I've got Dominat strings on my violin and they're making me miserable .. I think(although I love my fiddle).

At least, I don't know if it is the strings or just me!

If I don't press really quite hard with the bow the string fails to vibrate and I get a harmonic-type sound, or the bow slides a bit, or there is a muffly squeak.

I just feel like I have to play everything very loud in order to get the string to make a decent sound and I'm never sure the note will 'sound' properly if I change bow direction when playing quietly. I don't mind playing everything with 'gusto' but it would be nice to play gently and be sure the string starts the note properly and this didn't happen on other violins I've played.

I wipe the rosin off the strings every time I'm finished playing and rosin my bow every second practice session. This is making me sad because I feel like I'm fighting to get the notes properly.

Any ideas from the experts out there please???????? Should I change for better strings.. if so, what? From what I've read Pirastro Obligato string sound nice because I like warm, not too bright sounds.

I would first advise that your teacher looks at the instrument and bow to help ascertain where the problem lies.

Have you had this problem since getting the violin, or has it suddenly appeared?

How long have you owned the instrument and have you EVER changed the strings?

Finding alternative strings to Dominant (that you like and at the same time suits YOUR violin) is a personal matter - yes, Obligato are warmer sounding than some strings, probably the closest sound you'll get to gut without all the problems associated with gut, but they don't suit all violins, they can make an instrument woolley sounding if it doesn't produce the clearest of notes in the first place.

When did you last have your bow re-haired? Much like strings, even if it doesn't break bow hair doesn't last forever, it needs to be replaced regularly. The small barbs that the rosin sticks to gradually wear down and no matter how much rosin you use, it won't make any difference.

It could be all sorts of things, but I doubt it's down to the strings, to be honest - if the string wasn't making a pleasant noise or sounded a bit muffled, then perhaps, but if the string isn't vibrating well or the sound doesn't come out it's more likely to come from the instrument set up or (my bet) the bow. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding the problem - if this is a suddenly appearing new problem it could be down to the fact that you're just going through a tricky period, it could be down to your bow, or to a fault in the instrument. If it's a problem you've experienced since you changed instrument, then it's likely due to set up on your new instrument (as this is the only factor that has changed).

There are so many things to take into account, the first thing to do is to have it checked by your teacher, as AmandaL suggested, if they can't solve the problem consider getting the bow rehaired if it's overdue, or get the instrument checked by a luthier to see if it needs a better bridge (I seem to remember that you just bought a gliga, sometimes the bridges are a little soft).

It may simply be that you are going through a period of adaptation with your new fiddle, like when you change car.

Good luck!

Allan

(incidently, I wouldn't put obligatos on a gliga if I were you - it will sound like you're playing it through a blanket! Stick with dominants, or something brighter)

The violin is three weeks old and the bow I've had from new about six months and this violin has always felt like this. My teacher says both are fine and doesn't seem to think there's a problem but is happy if I want to change the strings. I don't think the problem is so bad in lessons but we have noticed the lack of dynamics so I probably press hard to make sure the string does sound.

My last violin had Pirastro strings on it but, frustratingly, I don't know which kind. Another violin I tried had Vision strings on it and I barely needed to touch it with the bow for a strong clear (if too harsh) note. I didn't like the sound but boy, was it easy to play!

What make of string does respond easily? I actually thought Dominants were good for that.

Well, the major question is "what does it sound like when your teacher plays it?"
If those problems aren't apparent when your teacher is playing, then with enough practise you'll be able to make them go away too - it's simply a technique problem. If your teacher feels that the fiddle lacks dynamics a little too - then the problem is one of set up.

Gligas are great instruments as they come, straight from the maker, but the set up isn't generally as good as it could be. I bought one gliga for myself from Liz and took it to a luthier - it needed a new set up (soundpost, bridge, reworking of pegs and fingerboard) all of which made a HUGE difference to the sound - it really added in a much needed dose of brilliance (without losing that characteristic warmth). I also sold gligas for a while here in France and to be honest, I had to have every single one properly set up or they simply wouldn't sell because the sound was too dark, or too muffled.

That said, even if you pay for a full professional set up on top of what the fiddle cost you - you will still have an amazing bargain. My own gliga cost me around 200 euro to set up properly so in total it cost me around 1200 euro. When I recently bought a new violin, I had to go almost 7 times higher than that to get something that I felt was considerably better than the gliga in sound and response.

Bottom line - have the set up redone if your teacher feels it lacks response and dynamics and then you'll have a cracking fiddle that will last you for the forseeable future (certainly it will easily take you to G8 and a way beyond).

Good luck

Allan

Every violinist I know uses or has used Dominant strings. It's very good and value for money. Otherwise you could try Pirastro tonica, or Corelli. There're tons of brands out there though, so I suggest going to a music shop to scout for one that you like. You could buy a set of different brands and try them out.

However, I suspect the problem doesn't lie with your strings. Have your bridge and soundpost checked out by a luthier.

If that doesn't solve the problem, get a new violin.

I wish we could get a new violin everytime something goes wrong with ours. *grin* Like the shop gives a money-back guarantee? Let's just have a violin-back guarantee.

I used to use Dominants on my old beginner violin and they worked fine. I hated the E string. I had it changed to a Pirastro E and it's ok. My new violin came with Vision. They're absolutely wonderful and brilliant sounding which isn't too good for practice now because my room here's quite small and ff sounds much louder than what I'm used to!

Bottom line, find a set of strings that suits your violin.

How do you find the best strings for your instrument without spending a fortune buying loads of different makes though?

Would it be possible to ask someone who knows violins/violas very well to play your instrument and then suggest particular strings that would work well?

I have two violins, one has Pirastro Evah Pirizzi (sorry, not sure if that is spelled correctly) and sounds very bright, and the other has a combination of Dominants and Pirastro Gold and sounds a lot warmer. They sound very different to each other and I go through phases of preferring one to the other I am sure they could sound even better so I'm intending to take them to a luthier for an overhaul (one of the violins hasn't been touched since my grandfather bought it new in about 1930) and I really hope that he'll be able to suggest the best strings for each instrument.

That's the crux of the problem. Many shops don't allow trying of strings. It's just something you have to gradually build up. Evah Pirazzis are very very brilliant and are generally used in solo violin playing. You could ask someone. Some shops tell you about the strings and how they sound but every violin's different. Sigh. Perhaps you could ask your teacher or like you said, a luthier. They might be of some help. Generally, Dominants suit most instruments well.

Sorry, Lottie, but it's you. Seriously, I didn't find any problem with that violin.

How to narrow the problem down - try the obvious first, I am constantly amazed at how few novice players put sufficient rosin on their bows. Is the bow really well rosined? Has your teacher tried it with your bow? If not then that is the first thing to try.

Combinations of bridges and strings and so on are rather a matter of playing one thing off against another, unfortunately. Getting a low bridge (which virtually all amateur players seem to want) automatically reduces the available dynamic range. Having a harder and thinner bridge will make the violin louder but also brighter. And so on.

It sounds as if you are using less pressure on the bow when you want to play quietly. Try using less distance instead ie. don't move the bow so far but still use the same weight unless you really have to play really quietly. It will sound much better.

If you just want to try louder strings then of course that's easy enough - Helicores and Visions are both louder and brighter, but as always, they will change the tone as well as the volume. You could try Zyex perhaps - they're loud and still dark, but they have a sort of "space agey" overtone to them.

Liz

Thanks for all your replies and thoughts.

My nearest luthier is over 130 miles away and not an easy trip so that will have to wait. I'm sure the violin is not inherently at fault because it does sound good once it 'gets going' (and I love its sound).

Also, I'm very lucky not to have to worry about how loud it is because I'm in a cottage in the middle of nowhere!

I'm panicking a bit because I have my first concert on the 18th playing a duet with my teacher so it's too late to change strings before that. I just want everything to be perfect... but then that's a lifelong journey Please wish me luck because I get pins and needles in my tongue just thinking about it.....

Hi lottie, I have a freind who is sharing a flat with a luthier at the moment in Aberdeen if thats any closer than the other one you were thinking of? I could find out name and number if you like and PM you with them?

Sounds like the sort of place I would rather live in

Semi-detached in suburbia? definitely not the place to be for serious practice. If I could afford to buy a house (anywhere!!) and there was a living wage to be earned in outlying rural areas, that's where I'd be.

Lottie - it's almost certainly your rosin not the strings - you should apply before every practise and if you have a long practise you might need to reapply twice in a session. That's why it's playing in front of your teacher - because you have just applied rosin. And don't wipe the strings during practise - that's why it's squeaking or not playing - wiping after you've practised is quite sufficient.

Cheers,

Goldfinch

Aye, there's the rub! A living wage is a scarce beastie in the middle of hills, fields and woods and the nearest pint of milk/post office/bank is seven miles! But I could never live in a town again... I've run too wild..... got grass between my toes, flowers in my hair and forgotten how to curtsey!!

Could be the strings need changing? Some people change their strings every six months as a matter of course. I like Dominants - they're a good all-round string, tough but also warm. I like the way they never break unexpectedly but always start to unravel first so you can change it before a disaster occurs, like when you;re performing. I used get very let down by Pirastro Eudoxa and stopped using them for that reason.

Having said that though, Pirastro do do some lovely warm-toned strings - I also used to use Gold Label many years ago although I think I'd find them too soft now.

Also, make sure you're not playing too near the bridge - that can cause a weird sound. So can 'scissoring' if you're moving your elbow backwards. Or not using enough bow hair on the strings. Or if the bridge is too high. Some people like their bridges lower than the Gliga bridges - it's a matter of personal taste and style.

But surely the best thing is to offer your teacher your bow and see what sound she gets out of it. If she has the same problem then it's something to do with violin/bow/set-up. A better bow can make a world of difference - amazingly so in fact. If your teacher doesn't get the same problem, then something in your technique needs sorting out. Hope you can get it fixed in time!

Violinia

Ugh, you should try a Council flat! Mutes, anyone??

I've thought about getting a caravan and living in a field. Either a caravan or a tent are the only abodes I could afford to buy anyway

Well my teacher played Claudia (my fiddle) at my lesson last night and made a beautiful noise with no squeaks, just a little roughness ( to my ear). She thinks the strings are still settling in (they're only 3 weeks old too, like the violin.)

We think part of the problem is when I get tense the bow does slide towards the bridge and makes that horrible sound but I don't notice because I'm concentrating on the music. The more I worry about the noise and the concert the more tense my shoulders get. It doesn't take much to move the bow a fraction of an inch to the wrong place, does it?! So I have to memorise my piece and try yoga (while playing the violin???? )

So it is me!!! That's fine because I can put that right without having to spend money on new strings!!!!!

Thanks for all your replies - it's been really helpful and Claudia is very grateful.

There you are, you see! Panic over. Get yourself a bowstraight and use it for ten minutes of your practise every day for a couple of months - that will fix your parallel bow issue faster than any other technique (playing in front of mirrors, for example) - they really do work wonders. Just remember to limit it to a few minutes per session so you don't become dependent on it.

Enjoy playing Claudia!

Just something to think about for future reference: Dominants are basically good all round strings but a lot of people find the E is a bit screechy (I do!) and so it's tempting to play it more tentatively, which makes the problem worse... and so on. So if after you've got the strings played in, you're having problems with the E, it's the cheapest one to experiment with, and having a string you know isn't going to show you up (ie make your tentative playing on the E string sound 100 times worse!) you play with more confidence and it just sounds better all round. I changed the E string on my fiddle just over a year ago as I was suddenly playing the middle movement of the Bach Double with Jane, and wow, an E-string that I trusted not to go "ERRRRRRRRK" at the SLIGHTEST provocation was such a relief

*dreams* Oh I'd love to play the Bach Double... I suppose being only grade 2/3 it will be a wee while yet.... *dreams some more*

Worth waiting for - tis gorgeous!

I can play the middle movement OKish, can butcher the fast movements or play them sloooooooooooooow. Lovely, lovely, lovely to play. Affectionately known as the Dark Bubble

Hello, I'm new here. I have Dominants on my viola and also find the A string a bit screechy. But I'm not sure if it's feasible to experiment with others because my viola is so big - 17 in, with a string length of 38.5 cm. Dominants come in extra long sizes, but most strings don't. Does this mean I'm stuck with Dominants unless I get a smaller instrument?

Jake

Hello Jake

Welcome to the forums.

Your viola is only a little larger than mine (mine is 16 1/2 in). Pirastro make strings for larger violas. According to their website their normal viola strings are designed for a vibration length of 37 cm, but Tonicas come in different sizes and are available for a vibration length of 40 cm and 43 cm. Also they advise that for a vibration length of 38cm to 40cm you can use 'thin' strings (some strings come in different gauges). If you contact them, explaining your problem, they should be able to suggest a suitable string for you to try. When I contacted them a while ago they sent me a free set of strings to try.

I am not sure if other string suppliers also do longer viola strings.

Edit: D'Addario also do long viola strings. For example Helicores are available for diffent vibrating lengths including 38 cm and 40 cm

Thanks pv, that's very helpful. Which dealer do you buy strings from? Or do you get them direct from the manufacturer?

I buy strings from various places. Soundpost seem to have a reasonable selection of viola strings including some of the more unusual ones. If they don't have what you want I'm sure they would order it specially for you. I bought a viola case through them that was custom made to suit the dimensions of my viola and I found that they were very helpful.