Violin

I have a violin! See:



I bought it after some trial and error from a music store in the South district, with Yoyo's help. It pays to have a Chinese friend along with you when shopping - the price she got was 2/3 of the price it would have been for me.

Then I discovered that it had no bridge, and had to go back to the shop to get one. Finally, I strung and tuned it, breaking a string in the process, and having the bridge fly out after trying to play a few notes. I shaved a bit off the bridge to make it fit better, re-strung it, and then tuned it properly - that is, I used my computer as an electronic tuner, instead of relying on my ear. I have no ear for that sort of thing; the computer did a much better job.

Then, I applied lots of rosin. It still doesn't seem to be enough, as I still can't get a decent sound out of the violin, but that might have more to do with my complete lack of knowing how to play the violin than with any problems with the rosin. It's difficult stuff to apply, too.


Eventually I'll be playing actual notes and so forth, and the violin itself was dead cheap, so all around it's a win. I'm going to teach myself how to play violin!

...Failing that, the guy in the store can put me on to a violin instructor. I might have to learn Chinese before I learn to play violin if I do it that way, though!