Your suggestion about using the weight of the L arm to pull the fingers into the frets makes a lot of sense. I come from a guitar background, and guitarists are more used to pressing with the fingers. The lower string tension and lower action of guitars makes that possible. I think I was trying to set up my viol with the expectation that it should be almost as easy to play as a guitar, using that same "pressing" technique. You very kindly answered my email and explained that the viol's action shouldn't need to be super-low. I now have a better understanding of why. Thanks!
@@FrogToTheFrog yeah, absolutely - much of the solo repertoire for bass viol goes above the frets. Often a long way above! It happens less often in the consort repertoire, though treble viol parts go beyond the frets relatively frequently. Especially in the consort music by Lawes, Locke, and Purcell
So many excellent tips in a 15-minute lesson! No doubt it will take many months or years for me to actually have such fluency on the fingerboard! Thanks Sam for another very fine lesson!
Thank you so much for your videos! This one was speacially helpful for me, because I have so much shoulder tension (even without the viola da gamba 😂). Your tips about shoulder and arm position are helping a lot!
As a guitarist left hand is the easier part of playing except when I do chords where I block them and want to drop the fingers all at once. Very helpful tips. The resting positon for fingers is on the fretboard and the working is raising the the fingers off. No squeezing. I like the image you used of rungs on a ladder.
Couldn't agree more. People need to spend more time concentrating on the bowing arm and often don't need to think about the fingers as much as they think...
hi,congratulations for all your tutorials, was waiting for this....I'm accustomed to use the weight of my arm playing guitar or lute, but when applying the technic with the viol, every time I lift my fingers from the fingerboard playing open strings the movement of the neck back and forth is so big that it gets really annoying to play. I can't find a way to squeeze the viol the way I easily retain my lute with my right arm and stay relax at the same time. any tip? Thank you
Hey Marc, it's hard to advise you without seeing what you're doing. However, it sounds like you're using way too much weight with your left hand. You really don't need much effort to push the strings into the frets - try lightening things up a bit. Of course, there's always some movement of the instrument, though this shouldn't get in the way of playing. Hope that helps.
Your suggestion about using the weight of the L arm to pull the fingers into the frets makes a lot of sense. I come from a guitar background, and guitarists are more used to pressing with the fingers. The lower string tension and lower action of guitars makes that possible. I think I was trying to set up my viol with the expectation that it should be almost as easy to play as a guitar, using that same "pressing" technique. You very kindly answered my email and explained that the viol's action shouldn't need to be super-low. I now have a better understanding of why. Thanks!
Heya! I would assume that for third position you would shift up your first finger to where your third finger would usually be and such, correct?
Yes, that’s right.
@@samstadlen2960 Thank you for replying so quickly!
Another question, do you ever play past the frets?
Is there a reason not to do so?
@@FrogToTheFrog yeah, absolutely - much of the solo repertoire for bass viol goes above the frets. Often a long way above! It happens less often in the consort repertoire, though treble viol parts go beyond the frets relatively frequently. Especially in the consort music by Lawes, Locke, and Purcell
So many excellent tips in a 15-minute lesson! No doubt it will take many months or years for me to actually have such fluency on the fingerboard! Thanks Sam for another very fine lesson!
Cheers, Will! I'm so glad you found it helpful!
Thank you so much for your videos! This one was speacially helpful for me, because I have so much shoulder tension (even without the viola da gamba 😂). Your tips about shoulder and arm position are helping a lot!
Glad it was helpful!
So very helpful, all of these. I continue to work on not squeezing my left hand, but it's one of my liabilities.
Great, glad you find them useful! Squeezing is one of those habits that takes a while to 'unlearn'. Give it time and you'll get there.
thanks! lovely videos … as a total newbie to vdg, coming from traverso/flute, it is most illuminating
yeah… years of work ahead!!!!
As a guitarist left hand is the easier part of playing except when I do chords where I block them and want to drop the fingers all at once. Very helpful tips. The resting positon for fingers is on the fretboard and the working is raising the the fingers off. No squeezing. I like the image you used of rungs on a ladder.
Couldn't agree more. People need to spend more time concentrating on the bowing arm and often don't need to think about the fingers as much as they think...
Very thorough video, thanks!
Thanks, Arthur!
Super helpfull video, thanks a lot Sam!
Thanks so much! I'm really pleased you found it helpful!
hi,congratulations for all your tutorials, was waiting for this....I'm accustomed to use the weight of my arm playing guitar or lute, but when applying the technic with the viol, every time I lift my fingers from the fingerboard playing open strings the movement of the neck back and forth is so big that it gets really annoying to play. I can't find a way to squeeze the viol the way I easily retain my lute with my right arm and stay relax at the same time. any tip? Thank you
Hey Marc, it's hard to advise you without seeing what you're doing. However, it sounds like you're using way too much weight with your left hand. You really don't need much effort to push the strings into the frets - try lightening things up a bit. Of course, there's always some movement of the instrument, though this shouldn't get in the way of playing. Hope that helps.
@@samstadlen2960 Thanks for your advice...let's not exaggerate pulling with my arm!