Lutherie

Making Matters: Fifth harmonies

2021-10-19T17:29:00

Fifths1

If 5ths are driving you nuts, it may be to do with your violin nut. Itzel Ávila explains how luthiers can help by customising the piece at the top of the fingerboard to the player’s hand

Playing 5ths is one of the most common challenges in the development of a solid violin technique. This interval commonly gives performers headaches at various stages of their careers. Achieving the perfect tuning, sound and vibrato while playing 5ths can seem like a mystical ability, both cognitive and mechanical, for beginner, advanced and sometimes even accomplished violinists. As such, the interval has commonly been addressed as a technical problem, primarily involving the mechanics of playing. Violinists and pedagogues around the world all have their own take on how to improve 5ths as a performance problem…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.