Loud student fiddle

I’ve made quick progress since beginning fiddle last month, so I’m learning heaps of tunes as fast as I can in order to be able to join sessions. I’ve had 3 lessons and am about to start working on my grade 4 classical too (why not learn as many skills as possible?), so very glad I took up the instrument. I’m just giving an idea of my ability level and learning pace in case it’s relevant information for anyone offering advice.

I’m finding myself uncomfortable with how loud my violin is under my left ear, particularly when playing on the e string. It’s begun to ring a bit when I’m not playing (I do already have a touch of tinnitus from years of recurring ear infections but it’s noticeably louder in my left ear now and worrying me a bit). It’s a Primavera 100 with Dominant strings. I’ve bought a little wire mute to try on it but am having difficulty getting the thing to install on the strings without force. I’ve got a decent bow that I prefer to use instead of the original that came with the violin. I’m wondering if there’s something else I could try, or whether it’s just the way the violin is made? Would a different e string at least save my ear some discomfort? Unfortunately earplugs don’t seem to be an option because sticking those into my ear makes the skin crack and become very sore and weepy and risks making my infections worse. Any thoughts??

I have never seen a wire mute, just rubber or plastic ones. They work, and I can’t see why they wouldn’t fit on your fiddle. Take your fiddle into the shop and try one out. Wooden clothes pegs clipped onto the bridge mellow it just a little, but maybe not enough for you. I only do that occasionally and only for recording purposes. Other than that all I can think of is the head-set style hearing protection. Maybe even one of those electronic ones would work (can’t recall what they are called)

I can’t see any reason why a wire mute might not fit, unless it is a 3/4 sized violin, in which case you have to bend the mute a little to match the string spacing. The ebony or metal fork mutes that clip on the bridge can be a problem with student violins because the bridge is often too thick for the slot. If you can’t make the wire one work a rubber mute is probably the best bet, they fit anything, and quieten it quiet a bit more than the wire one - wire mutes are really for orchestral playing, to soften the tone without reducing the volume too much.

Protecting your ears is tricky, earplugs aren’t all that effective because a lot of the vibration gets to your ear through your jaw bone on the chinrest. You can get gel pads that fit on the chinrest which should help, probably used in conjunction with an earplug on that side.

My comment disappeared! Oh well. Thanks so much for the advice, I’m going to have a look at those gel chin rest pads. Also going to think about whether I’m squeezing the violin under my chin or anything.

I managed to get the orchestral mute in place, it’s definitely helping, and also hopefully when I take the plunge and go to a session I won’t sound noisy and obnoxious!

If you REALLY want to quiet it, Kevin Burke talked about having to learn in a London apt.
He would put a comb against the backside of the bridge. It’s cheap and it works!

Heydiddle, fitting Corelli Crystal strings can help reduce the volume on budget violins. They are quieter than Dominants.

Someone had the volume problem with a Stentor II violin, and this helped quite a bit.

You can borrow my Banjo mute if you want 😉

https://p.globalsources.com/IMAGES/PDT/BIG/270/B1151949270.jpg

JIm

Gobby mentioned the wooden clothes peg: a friend does this, on her Dad’s recommendation (both fiddle players). More effective than given credit for in that post - and cheap! Think she puts it on between 2nd and 3rd strings

I put my wooden clothes peg (s) out from the side(s) of the bridge. But it’s worth experimenting.

this should do the trick https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ear-Muffs-Building-Gardening-Racing/dp/B008B6QBB2

If it’s just the E string (or especially the E string), then it might be related to hyperacusis, which often happens in conjunction with tinnitus. I’ve worked through some problems with hyperacusis, where certain frequencies and tonal qualities (especially the upper range of uilleann pipes, for me) end up sounding loud and distorted in my head. And I have tinnitus issues too. Both are most likely related to 18 years as a club DJ in very loud environments. In my case, the further I get from the club scene in years, the less trouble I have with both tinnitus and hyperacusis. But there are other therapies besides time out there, like listening to pieces of music that cover the entire audible spectrum, etc. And I do carry musician’s earplugs with me. Occasionally a session will get loud enough to annoy. I hate playing with the earplugs, because I feel disconnected from the music, but sometimes it’s necessary…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis

I’ve used wooden clothes pegs on occasion, much to my families relief! I pop ’em on vertically between the strings, so it’s possible to use a maximum of 3 of them. I also have a rubber mute which works well. Having broken a Dominant e once, (cack-handed fitting) I followed advice from this site and tried fitting a Kaplan e, but I found it to be too quiet. Took it off again and refitted an old Dominant. Still have it in the case in case of a breakage. About to tempt fate here by making a bould spake: I’ve never broken a fiddle string. Playing (hacking) for 25 years or more, that Dominant e I mentioned got kinked while fitting it and I didn’t notice until it was too late! Tightened it up, damage done, string gone!

I like an earplug (use one/ on the left mostly) better than a mute because the sound of the instrument is affected less, plugs just cut out the high range quite effectively. My teacher recommended against a mute back in the day, as it doesn’t let you properly develop your sound.

did you try foam or silicone earplugs?

I‘m also worried about long practice or a loud session affecting me and thinking of having fitted silicone protectors made.

Oh and also… practice playing pianissimo still with proper sound (no hairy/swishing sound) …. 😉

I’ve tried different kinds of ear plugs and they split open the skin inside my ears. Not pleasant! If I don’t stick em in far enough they fall right out, but that tiny push needed to get them to stay in place is enough to hurt my ears. I’ve had these never-ending recurring ear infections since my teens and no treatment ever worked longer than a day or two after finishing the course… In fact it would have been better if doctors had simply said they couldn’t treat it, because instead they kept on giving me antibiotics and ointments over and over again, and in the end I developed a dangerous allergy to penicillin!

‘I’ve made quick progress since beginning fiddle last month….’!
So how’s Tullochgorum coming along? I’m amazed, highly impressed and feeling more than a little inadequate here, Clare cailín! Mo cheol thú!

You might want to consider taking the instrument to a competent violin maker/repairman. My wife’s spare, an 1860’s fiddle made in the O’Hyde Valley in New York, had a wonderful balance across the G, D,and A strings, but a harsh and loud sounding E. It was bad enough that she hated using the instrument when we performed. I finally took it in, and the guy I took it to removed the original soundpost, and tried several different locations until he found the spot that reduced the harshness considerably and although not as sweet sounding as her prime violin, it could be used as a spare without major effort by her to reduce that E ringing. It took him about a week to find the right spot, but it was worth it to do so. Some brands of strings can also play a role too, but swapping strings to find the set that sounds best can run into a lot of money real quickly. Good luck and I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Is the “wire” mute one which has the wire covered in a clear plastic tube? If so, it’s a doddle to fit. Just squeeze the “legs” together, push them between the stub ends of the D & A strings and release your squeeze. The mute will stay put for years and when you want to use it, just roll it up onto the top of the bridge and roll it off when you’ve done with it.