Difficulty tuning violin

August 6, 2012 at 8:02 PM

Friction between the groves of the nut and my strings is causing tuning to be jerky. As I pull a string up to pitch it is not a continuous curve. It comes up in small jerks. I have used graphite with a pencil each time I change strings to lubricate the grove. I have had this problem with different sets of strings. My violin is an old Johann Gottfried HAMM with ebony finger board and nut. I have Knelling pegs with one fine tuner on the E String. I have the same problem with all 4 strings.

To overcome this problem I have tried to equilibrate the tension of the string between the section of the peg to nut with the section from the nut to the bridge. The method I use is pulling the string up to slightly flat pitch tension with the peg and then gradually putting finger tension on the section above the nut. This helps, but I'm looking for a better solution. I am using a Peterson strobe tuner in and untempered setting

The following has come to mind as a solution. 1. Polish the grooves, 2. Replace the nut 3. Change from an ebony nut to a material that is inherently slicker, such as glass. I don't know if such a nut exists. ( I have methods of producing such though in various metals or glass.)

Is this just the nature of violins in general? Or, are there violins out there that don't have this problem?

From Kathryn Woodby
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:13 PM

Jack: i don't know, but post this in discussion and someone who does is more likely to see it!

From Kahne Raja
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 4:27 AM

... or ask a local musician.
www.musomap.com

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