Watching for Unsightly Bulges

I’d like to start off today by thanking all of you that sent in a note of ‘best wishes’ for our upcoming 20th. In fact we’re celebrating it a tad early. I will be back in LA putting down more music for the epic ‘Avatar’ on the real day.

So here’s the deal with ‘unsightly bulges.’

When many of us began playing we felt rather uncertain, at times, of where pitches lay on the fingerboard. It’s only natural. As a consequence there was a great temptation to hold back the tone until we were certain we had the note in tune, particularly when it involved a change of bow or position.

And though well-intentioned, this seemingly innocent little thing can quickly become an unfortunate habit that requires a lot of mindfulness to break.

The best course is to resist the temptation to slow the bow speed into and out of bow changes from the get-go. Let an out of tune note ring out boldly if you miss it.

It’s much easier to correct the aim of your left hand – which you will have to do anyway – than going back years down the road to address this amateurish affectation.

Now if you’re working with any of my courses this should be ‘preaching to the choir.’ If not, take it as a word to the wise and go back and listen to yourself with it in mind.

All the best, Clayton Haslop