Finger anatomy
While practising some pieces with a lot of difficult double/triple stops, I realised once again that some of them are impossible to play with perfect intonation when the fingernails of the left hand are not absolutely short, especially that of the first finger. An example: this Bb-maj-chord D’, F’ Bb’. (I think this always happens when the finger on the lower string is higher than the one on the higher string.)
I always wondered what a violinist can do if the nail bed reaches very far towards the fingertip, so the nail itself can’t be shortend enough. The finger tips themselves are soft, and the nail touches the fingerboard without the finger tip being able to press down the string enough. No problem with most single notes, as the fingers can often be set a little at an angle.
I’ve had some students with such fingers, but they didn’t get so far to play double stops, but what can be done when an advanced player has this problem?
Replies (15)
I sometimes use a bit of sandpaper (I have that sitting around, so it is easy).
120 grit does pretty good. I don't have a severe problem with my nails being too far out, but sometimes, when one is a bit torn, I can get them really short by angling the sandpaper so the edge close to the finger is longer, and very pliable.
Keep in mind that cutting the nails too short , into the nail bed, will prevent the nail from adhering to this area when it grows back,may be irreversible , or it may grow back deformed, irreversible.She may hate you on her wedding day.If your going to tell someone to do some thing out of the ordinary ,make sure you tell them the risk.
She should find out before the wedding day, what ever has happened to trial period. Personally I use 80 grit paper, more calcium in my body due to full cream milk.
Janis is right. After 30+ years of cutting my nails for violin playing, the nail beds on my right hand are visibly shorter than on my right - and I don't try to trim especially close.
I used to have a problem being in tune playing double stops. The problem wasn't me, but my violin. It was just too big for me. The length of the vibrating string was much longer than "standard". So, it was like I was playing a viola, but trying to space my fingers like on a violin. I bought a new violin, it's perfect for me, I don't even think about double stops anymore. Maybe the probleml isn't you, or your nails, but your violin.
The fingernail situation may be as you describe, but I am skeptical that it is the problem with executing double stops. Each finger has 4 degrees of freedom in its motion and the arc of the hand adds a 5th degree of freedom for motion at the point of contact on the fingerboard. Very simply, the hand is incredibly plastic when its trained. Getting to "a plastic hand" takes a long time with progressively more difficult double stop exercises. Is it possible that this piece is too big a jump for the double stop aspect of the technique? Is it possible the student has not practiced independent motion of fingers long enough? I would look for other sources of the problem before blaming the fingernails.
Obviously there are many things that can cause a bad intonation. But that wasn't my question. I just wanted to ask about other's experience with the described finger anatomy, nothing else.
Thanks nevertheless.
For that particular chord (4th finger D on G string, 2nd finger F on D String, and 1st finger Bb on A string) I would set the shape of the hand by getting 2 and 4 placed first, then reaching back with the 1st finger. The result will be that the pads of the fingers, and not the tips, will contact the strings, thus eliminating the nail problem altogether.
Before I cut my nails I push the thumb nail of my right hand under the left hand fingers, this pushes back the nail bed exposing more nail to cut. I have done this for many years and have not developed any deformity, and the bed always grows back. This allows extented periods between cutting.
Gene, this is a fine trick, but the problem remains nevertheless. What if you'd have to play in time? Fingers have to be set simultanously in most cases.
And take for example the Preludio in the E-Maj-Partita for solo violin by Bach. The bariolages from bar 13 on can only played with straight fingers, or the e-string would not sound.
Workarounds are usually only a compromise (but still better than giving up).
Mike, there is another reason to cut the fingernails short. Bending your fingers back may strain the wrist causeing injury.
Tobias is this just my impression but I observed that violinists who play very much (students who practice much included) have their nails naturally shortened after a while of playing... My fingertips on my left hand are way more exposed than on my right hand. I mean, much more of my fingertip skin is bare on my left hand than on my right hand. Before playing violin, my fingertips were equally exposed. I remember very well my hands before playing since I started in my teens. I also didn't have this ugly bow bump on my index back then... (but this is off topic!)
My mom noticed the very exposed finger tips of violinists in a masterclass. She found that the nail line (line between the pink and white part of the nail) was very low on the left fingers.
I don't know if I'm right but perhaps playing and often cutting the nails short + regular practice fix by itslelf the left hand nails anatomy to make it suitable for the violin.
Good luck!
Anne-Marie
@Anne-Marie,
reading your comment I found that my original posting leaves room for thinking I was having the problem myself. No, thanks to my genes and 30 years intense violin and guitar playing I've got perfect fingers and hands.
I think the assumption is right that fingers adopt to cutting the nails always short. And I reckon the steady exposure while playing is essential, too.
Lately there was a discussion about talent. It came to my mind what would a talented beginner do if he or she happened to have very long finger nails. Some talented and busy students can reach the level where this is a problem before their fingers had the time to adapt to the required constitition. Would they have to resign, like a dancer with short legs (he would never have a chance). Or would they lose some years of progress just because of the fingers?
I thought maybe some members could contribute real cases and their solution.
Mine - trimming with scissors is not enough. I need to file them with a proper manicurist nail file so that thre are short enough not to touch the strings, when fingers are perpendicular to the strings. Warning - it's easy to file them too much so that the skin of the tip presses on the nail - ouch!
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August 25, 2010 at 07:33 PM ·
Clip your nails juuuuuust a hint into the bed every time you clip them. Not so far in that they bleed, but just clip them up as high as you can manage. Just do that over time, and the bed will back up a bit. I've known people to do this for handcrafting, and it takes time but it works.