Violin bowing?

Question:Does anyone out there know how to play flautando? I can't get it to do what I want! Does the violin really sound like a flute, or is that just a bunch of b.s.?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Does anyone out there know how to play flautando? I can't get it to do what I want! Does the violin really sound like a flute, or is that just a bunch of b.s.?

The flautando technique usually means that you play so that the harmonics emerge rather than the fundamental tone. It generally works better on stopped strings than it does with open ones and is frequently used with double stops. Sometimes the fundamental disappears completely, but this is acceptable.

In some pieces, flautando simply calls for the sul tasto technique, or to play the bow over the fingerboard as lightly as possible to produce a flutelike tone. This may be what you are talking about here. There are three main areas where the bow is normally placed:

Natural - the bow is placed halfway between the fingerboard and the bridge

Ponticello - The bow is placed as close to the bridge as possible to get the brightest, most striking tone

Sul Tasto (or just Tasto) the bow is placed over the fingerboard to get a sound that is muted and possible flutelike. This is also an easy way to get beginning string players to avoid covering up the soloist, since it is difficult to get an overpowering sound without crushing the string into the fingerboard.

This is a confusing subject since some definitions emphasis that the fundamental is stressed by playing over the fingerboard, and other equally respected sources such as Dolmetsch.com specifically state that the harmonics are sought after, sublimating the fundamental tone. It could be that the term has taken on contradictory meanings in different eras, but the intent - the pure flute like tone - is the same in both cases. Hope this helps.

a violin does NOT sound like a flute, I have heard flutes playing, and I play violin, and it doesn't sound like a flute.

You play on the fingerboard, and the sound is softer. Students often do this accidentally, but this is an orchestral technique. Sul tasto. See:

COMMON VIOLIN TERMS
(some with MP3 files)
http://beststudentviolins.com/terms.html
Sul tasto: Playing over the fingerboard (which produces a softer sound). Okay as an orchestral technique, not okay as a bad habit, due to lack of bow control or the affect of gravity if the violin is not held parallel (or above) to the floor. End of sul tasto passage may be indicated by "ordinario," often written as "ord."

i say bs
i play both
and i hear them every single day.
no similarities.

i wish i could help :(