Why Does My Violin Sound Scratchy? | Herriman Violin Teacher

 

 

There are many elements of violin technique that need to be mastered in order to create a beautiful sound. One of the techniques that I focus on from the very beginning is creating a beautiful tone. If you are struggling to get a pure tone without scratchiness, troubleshoot with these tips.

 

You Have a Poor Bow Hold

Having a strong, yet flexible, bow hold is the first step to being able to produce a beautiful tone. The grip must be firm so you can manipulate the bow skillfully, and the fingers should be flexible in order to prevent any breaks in the sound. You can read my tips for establishing a good bow hold here.

You can strengthen your bow hold by performing these bow exercises daily.

 

You Don’t Have Enough Bow Weight

Adequate bow weight is important for producing a beautiful tone on the violin. If your bow is only skimming the surface, you won’t get that deep, reach sound you’re listening for.

 

Your Bow Speed is Too Slow

Scratchy sounds can happen when you are using lots of bow weight but aren’t moving the bow quickly enough. Bow weight, combined with adequate bow speed, contributes to resonance from the instrument.

 

Use Aren’t Using Full Bows

When learning how to create a beautiful tone, it’s important to use full bows. This means using all of the bow hair, from the frog to the tip. Using these full bow strokes will create a strong, sustained tone.

 

Your Bow Placement is Off

For a strong, solid tone, aim to place your bow close to the bridge. The perfect spot for the bow is placing it about a quarter inch from the bridge (a little closer to the bridge than the end of the fingerboard). If your bow is right next to the bridge, however, it will be scratchy. Do some trial and error to find that sweet spot on your own instrument.

 

 

Want to learn more about creating a beautiful tone? Read about tonalization and how it can improve your sound here!

 

Heather

 

I’d love to work with you! Please contact me for more information about music lessons!