Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Git-art-ist on February 22, 2006, 06:05:07 AM

Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Git-art-ist on February 22, 2006, 06:05:07 AM
hi ,im thinking of taking up violin. anyone here play one? is it easy to pick up?
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Elliot on February 22, 2006, 08:44:39 AM
You sound like a cat getting kicked for about 5 years of constant practice until you finally learn how to bow properly and then about 10 years later you wear a dinner suit and start playing in orchestras or alternatively you grow a beard and start playing in folk clubs :D
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Git-art-ist on February 22, 2006, 09:23:18 AM
LOL!

thats funny dude.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: big steve on February 22, 2006, 12:36:14 PM
i'm known to have the odd rip at playing the mandolin; in some ways it's quite similar to the violin, they both essentially have four strings, tuned G-D-A-E.  i found the mandolin quite easy to pick up (though i'm nothing amazing at it like). i've never played violin though.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: NPH on February 22, 2006, 02:52:23 PM
What the f**k has Vera Lynn got to do with replacement pickups!

 :roll:
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Ratrod on February 22, 2006, 03:08:49 PM
I have cats. I don't want to traumatize them by playing violin. Also, there are many dogs in the neighborhood, they will all start howling as soon as I hit a string.

A mate of mine tried it once. It sounded like cat going through a blender. (I don't know how that actually sounds but I imagine that's what it sounds like)
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: rahnooo on February 22, 2006, 03:33:19 PM
I've been playing violin for nigh on 17 years now. There's no such thing as an easy instrument, they all have their challenges. First thing is that moving from a fretted instrument to a violin could be a real shock to the system, intonation is much more crucial then when you have a goodly space between frets to aim for ;)

The other thing that I would say, and this is no slight on the guitar so please don't take it as such, is that the violin is much less forgiving of "sloppy" technique than you can get away with on the guitar. *waits for the flaming to begin*

And yes, all the rumours of spending the first few years sounding like something inappropriate is being done to neighbourhood pets? They're all true. But it's worth it, because one day it clicks and sounds beautiful. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to learn anything else for my first instrument. And it does mean you can then cross over to mandolin at somepoint too :)

My best suggestion is get hold of a decent teacher in your area. A lot of them have cheap instruments you can borrow to practise on between initial lessons. Otherwise most music stores carry cheapo violins for under £100.

If you need any advise or comments then PM me :)

*Rahnooo*
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: sambo on February 22, 2006, 04:06:23 PM
Quote from: NPH
What the f**k has Vera Lynn got to do with replacement pickups!

 :roll:


what the f**ck does "the dumbest thing ever said in your band" have to do with replacement pickups? ....  :P
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Git-art-ist on February 22, 2006, 09:53:42 PM
thanks guys. :D  :D  :D

yeah violin sounds hard. im still willing to give it a shot. it would be very usefull to know.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Gochaz on February 22, 2006, 09:54:49 PM
I used to play it, but I was very young. I managed to skip the "cat" stage, and it was quite enjoyable. I did my Grade 1. The lack of frets didn't bother me because I didn't play guitar then.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: indysmith on February 22, 2006, 09:59:27 PM
i have one, don't know why...i can't play it.
I'm kinda interested in learning though i guess - just dont know if i have the time atm. in any free time, i play guitar, and i never get round to playing guitar... :cry:
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: froglord on February 22, 2006, 10:25:10 PM
Fretless instruments scare the bejesus out of me. Get an e-bow, a volume pedal and a slide, and you can do the same stuff on your favourite guitar!
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: lulusg on February 23, 2006, 12:01:59 AM
Get a nice looking gal to teach you the violin, I know I did. That's how I met my wife. Still can't play it though:)
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: tewboss on February 23, 2006, 12:09:00 AM
my friend is a hip-hop producer and plays the violin
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Elliot on February 23, 2006, 11:03:26 PM
Well then benefit of the dinner suit and orchestra route is lots of geeky girls in c--ktail dresses who want to demonstrate that the are not geeky and love Nirvana really!

(and orchestra's play as team, if you know what I mean  :D )
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: indysmith on February 23, 2006, 11:28:30 PM
Quote from: LULUSG
Get a nice looking gal to teach you the violin, I know I did. That's how I met my wife. Still can't play it though:)

awww thats cute! a musical romance - you should make a movie.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Git-art-ist on February 26, 2006, 04:27:57 AM
i boaught my first violin.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Professional-4-4-Violin-Complete-Set-Save-75_W0QQitemZ7392867749QQcategoryZ38108QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: monkeywalker on February 26, 2006, 10:29:29 PM
i've played the violin once, it was really good fun, i was trying to play she bangs the drums by the stone roses, but i was rather drunk and when i was informed that my friends violin was several thousand pounds more expensive than i expected, i nearly colapsed and put it down quite quickly. as some people mentioned, cats, dying painfully, oh soooo painfully.
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Floyd Pepper on February 26, 2006, 10:46:28 PM
I've tried the violin and like rahnooo says it looks easy until you try it.  It's a bit like going from a fretted to a frettless bass, you have to put your finger where the fret would be rather than behind them.

If the fingering on the neck wasn't bad enough you have to cope with the bow too.  I gave up on that and just picked the strings with my right hand...with the violin on my knee.

Take up the (strung) harp it's much easier.  Except for the concert ones they're tuned to a key so you can't play a wrong note.  It's quite easy to pick the strings after picking on a guitar and if you rub you fingers across the strings you get that great "going back in time" sound.  :)
Title: does anyone here play violin?
Post by: Kilby on February 27, 2006, 06:55:53 PM
Quote from: Floyd Pepper
Take up the (strung) harp it's much easier.  Except for the concert ones they're tuned to a key so you can't play a wrong note.  It's quite easy to pick the strings after picking on a guitar and if you rub you fingers across the strings you get that great "going back in time" sound.  :)


The W5 exhibition in Belfast has a laser controlled harp (connected to a midi synth) which is really cool tp play with

For cool sounds the Lyre has the be the best (next to guitar), without the size and price inconveniance of the harp. Born to be Wild on the lyre is so much fun.

My son did a few lessons, but it was dropped because the instruments where on a time share basis (you got to take it home one week in 3), and I couldn't source an instrument for purchase at the time.

I'm considering building one when if I ever get a job back in Belfast, then I will need a pickup built for it :) Just imagine the conversation, what do you mean 24 pole pieces ?

Rob...