What can I do to improve my shifting on the violin?

Answer by  Michiel (83)

What I used to do was this. Take a soft (clean) cloth and put that underneath your fingertips on the string. Then slide slowly up and down your fingerboard. After a while doing this, remove the cloth and the sliding will be easier!

Answer by  Zeke (45)

Relax your hand. Hear the pitch you are shifting to in your head before you play it. Don't squeeze too hard with your thumb, and relax your hand.

Answer by  4lizzieb (120)

practice, practice, practice. drills, songs, do it in your head as you're falling asleep, and with your hand even when you aren't holding the violin.

Answer by  smp (43)

The shift should be smooth and relaxed. The shape of the hand must be maintained. Keep the pressure on the string of the shifting finger to a minumum, and keep the finger in contact with the string. Develop an excecise which repeats the shift. Throughout, maintain all basic concepts.

Answer by  meakulpa (65)

Put tape down on the finger boards and practice doing the shifts over and over again, from first position to second position and from first position to third position. Practice without playing. The key is to do it over and over again.

Answer by  Allison16 (24)

Alway practice all positions first before you playing, buy the position practicing book if you don't have it. And always think what position you're going to shift before shifting, and remember the note alphabet of the first finger in the that position and shift your first finger.

Answer by  SallyJ64 (3121)

Keep your fingering tapes on and just practive shifting over and over again as a technique, like when playing a scale. Practice hard shifts outside of a harder piece.

Answer by  Olive (1195)

Without the violin, take your music and verbally say what you are doing-i.e. "I'm in first position and now I'm shifting to third position." This helps you to practice for when you are actually playing.