Fingerboard tape placement tips

If you’re a first time violin student, remembering the fundamentals can be tough. You have to make sure you’re holding the bow properly, remember the string names, and use the correct finger positions. It’s a lot to keep track of!

Fortunately, we have some tips to help you learn fingering positions in no time. This trick can be used on any violin, from your own instrument to rental or student violins. If you’re struggling with learning the finger positions, fingerboard tape may be just the thing to finally make it stick – pun intended.

Ways to do it at home

Placing fingerboard tape is a delicate task that can greatly influence the sound and playability of an instrument. If a violin is incorrectly taped, a musician may learn to practice the wrong notes. This is a particular problem for beginners, as they may develop poor technique that becomes increasingly difficult to correct over time.

Fingerboard tape can be placed at home, but there are significant advantages to having a professional tape your violin. Luthiers understand the nuances of a violin and have experience working with and taping instruments. Plus, they can customize the placement of the tape to your exact needs and playing style. This can not only enhance your playing experience, but preserve your violin’s integrity as well.

However, if you have the time and patience to do your own fingerboard tape placement, here’s what you’re going to need:

• A pencil
• A tape measure
• Violin fingerboard tape (masking tape will also work).

Once you’ve gathered everything you need, the first step is to measure the distance for your first strip of tape. This will depend on your violin size. If you’re playing a full size violin, you need to measure 35mm from the nut, the measure decreasing for smaller instruments.

After you’ve made your first measurement, mark the distance with your pencil. That mark is where the tape will go. Ensure that each piece of tape is straight across the fingerboard underneath the strings. If you have an electric tuner, use it to check the pitch of the strings to make sure the tape is in the right place. If the tape is placed correctly, the tuner should show the correct pitch when the string is plucked. Remember, you always want to compare the sound of the tuning to your measurements as the sound is more important.

Make sure it's right

Not confident in your fingerboard tape placement? Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. At Johnson String Instrument, you can buy fingerboard tape and let the store staff do the taping to save you the time and trouble of doing it yourself. Visit our shop today for help with fingerboard tape placement and other necessary violin accessories.