7 Different Violin Techniques to Play Loud and Soft

Improve the dynamic range on your violin by learning these 7 ways to play loud and soft:

Play expressively and create different sound colors by improving your dynamic range

These 7 different violin techniques to play loud and soft all have their own sound

#1 Position and String

For the same note a high position on a lower string has a softer and warmer tone. You choose your fingering not only based on what's handy, but also to create the sound quality you want.

#2 Bow Speed

How much of the bow you use for a certain note determines the bow speed: the speed with which the bow travels over the string. the higher the speed, the louder you sound.

#3 Bow Distribution

Playing at the frog sounds louder than at the tip. Base your choices in bow distribution on how you want certain notes to sound.

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#4 Bow Tilt

Tilting your bow determines how much hair you use for a certain note. When the stick of your bow is right above the hair, you use all the hair. When you tilt the bow in the direction of the scroll, you'll use just the side of the hair and sound softer.

#5 Weight

The more weight of your arm you transfer into the bow, the louder you'll sound. Using pressure can muffle the tone a bit as the bow and violin can't resonate as well.

#6 Contact Point

The contact point is the place where the bow touches the string between the bridge and the fingerboard. Near the bridge, the violin will sound loud and glassy. Near the fingerboard, the violin will sound softer and mellower. Watch my video all about contact points and how to use them for your musical expression.

#7 Note length

Using bowing techniques like staccato and spiccato the notes are not played in their full length. For example when the bow jumps above the string, there's no sound. This will automatically be perceived as a softer sound than sustained notes like detaché and tenuto.

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7 Different Violin Techniques to Play Loud and Soft

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Improve the dynamic range on your violin by learning these 7 ways to play loud and soft:

Play expressively and create different sound colors by improving your dynamic range

These 7 different violin techniques to play loud and soft all have their own sound

#1 Position and String

#2 Bow Speed

#3 Bow Distribution

Interesting? Support my work by sharing this on Twitter:

Learn a Beautiful Vibrato on the Violin

#4 Bow Tilt

#5 Weight

#6 Contact Point

#7 Note length

Which technique was new for you?

Join the Violin Lounge Academy

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Improve the dynamic range on your violin by learning these 7 ways to play loud and soft:

Play expressively and create different sound colors by improving your dynamic range

These 7 different violin techniques to play loud and soft all have their own sound

#1 Position and String

#2 Bow Speed

#3 Bow Distribution

Interesting? Support my work by sharing this on Twitter:

Learn a Beautiful Vibrato on the Violin

#4 Bow Tilt

#5 Weight

#6 Contact Point

#7 Note length

Which technique was new for you?