Bowing & Contact

String crossing

Changing arm level and geometry so the same stroke works across strings.

Common phrases: string changes

27 reviewed clips

Filtered results: 27

0:00–0:40 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Start on a Middle String

Ben Chan- String crossing trick

Use when
the player is practicing string crossings from the A string so both directions are available
Teaching summary
The clue says the A string is a good starting point because a middle string lets the player cross left or right. Build the crossing practice from a balanced starting string.
Open full video

0:47–1:18 · ai proposed

Home String: D String to A String Crossing

Ben Chan- Bach Partita #3 in E Major, Preludio

Use when
the player is extending the pinky or bending the wrist while treating D as the home string
Teaching summary
The clue says the home base is the D string and the A string is the crossing target, with pinky extension or wrist bend as options. Organize the crossing around the home string.
Open full video

0:57–1:46 · ai proposed

Arm-Led Crossing to the D String

Ben Chan- Suzuki Book #1 Minuet in G

Use when
the player is practicing a string crossing by stopping the bow and moving to D with the arm
Teaching summary
The clue says to play the first note, stop the bow, and move to the D string using the arm. Keep shoulders down and let the arm level create the crossing.
Open full video

1:26–2:00 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Coordinating the String Change

Ben Chan- Up-bow Staccato

Use when
the player loses continuity or balance when moving between strings
Teaching summary
Keep the stroke concept stable and change the arm level and geometry for the new string. Avoid rebuilding the entire motion at each crossing.
Open full video

1:39–2:06 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Arm Movement, Not Wrist Force

Tutorial: Senna from Bleach

Use when
the player is crossing strings with arm movement instead of forcing from the wrist
Teaching summary
The clue says string crossing requires the arm to move, and forcing it with the wrist creates a bad sound. Use arm level as the primary crossing mechanism.
Open full video

2:23–2:58 · ai proposed

String Crossing With Spaces

Irish Blood of Cu Chulainn from Boondock Saints

Use when
the player is adding spaces to make string crossings manageable
Teaching summary
The clue says to practice string crossings first with spaces, stealing time from the previous eighth note. Use the space as training for the bow move.
Open full video

2:58–3:00 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Arm Height Check

Ben Chan- String crossing trick

Use when
the player notices the arm is not high enough for the crossing
Teaching summary
The clue says the arm is not high enough. The actionable issue is arm level for string crossing, not generic practice strategy.
Open full video

3:30–3:53 · ai proposed

Stop-Move String Crossing

Irish Blood of Cu Chulainn from Boondock Saints

Use when
the player is stopping the bow before moving strings to remove in-between sound
Teaching summary
The clue gives the pattern stop, move, stop, move and says it prevents the sound between string changes. Train the bow to stop before changing levels.
Open full video

3:54–4:47 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Stop the Bow to Mask the Middle String

Bach Double TUTORIAL: Sheet Music, Fingerings, and Tips for 2nd Violin Part

Use when
the player hears unwanted remnants of the middle string during a crossing
Teaching summary
The clue says to stop the bow between eighth notes so the sound of the string crossing is masked. The goal is a cleaner crossing without leftover middle-string noise.
Open full video

4:39–5:20 · ai proposed

Stop Bow Before Changing Strings

Irish Blood of Cu Chulainn from Boondock Saints

Use when
the player is making string changes clean by stopping the bow first
Teaching summary
The clue repeats that the bow should stop before changing strings. Use the stopped bow as the core variable before restoring tempo.
Open full video

4:42–5:13 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Coordinating the String Change

Ben Chan- Bach Partita #3 in E Major, Preludio

Use when
the player loses continuity or balance when moving between strings
Teaching summary
Keep the stroke concept stable and change the arm level and geometry for the new string. Avoid rebuilding the entire motion at each crossing.
Open full video

5:47–6:00 · ai proposed

Reverse Chord: Missing the D String

Ben Chan- Scherzo Tarantelle Opening

Use when
the player is comparing a reverse chord that omits the D string with one that uses all four strings
Teaching summary
The clue says the written reverse chord is missing the D string and compares it with the full four-note version. The useful issue is chord/string choice, not generic practice strategy.
Open full video

7:48–8:06 · ai proposed

String Crossing: Coordinating the String Change

Ben Chan- Bach Partita #3 in E Major, Preludio

Use when
the player loses continuity or balance when moving between strings
Teaching summary
Keep the stroke concept stable and change the arm level and geometry for the new string. Avoid rebuilding the entire motion at each crossing.
Open full video

0:00–0:27 · ai proposed

Finger First, Bow Second

In 60 seconds: How to Improve String Crossing on the Violin

Use when
the player is separating left-hand placement from bow movement to clean up coordination
Teaching summary
The clue says to deliberately put the finger down first and then move the bow. Separate the actions so timing is clear before reconnecting them.
Open full video

0:09–1:00 · ai proposed

Arm Weight: Isolating the Essential Variable

Ben Chan- Suzuki Book #1 Minuet in G

Use when
the player needs a clearer way to organize a technical practice task
Teaching summary
Narrow the task to one variable, slow it enough to observe, and repeat only long enough to learn something. The goal is not more repetition; it is clearer feedback.
Open full video

1:24–2:09 · ai proposed

Accent: Placing the Front of the Note

Ben Chan- Scherzo Tarantelle Opening

Use when
the player’s accents sound heavy, late, or over-sustained
Teaching summary
Place energy at the front of the note, then let the sound continue without extra pressure. The accent is an arrival and release, not a prolonged push.
Open full video

2:30–3:00 · ai proposed

Accent: Releasing After the Attack

Tutorial: Senna from Bleach

Use when
the player’s accents sound heavy, late, or over-sustained
Teaching summary
Place energy at the front of the note, then let the sound continue without extra pressure. The accent is an arrival and release, not a prolonged push.
Open full video

2:31–3:00 · ai proposed

Fourth Finger vs E String: Choosing the Easier Route

Bach Double TUTORIAL: Sheet Music, Fingerings, and Tips for 2nd Violin Part

Use when
the player is choosing between extending to fourth finger and moving to the E string
Teaching summary
The clue says the fourth-finger option is harder and that the E-string option may be easier. Choose the fingering that gives reliable sound and intonation for the passage.
Open full video

3:05–3:57 · ai proposed

Masked Shift: A-String Cover and Bow Accents

Tutorial: Senna from Bleach

Use when
the player is using bow accents and the A string to mask a shift into third position
Teaching summary
The clue says to make non-crossings sound like string crossings with tiny bow accents, then use the A string to mask the shift to third position. Coordinate sound disguise and position change.
Open full video

3:15–4:08 · ai proposed

Bow Speed: Matching Speed to the Sound

Ben Chan- Accolay Concerto 1st page

Use when
the player’s sound is choked, thin, or hard to control dynamically
Teaching summary
Let bow travel rate match the amount of sound needed. Change speed deliberately before adding pressure so the string can continue to vibrate freely.
Open full video

3:20–3:56 · ai proposed

Performance Nerves: Coordinating the String Change

Ben Chan- Chords (Quadruple-stops)

Use when
tension or shaking appears under pressure
Teaching summary
Treat the physical response as a cue to reduce unnecessary effort. Rehearse the passage with a simple, observable release point rather than trying to suppress nerves by force.
Open full video

4:24–4:54 · ai proposed

First-Position 1-3 to 2-4: Avoid the A String

Violin TUTORIAL: David Garrett "Zorba's Dance" by Ben Chan

Use when
the player is managing a difficult first-position 1-3 to 2-4 move without touching the A string
Teaching summary
The clue calls the passage brutal and says the pinky touching the A string causes trouble while trying to stay on the D string. Keep the left hand compact and string clearance clean.
Open full video

6:00–6:48 · ai proposed

Shift Guide: First Finger and D-String Color

Ben Chan- Scherzo Tarantelle Opening

Use when
the player is using first finger to guide a shift while controlling extra D-string sound
Teaching summary
The clue describes a shifting technique using first finger and minimizing sound on the D string. Coordinate the guide finger with a cleaner string color.
Open full video

6:46-7:15 · ai proposed

Ricochet Across Strings: Arm Elevation

YouTube Symphony Help - Violin 1 Tutorial, part 1

Use when
the player is struggling to carry ricochet between G and D strings
Teaching summary
Keep the ricochet concept constant across strings and change arm elevation to match the string level.
Open full video

7:15-7:40 · ai proposed

Ricochet Across Strings: Preserve the Stroke, Change the Angle

YouTube Symphony Help - Violin 1 Tutorial, part 1

Use when
the player is reinventing the stroke on each string instead of adjusting geometry
Teaching summary
Do not invent a new stroke for each string. Change arm angle and balance while retaining the same motion.
Open full video

8:48–8:59 · ai proposed

Fourth Finger: Avoiding the Squeak

Ben Chan- Mazurka by Mlynarski

Use when
the player needs the pinky to clear neighboring strings cleanly
Teaching summary
The clue directly names a squeak caused by the pinky hitting another string. Keep the fourth finger accurate and compact enough to avoid accidental contact.
Open full video

11:06–12:02 · ai proposed

Performance Context: Making the Note Pop

TUTORIAL: How to play "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen on the Violin

Use when
the learner wants a note or color change to pop out musically
Teaching summary
The clue says the player jumps to the A string because he wants the note to pop, then backs off. Frame the passage as musical color and emphasis rather than a generic shift.
Open full video