Saturday, August 20, 2011

How to Put Violin Tapes

Finally! My very own tutorial on how to put tapes on a violin. Been very busy with work and barely have time to put up the blog.


Now, before we begin, read first my post on Putting Tapes on Violin: Is it for you? This is for you to know some of the pros and cons of having violin tapes. No one should dictate you on what you want to do with your violin. If you think that putting tapes on the fingerboard will be good for building muscle and tone memory, then go for it. But if you prefer to learn the traditional way and go without finger tapes, that will do as well. For now, we’ll be discussing the tapes, where and how to put them.


For starters, here’s what you will need:

  • Tapes. You can buy violin tapes in Amazon. However, Beth of ViolinLab.com also recommends using pinstripe car stickers bought in your local car specialty store. Both violin and car tapes are easier to remove without leaving behind that sticky residue. Pre-cut the tapes in a length that is twice as long as the fingerboard so you can overlap the tapes underneath the violin.
  • An Auto Chromatic tuner. You cannot use the GDAE-only as you will be checking notes other than those found in the violin tuner. What’s good about an auto chromatic tuner is that you can self-tape your violin with a better degree of note accuracy faster and easier. If you don’t have any other musical instrument or tuner at home, one way to check your violin tapes is to visit this tumbra drone website (shared by a violinlab.com member). This site has an extensive collection of different notes played on the tumbra uploaded in mp3 format. Try to harmonize as much as you can with the notes as you mark the violin.
  • A pencil and a ruler to mark where you will be putting the tapes


First step: tune first your violin. Make it a habit to tune your violin before doing anything to it, even if you’re just practicing your bowing. An out-of-tune violin can make your violin fingerboard tape totally useless as you’ll be producing different notes.

violin tape locations

Mark the violin according to the measurements shown in the photo. My warning here is, these measurements are just approximations on where the notes are generally found on the violin. The violin tape positions may be a bit above or below the specified measurements. Place the zero mark of your ruler right at the nut. Make pencil markings on the edge of the fingerboard near the G string, and again other edge near the E string. This will help you put your tapes in a straight position. If your violin tapes are not straight, your notes will not be accurate.


Once you have created your markings, take your prepared violin tapes and insert them under the strings just above the bridge right where you use your bow. Make sure that the sticky side is not touching any part of the violin as you glide the violin tape beneath the strings right at the first marking. Once you reach your first marking, lightly lay the tapes on the violin fingerboard and check if the tape is straight along the nut. Don’t wrap the tape on the violin fingerboard yet as you’ll be doing some fine tuning later. Proceed in doing so with the next 3 tapes, always taking care to check the alignment as you go.

 

Now that you have placed the tapes on the violin fingerboard, get your tuner. Here are the pictures of the GDAE strings with their respective violin tape notes (click to enlarge).
D string notes
G string notes
E string notes
A string notes

Now let’s number the tapes 1-4, with 1 being the top tape nearest the nut. Your fingers will also be numbered 1-4, starting from your pointing finger to the pinky. Press on the first tape at the G string firmly and run your bow on that string. If your placement of the violin tape  is correct, your tuner should light at the middle. If the light stops before the middle mark, then you need to carefully lift the violin fingerboard tape and ever so slightly increase its distance from the nut. If the light goes beyond the middle, you need to do the opposite: gingerly lift the tape and place it just a little closer to the nut.


Congratulations, you've just put violin tapes on your violin. You can now start practicing your scales and get right on your first musical piece. ViolinLab has great videos on how to do your scales on the violin with your newly placed violin fingerboard tapes.


Did you find this tutorial helpful?  Please share your thoughts and let's exchange ideas on how to improve your tone with or without the tapes. ;)

28 comments:

  1. I just notice that you do not have update in your site. Busy?

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    1. Hi! Yes, busy with work and taking care of my post-stroke mom-in-law, and sort of tightening shoe strings that violin lessons are no longer a priority... as of the moment, that is. :D

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  2. Are your measurement for 4/4 violin? What about 1/2 size violin? Otherwise very helpful!!

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    1. Hi. Yes, these measurements are for full size 4/4 violin. I'm sorry but I don't know about other sizes.

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  3. is it close to 3/4s ? :)

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    1. I'm sorry, but this measurement is only for a full-sized violin. :(

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  4. this was very helpful, and pretty accurate too.

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  5. It was the most helpful piece on information on the internet for this particular. My statement might sound an overstatement. But believe me I feel like saying thanks from the core of my heart.

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    1. And you have my thanks as well for giving such a wonderful comment. Hope you get to tune your violin well!

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  6. I've been playing for 5 years and still refuse to remove my tapes on my school violin. I don't like to take that one home and my other violin doesn't have tapes so thank you very much for sharing this

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  7. Omg thank you so much!!! Finnaly I can start on the violin! Got the guitar and banjo down!!:)

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    1. So glad I was able to help you out. I hope it's going to go well for you.

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  8. Thank you! I am a lefty and can never find pre-made tape for the left handed violin, again thank you so very much! :)

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  9. Could you specify the measurements of distances of frets? Actually I am not able to make out the measurements from picture as it seems to be unclear. Than you in advance. :)

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    1. 1st tape: 36mm
      2nd tape: 67mm
      3rd tape: 79mm
      4th tape: 110mm

      Hope this helps, and so sorry for the very, very, very, very late reply.

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  10. Really helpful indeed! I was going to waste 5 pounds on buying a dont fret tape!

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  11. If I were to tape my violin, would I be able to take lessons online through maybe YouTube or something, or would you still suggest an actual teacher

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    1. Yes, you could take your lessons online, ViolinLab is superb for online tutorials. However, if you are really finicky with your positions and wish actual hands on and you have time to go to an actual class, live tutorials are better.

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  12. thanks, i just transitioned to a new violin, and I NEEDED the tapes for my school audition. Thanks again. <3

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  13. My third tape was 82mm from the nut to be right. The other measurements were perfect.

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  14. This is the most helpful that I can find on the web. Most don't show pictures or tell you the notes that you are marking on each string

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    1. Thank you! I did it out of actual experience, like you. I tried looking for good posts on the web for tape placement, and actually found close to none.

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  15. I have 3 different violins, each has it's own character. Your violin finger placement, will be what ever your tuner illustrates; the proper note is. Don't worry if your tape is different than the illustration. It's good to know how to play your own violin.

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    1. Good point. Eventually, muscle memory and intonation will take over and the tapes are just there as guidance. Each type of violin, and each player will have different tunes if the exact measurement of the tapes here are followed. Thanks for your great comment!

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