I'm a beginner viola student. I have a problem with hitting two strings at once. What can I do?

Question

I just started the viola about two months ago, and I seem to always accidentally hit the string next to the string I'm trying to hit so it's a strange harmony that I'm not trying to create. Simple bow technique that I can't seem to get down. Is there something wrong with my strings, or do I just need to keep practicing?

Also, I'm having trouble getting a clean sound. Does that just come with time?

Thanks,

Sophia

Answer 1

It's not your instrument, this happens to all beginners at some point. It's most likely your bowing arm. Is your elbow away from your sides? Is your arm parallel to the instrument and you? Here's a practice for that. Stand in front of a mirror with your instrument, bow, a friend, and a sheet of paper. Place yourself into playing position on the G string. Tell your friend to place the paper on your arm, it should not fall off. If it does then fix your arm so that it is straight. Lower or higher your elbow to go to other strings. This should fix the problem. You should also look in the mirror to see that your bow is going in a straight path. Usually you pull the bow away from your body so that it goes straight and doesn't hit other strings. Apply rosin to get the crisp sound from your bow and don't put too much pressure on the strings. A clean sound comes from long hours of practice. When practicing a song begin slowly, making sure all notes are in tune. Afterwards to can speed up. And don't think that thirty minutes to an hour is a long time. I practiced 6 hours a day in highschool, but it has paid off. Don't worry about the two string hit for now, in the furture you'll need to hit two strings for harder music.

Good luck with your studies and practice!

Answer 2

I play the violin, but the technique is the same as the viola (I played one before) so this is what I have to say:

Nothing is wrong with your instrument; just keep on practicing playing on one string. Keep playing each one of the strings one at a time. Also, while you're practicing a piece, focus only on the bowing for a while; just play the strings, and don't do the fingerings. Do the same for the fingerings. And once you feel you have both of them down, put them together.

As for getting a clean sound, that definitely just comes with time. I've been playing the violin for eight years, and I still have a difficult time making a clean sound. You need to be good at vibrato (which is really really really hard) and you have to let your right hand just flow against the string. I could do it if I wanted to, but I rarely do because it's so hard! But getting a clean sound definitely comes with time.

Answer 3

I have played violas where all four strings are almost in line with each other - if your viola looks like this, then it will be more difficult to hit only one string at once, and I highly recommend you get a new one.

However, since you are a beginner, it's more likely that there is nothing wrong with your viola - you just need to practise your bowing technique.  Start by watching your bow as you play open notes, and getting your right arm comfortable with the angle it has to be at to hit the right string.

With enough practise, your arm will get used to where it needs to be, and it will all come naturally.

As for the scratchy sound, again - you just need to work on your right arm, finding the perfect amount of pressure you need to use to get the perfect sound.  Practise playing open notes, and using different amounts of pressure with your right arm, until you find the perfect sound.

As long as you keep practising and never give up, all these techniques will become natural to you and your viola will sound fantastic!

Answer 4

Well, the clean sound will happen when you get onto one string and with some time. To keep from hitting the next string, you may want to work on just lightly  playing on one string until you can get used to playing.

Answer 5

It comes with practice... the great thing about playing the viola is that there aren't as many vioalists out there, so there's more of a demand for them compared with violinists. Making a clean sound takes a lot of practice. Try slowing it down first and try not to go too fast. Focus on just playing the strings first and then work on finger posistions. I used to play a half hour practice every day, went to viola lessons for an hour every week, and then played in an orchestra one hour every day for the school... and then in a different orchestra for an hour after school. It's something I'm glad I stuck with when I was younger and wished I kept up with after college.

Also, you might want to check and see if you have the correct sized instrument. If your viola is too small for you, it will make it harder--you can ask your instructor or go to the local music store and ask there.

P.S. Good idea about the rosin--that will make a difference as to whether it sounds scratchy. Also, if you're pushing down too hard, it'll sound scratchy. It needs to be the right balance between not too hard and not too light.

Answer 6

You have to use rosin to get a clean sound.  Also make sure your bow strings are the right tension.  Ask your teacher or a fellow better student to look at your bow placement on the strings and see if you need to bow closer or farther away from the bridge that will make a difference in helping you not bow two strings at the same time.  Also don't press down too hard on the strings.  This all takes practice and just a little focus on your form with someone else watching a few times.  You will get it soon.