matter how gently I press it. Am I doing something wrong???
yeah i’m rlly rlly confused too
Hi Nathan, im 53 and im begining to study the violin, how many time you think i gonna play perfect a famous concerto ?
Ivan Guerra 20 years minimum. I'm playing violin from when i was 6 years old,now i'm 22 and i almost can play a hard concerto, like Sibelius concerto, for example. And that only after 1-2 years of practicing only that concerto
@Ivan Guerra depends on whether you have previous music knowledge or not, could be far below 20 years.
Ivan Guerra ID say 1 year it is not hard
Brilliant tutorial, thank you! Do you have any additional hints regarding double stops and chords which I find much more challenging to stay at or even get down to a low MVP.
Those can present problems especially where there are reaches involved. It's tempting to try and make the reach happen by really pressing one finger down on the string. Sometimes it's unavoidable. But most of the time you can build the flexibility by doing double-stop exercises where one finger stays lightly on the string and another slides on an adjacent string. Or instead of sliding, it lifts and drops on another note. Dounis is full of those kinds of exercises, although his get rather extreme.
Trill work can build these same muscles, since you're looking for the lower finger to be only as solid as necessary. You can even do a modified trill exercise where the lower finger always lifts when the upper one drops.
What is MVP?
7:46 that’s the sound my violin produces when I pressed the strings 😭 I thought something’s wrong with my violin
一万个赞！
Once again, double stops can solve this problem.
On some vioins strings are too high.
Do you wanna hear a secret
I play the viola
*TRIGGERED*
But the harder I press down on the fingerboard, the louder the note will be!
Nice! :)
Awesome! thanks Nat 😎
Great!