SE1 Morphologies of shifting
Shifting Exercises I Training Fingers & Positions
•
1m 32s
Morphologies of Shifting
Shifting can come from three parts of your body: your fingers, your hand, or your arm.
For small movements, like a half step or whole step, you can often shift using only your fingers.
As the distances get bigger, your hand and arm start to help more.
In lower positions, the arm is more active. As you move higher on the violin,
the hand becomes more involved.
To build a solid technique, practice each type of movement separately:
shifting with the fingers
with the hand
and with the arm
Then combine them.
Also pay attention to your finger angle. Flatter fingers create a warmer, fuller sound. More vertical fingers create a clearer, more focused sound.
Up Next in Shifting Exercises I Training Fingers & Positions
-
SE1 Long distance shifts
Preparation for Long-Distance Shifts
In long shifts, your arm, hand, and fingers work together. As you move higher on the violin,
your hand moves around the instrument, and your left elbow naturally shifts slightly to the right.If this happens too late, tension can build. Instead, prepare the ...
-
SE1 Shifting involving more fingers
Practicing Shifts Between Two Fingers
To improve shifts between two fingers, practice each part of the movement separately.
Don’t only practice the full shift—focus on what each finger does, both actively and passively.For example, shifting from first to third finger:
practice the full movemen... -
SE1 Shifting with same fingers
Shifts with the Same Finger
When shifting with the same finger, keep your finger pressure light and controlled.
Too much pressure creates friction, making movement harder and less accurate. Also, keep your shift speed steady. Avoid speeding up or slowing down during the movement.
Consistency i...
