Finding first position fingering is awkward

Question

I'm learning first position fingering on the violin, and I find it very awkward to get my fingers on the A string and beyond to the G string.

I make sure to have the violin positioned correctly and to keep my left wrist neutral. However, like I said getting my finger round especially to the G and D strings is very difficult and feels unnatural.

Is it just a matter of training my muscles to endure these manoeuvres or am I missing something?

Answer 1

The best idea is to consult a violin teacher so he or she can see how you hold the violin. Anyway, the way you hold the violin can make a big difference on this matter. Well you say you hold it correctly but small changes can make wonders. But it is nevertheless a bit harder to play on the D and G strings.

Here are some things that could make a difference:

1) The left elbow should move a bit to the right when playing on the deep strings.

2) Try out moving the violin to the left, only a bit.

3) Check that the left hand is not a bit under the violin. You might need to raise it a bit.

4) Could be that the left thumb is too high up in the air forcing the hand to be a bit under the violin.

Make your experiments with those ideas.

Answer 2

Typically, the awkwardness you feel when you first begin to play the violin is temporary and doesn't last for long. But some factors having to do with posture can affect your playing. The best route would be to find a good mentor, but meanwhile, make sure that:

• Your left wrist should never touch the neck of the violin. It should remain slightly curved at all times. This also may help with intonation.
• Curve your fingers around the fingerboard so it forms a roof, making sure the thumb is located well enough under the fingerboard so that it never causes your hand to feel uncomfortable, especially when stretching the fingers.
• Adjust your elbow accordingly as you move across the strings.