11 TIPS FOR A MORE RELIABLE FOURTH FINGER The 11 tips for the fourth finger are divided into three categories. 1. Posture 2. Intonation 3. Strength Proper Posture is the fundamental technique for all of violin playing. Never underestimate the importance of posture. A discerning ear is imperative for intonation practice and if your fourth finger is not guided by a discerning ear than no amount of practice will help it to be reliable. How to develop a discerning ear? Read “Every Pitch a Pearl” blog post here. Strength is key for a fourth finger to be reliable. Think about it, when did you learn to use your fourth finger? It was most likely the last finger you learned to use and it was neglected…not used very much right? Perhaps you even avoid it. No longer. You will find fourth finger strengthening exercises in the tips below. PROPER POSTURE LEFT HAND FACES FINGERBOARD FOURTH FINGER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CURVED AND ON ITS TIP (UNLESS PLAYING EXTENSIONS OR HARMONICS) USE YOUR LEFT ELBOW AS SUPPORT FOR THE FOURTH FINGER AND BRING UNDER THE VIOLIN IF NECESSARY TO HELP OUT EXTENDED FOURS HAMMER TIME - SET THE FOURTH FINGER DOWN STRONG LIKE A HAMMER BUT RELAXED WITHOUT TENSION INTONATION PRACTICE ALWAYS KNOW DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR FOURTH FINGER AND YOUR FIRST FINGER IN EVERY POSITION ALWAYS KNOW RELATIONSHIP TO ALL OTHER FINGERS PRACTICE FOURTH FINGER EXTENSIONS STRENGTHENING PRACTICE USE THE FOURTH FINGER, DON’T AVOID IT DEDICATE 3 MINUTES A DAY TO FOURTH FINGER VIBRATO FOR 3 MINUTES A DAY PRACTICE ACCURATE FOURTH FINGER SHIFTS ON ALL STRINGS IN ALL POSITIONS PRACTICE FOURTH FINGER LEFT HAND PIZZICATO WITH OPEN STRINGS AND WITH OTHER FINGERS Copyright © Heather Broadbent 2017 | All Rights Reserved .