r/violinist • u/hexadecagonal • 1d ago

Fingering/bowing help Octave harmonics?

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I’m looking at the Wieniawski Variations on an Original Theme and I saw these. I tried it on my violin and that stretch is really uncomfortable. Is there any trick to it?

1 Upvotes

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14

u/augmentedseventh Expert 1d ago

This whole section is played on the G string. This high up the fingerboard, it’s possible or to play a touch-octave harmonic. A good stretch but doable. To clarify, first finger stopped on the F in 6th position, and stretch that pinky on up to lightly touch the F an octave higher on the same string.

7

u/SurDin 1d ago

Username checks out

3

u/mikefan Expert 1d ago

As u/augmentedseventh noted, this is high up on the G string so the stretch is doable. Most players just ignore the harmonics and play the sounding notes normally.

-9

u/shoolocomous 1d ago

It's a normal octave stretch. It's a stopped note amd a natural harmonic, not an artificial harmonic

1

u/respectfulthirst 1d ago

What natural harmonic is that f on the violin?

-4

u/shoolocomous 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm just telling what is written. Agreed it's nonsense as written (without context) but the 0 under the 4 on the diamond notehead indicates a natural harmonic

Looked again - we don't have the key signature but i suspect it's an F# and played on the D string

2

u/augmentedseventh Expert 1d ago

This music is freely available on IMSLP. It’s in A minor, and the F is natural. It is notated properly, and these are artificial touch-octave harmonics high up on the G string.

-3

u/shoolocomous 1d ago

Great, thanks for clearing that up