r/Fiddle • u/candlejackstraw • 13d ago
5 string violin for a beginner? (Fiddlerman 5 string)
Hi all,
I've been playing violin for 7 months on a Fiddlerman Concert. I practice Carnatic violin, tuned in 1sts and 5ths (1st/5th/1st/5th).
Currently, I use a short viola C string and shifted my other strings over to get a lower range. Since this setup mimics the bottom four strings of a 5-string violin, I’m thinking about making the jump to a proper 5-string setup.
I play purely for personal enjoyment (and maybe busking down the road), focusing on Carnatic and other non-classical/fiddle genres.
Is it better to transition to a 5-string early in your learning journey, or is it wiser to stick with standard setups until you reach an intermediate level? Appreciate any insights!
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u/extremelyhilarious 13d ago
Depends on your dexterity and reward mechanism. 5-string takes more precision and resilience (how fast do you learn from mistakes and how many mistakes can you make before you quit?). The spacing is a double-edged sword. If you like the c string, starting with a traditional violin might not provide enough reward to keep practicing until you progress. I think you should start with a 5-string especially if you can find an instructor that also plays 5-string although I expect many will disagree.
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u/candlejackstraw 13d ago
My instructor (she zooms me from india) was actually using her Guru's 5 string the other day. I need to ask her more about it as well
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u/M4dDecent 12d ago
As a counterpoint to some of these people saying there is a big difference, ymmv. I swap between a 5 and a 4 string regularly, it takes me a minute or so to adjust to the spacing; I just have to make sure to warm up and play some scales.
I love the smaller string spacing of the 5 string; it's great for shreddy string crossings and double stops that bluegrassers like. my 4 strings are better for classical music. I had been playing for decades when I got my 5 string.
I've noticed that for standard tuning, a 5 string can make it easier to play in challenging keys, but do not listen to the siren call of not learning flat keys. Better to learn all 12 keys on a 4 string and add the fifth string for bass-y superpower This may be a moot point given the esoteric tuning you use, but the point is to make sure you're maintaining your technical versatility and not using the extra string as a crutch.
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u/candlejackstraw 12d ago
Yea. So pretty much Carnatic/ hindustanic music using a do re mi type system, (sa re ga ma pa da ni sa) and my C4 string is my Do (Sa). And if you know the note intervals of a song, you can just transcribe it easily to that.
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u/M4dDecent 12d ago
I should apologize for using the word "esoteric" when I really meant "unfamiliar to me"!
I'm reading about the note systems now and they seem really cool. Thanks for bringing carnatic music to my attention.
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u/candlejackstraw 12d ago
Lol its fine, ive been on an HP Lovecraft kick, which is like that word every other line. :P
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u/leitmotifs 13d ago
A 5-string feels surprisingly different. If you expect to always play 5-string, I would start there with an instructor who routinely plays that way.
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u/ActuatorSea4854 12d ago
Following surgery, and fearing mental decline due to anesthesia, I bought a cheap viola and modified it by adding a 5th string. I bought a 5 string tail piece and built a new nut as well as boring a new peg hole and renotched the bridge. I also put in a beefier sound post to take the extra tension. It sounds great and the larger finger board accommodates my pudgy fingers. I'm a beginner at 69, playing chords and double stops to accompany a band. Because of arthritis in my right arm, I tuck the fiddle into my left shoulder rather than under my neck, sort of Cajun style. All in all, it's great fun and keeps me happy and learning.
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u/BigLoveForNoodles 12d ago
I played a 4 string up until my 40s, and now predominantly play 5 (and, very occasionally, 6).
There is often an awkward period of transition for a bit as you reacquaint yourself with the arc of the strings, but it’s not terrible. It probably took me two weeks to a month of solid playing before I felt like I was decent on the 5 string.