Break Violin Squeezing Habit in 28 days
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- If you like the information given here, come get more at: www.RedDesertViolin.com
Don’t just play, play well!
Print this to do the 28 Day Challenge:
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5 Ideas:
1) Is your set-up adequate? Chinrest and shoulder rest must support violin properly. If your left hand being tasked with supporting the violin, it will be impossible to break the squeezing habit.
2) Thumbless Torture
3) Scroll Against the Wall (use a sponge)
4) Thumb Pop-Quizzes (use a timer…every 2-3 minutes; thumb should remain feather-lite)
5) “Oblique Lift” concept (lifting using passive surface friction, not opposeable thumb pressure)
Schedule:
Days 1-28: Investigate your set-up. (This can take many months)
Days 1-28: Ponder and play around with the “Oblique Lift” concept on ALL your exercises
Days 1-7: Combine Thumbless Torture, Scroll to the Wall, and Thumb Pop Quizzes with the following:
• Play Open-1 on all four strings until you are successfully relaxed on ALL exercises
• Then graduate to Open-1-2-1-Open
• Then 0-1-2-3-2-1-0
• Finally, full tetrachord: 0-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-0
Days 8-14: Thumbless Torture, Scroll to the Wall, and Thumb Pop Quizzes with the following:
• One Octave Scales
• You might start slow, then play faster as you gain confidence
Days 15-21: Thumbless Torture, Scroll to the Wall, and Thumb Pop Quizzes with the following:
• Simple tunes (two full grades below your current level)
Days 22-28: Thumbless Torture, Scroll to the Wall, and Thumb Pop Quizzes with the following:
• Introduce vibrato
• Start playing harder repertoire
• Attempt other techniques such as spiccato
Give it your all for 28 days, and you WILL break this habit! Good luck!
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You always post some of the most helpful violin learning material on CZcams, and I just want to thank you for that.
Thank you, April!
Your videos have been the most help for me since I picked up the violin. I like how you break down the mechanics and explain the function of each action, be it static or dynamic.
Thank you for your kind words, Steve. Keep up your good work!
Hey Lora,
I hear your challenge and I accept it!
I will incorporate it into my practice from today and let you know how it goes.
As many of the other comments in your videos state, you are one of the best violin instructors on CZcams and would like to thank you for what you do! Keep up the great work!
I have been play for quite a few years now but am always checking out new practice techniques and you haven't let me down yet.
Awesome! Thank you for that, Steve! So....let me know how you are doing on August 7!
How is it going Steve?
I love that you're using Lambchop to rest the scroll against - LOL.
LOLOL.....I love that you noticed it was Lamb Chop! ;-)
Hi Lora! I hadn't picked up a violin again since the 70s, at which time I had a few one-on-one lessons. Since a little over a year, I turned to online videos seeking out beginner basics to explore if I still had it in me to learn how to play my favorite instrument. I have watched three others and you only recently for two months. Your training videos have helped me to understand critical aspects to learning and I have advanced a bit. Thank you so very much!
I am so glad to hear this! If you can manage to work at it consistently for 2 months, you will see enough progress to be hooked! Good luck!
Thank you! You are always very insightful!
I'm so glad you find my videos helpful, Pat. Thanks.
Excelente vídeo, importantes observações.
You’re so lovely and kind!!
Thank you, Tal. Good luck on the squeezing!
Wonderful class!
I am brazilian and love watching your videos, they are so helpful.
Your English is so clear to understand.
Thank you so much!
Greetings from Brazil🇧🇷❤
Hi Franca! Thank you for watching! My mother was a speech therapist and she would not tolerate mumbling.....so that has helped my speech! Keep up your good work!
This is most helpful! I (as a not native speaker) like your clear and helpful style of explaining and talking.
Your English is perfect! I'm glad you could understand me, and that it was helpful! Keep up the good work!
Another great video. Tks
Thanks for watching. Keep up your good work!
Thank! Profe...k.anton
Thanks you for the helpful videos! You are very insightful!
I am an adult beginner and started to play the violin 8 months ago.
After watching your videos, I found out my problems (the squeezing habit, the weak double jointed left pinky, the snapping left pinky), and now I am focused on fixing those problems.
I will repost the comment after the 28 days challenge!
Time is half over....14 days. Be sure to let us know how you are doing at the end of 28 days!
Thank you Laura....we much appreciate your teaching😎😎😎😎😎
Thank you Bill and Eunie!
This was super helpful, thank you 🙏
I'm so glad. It's been 1 month.....I hope you have persisted with this issue. This issue is best if you attack it mercilessly, and with total focus for a whole month.
Thanks Mam, you are great teacher, I always follow your teachings ... it helps me to improve a lot in my present initial stages of playing violin in Indian classical form of music
It's an honor to meet an Indian classical player! And to think I am helping you....feels wonderful! That's VERY complicated stuff!!!
🤗❤🙏🏻Thank youuuu..... very helpful. This is the solution I was looking for. Thank you for explaining it clearly and easy to understand.
So, are you taking the 28 day challenge? I have heard GREAT RESULTS from other viewers who took 28 days and fixed their squeezing habit. GOOD LUCK!
Awesome excersises!!! I'm down for the 28 day challenge, thank you Lora!!!!! 🤗 🤗 🤗
Please keep us posted, and share your discoveries with us! Good luck!
@@RedDesertViolin Yes Ma'am!!
Did you break that damn habit?
I AM WILLING TO ACCEPT THE THUMB CHALLENGE. I WILL HAVE TO REINSTALL MY CHIN AND SHOULDER REST., HOPE TO BE UP AND RUNNING BY 19 APRIL 2023 THANKS, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD I WAS CHOKING MY VIOLIN NECK, BUT THEN AGAIN I WAS NOT ENCOURAGED TO USE A SHOULDER REST. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
Hi! Great! Yes....if your setup is inadequate, your poor left hand wont stand a chance. Shoulder rests can be WONDERFUL tools to free the left hand. They can also be a detriment. So, keep an open mind, plan for a possiblly long process, and ask questions!
Wow thanks very helpful
You're welcome. GOOD LUCK!
My teacher never seemed too concerned about my thumb squeezing, so I learned with her for about three years never realizing how serious of a problem it was. It severely hindered my vibrato, and still does to this day. I’ll definitely give this a try, very informative video. Thank you!
I've had several people tell me similar stories. A few of them were in the same orchestra, and they sort of "collaborated", and they all agreed to make it priority number 1.....and they have reported great success. you just have to allow it to be your TOP CONCERN for 28 days.....and in stubborn cases, a little longer....but it is of paramount importance to conquer this issue. Good luck. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!
Red Desert Violin I find that if I’m playing a song or passage I’m familiar with its easy for me to concentrate on keeping a loose, relaxed grip on the neck. The minute I go playing something I’m not familiar with, like double stops that I don’t frequent with vibrato or shifting then my concentration on my thumb goes out the window and I fall back into the death grip.
Thank you so much for this precious video. I am practicing the exercises and they help me very much. One question: Could you tell me which shoulder rest you use? I have seen it for a short sequence, when you turned your violin around and it seems to be a very good and a very special one. I am as small as you are and I got the feeling that my shoulder rest does not really do it‘s job properly. I would apreciate your help. Thank you very much and many warm wishes from Germany. Andrea.
Hi Andrea, I thought I replied...by my reply is gone! Anyway, the shoulder rest is a MACH ONE HOOK model. It is rigid, and has a deep dish "hook" that seats on your shoulder. Because it is rigid, your adjustment options are limited, but if you suspect it's what you need, try it out. (don't get the plastic model....it is NOT the same at all)
And if it's a "hook" you are wanting, check out my video about the Bon Musica shoulder rest. Those are EXTREMELY versatile and customizeable. Good luck to you!
Hello Ma'am,
Just finished my daily practice, it was paining in the wrist following the practice. Then I saw the video, practiced once with your technique, and found very useful. My stiffness in the wrist was not helping me doing vibrato. Hope this will help.
Thank you so much for your kind help.
Devendra, I thrive on knowing my videos are helping people! GOOD LUCK with your vibrato! Tension is the enemy of vibrato, and vibrato is the enemy of tension! Viva Vibrato!
Bonjour. très intéressant. Je pense meme que de très nombreux violonistes de bon niveau font l'erreur de serrer le manche avec le pouce mais il surmontent le problème grace à leur technique. Toutefois, ce que vous proposez permet vraiment d'évoluer et d'élever son niveau. Bravo. J'aimerai en savoir plus. Désolé je ne parle pas suffisamment bien anglais pour m'exprimer dans cette langue.
Salut! Grâce à google translate, je t'ai parfaitement compris ! Oui, serrer le cou est un problème pour les violonistes débutants et avancés... et si le problème est extrême, il est très important de se concentrer ENTIÈREMENT dessus pendant un certain temps. Je sentais que 28 jours (4 semaines) était une bonne période. Prenez soin de vous et merci d'avoir regardé !
Find I do this when learning a new song and once I start getting the tune down my fingers/hand loosen up on the neck but there are one or two tunes which I know where I still grip a bit tight with the first finger , will try this though, thanks for video.
YES, the secret is to break the habit using EASY STUFF, and then slowly introduce harder stuff. Good luck!
My violin didn't come with a wall. (Old tech support joke). Thanks again for an invaluable training tool. I'm starting today!
😂 I think I know that joke! Yes! 28 days you can have the problem GONE. Godspeed!
Kool I think this regiment might also be useful at reconditioning form after being away from violin from a long time. Or would you do a video on that? How to shape up after a long break?
Yes, you are right. This concept is a good way to come back to violin, but I would not take 28 days to do it. I would maybe condense this 28 day plan into 7 days. Word of advice: depending on how long you've been away from the violin....you might need to start with 20 minutes per day.....and work up gradually, increasing your time WEEKLY to 30 min, 45, 60, etc. to avoid shocking your unused muscles.
I do not have a video on that......but it's a good idea.
Just to add to my other comments. I have followed parts of your advice. One, I have concentrated on feeling comfortable with my violin under my chin. Second , I have loosened my thumb...feather weight......as soon as I feel any tension , I stop......I have tried the thumbless torture. , The scroll pinched to the wall somehow didn’t work for me . What did work was the awareness of the tension changing in my thumb. Then I STOP , go back to ‘ am I comfortable’.....second is my thumb feather light. . I have enjoyed my practice today.. if you ever come to the UK, come visit. You have helped me sooo sooo much. Thank you. Bren . P.S . I will give you a wonderful BB in a very old and beautiful cottage. Old England. Bren.x You are welcome. .
Bren, I might take you up on that! (I'm saving this comment!)
Loralyn Staples . You do that . Hospitality will be there for you and whoever you are with. No problem. From across the Pond. Bren.
Thank you so much!!! I'm on my 3rd week and my wrist are not locked near the neck. I can reach my fourth finger now and I can shift positions more easily now. My only problem is if its on the G or D string.. the sound it makes is not clear/full and i often find my wrists tensing up
Great to hear, Kiyeme! So for the G and D string, remember to rotate your left elbow under, to the right. That will help. And give your thumb permission to "corkscrew" under the neck a little more than on the A and E strings. Always make sure your fingers are approaching the fingerboard at a PERPENDICULAR angle, whatever string you are on. Keep your awareness up, and you will have it 100% solved in time!
@@RedDesertViolin Thank you !!!
I notice when I'm doing the exercise against the wall, that I feel safe enough to apply vertical pressure without using my thumb as counter pressure or squeezing. But only if i keep my thumb away from the neck, like the thumbless torture exercise. As soon as I come close to the neck with my thumb, I automatically start applying pressure. So against the wall with thumb far away is not a problem, but against the wall with my thumb close to the neck and I instantly apply pressure.
So, Johannes, you have a stubborn hand. But the fact that you are AWARE of it is the beginning stages of correcting it. You will need to spend more time on the thumbless torture, and then slowly introduce resting the thumb on the neck. (also, double check that your shoulder rest and chin rest are doing their jobs)
I have the most awful problem with thumb tension, tension generally and especially when I turn up for my lesson......just being listened to is not easy for me. My new teacher is lovely. The tenseness really is awful . I fiddle with my chin rest, shoulder rest etc etc. I wish I could just pop across the pond and see you as I am convinced you would sort me out in a very short time. I will follow your advice ......here’s hoping. . Best wishes for 2020 ......Bren.
Bren, talk to your teacher, and ask her/him to work with you for 28 days. Just do the exercises I mentioned, but ask your teacher to step back with you for a month, while you break that habit. (and maybe teacher can check your set up to make sure your left hand is free) It will be the BEST investment of time you will ever make!
Loralyn Staples .. Amazing. I did not expect to have a reply from you , how kind . I will follow your advice. I have left my details with the company who supplies chin rests. I will do as you suggest and follow your advice. I have only a 30min lesson once a week , however, I will discuss my problem with her. A big Thank You 😊 Bren.
Do you have a video done on finger pressure on the strings .
Chris, I do not. But that would be an excellent topic. Fritz Kreisler supposedly never even had callouses on his fingers. Am I remembering that correctly? Pretty sure. But the moral of the story is: use minimum pressure needed. I'll see if I can come up with a good video on that topic!
Legendas em português
Thank you, this is very helpful to get my thumb to relax...
Do you have a solution for this problem:
I am one year into learning the violin (adult beginner!) and I am really having trouble keeping 1 next to 2 on the upper part of G major scale -- especially when I play 3 (whole step) and then go back to (low)2. My 2nd finger will drift towards 3 no matter what I try to do! I can do it in the air just fine, but on the fingerboard -- forget it! Any exercises or tips for this? Thank you ;-)
Trish, this is a COMMON problem, and I have worked with students whose hands were incredibly stubborn. Man, I swear one student had her 2 and 3 fingers FUSED! LOL.
You need to do my finger independence exercises. This video has printable sheet music at a link in the video description.
czcams.com/video/PXsT5OxQzDs/video.html
But if your hand is really bad, (as you say it is), try holding your violin "guitar style", and do some finger lift exercises in a LOW 2 finger pattern. If your 2 needs help, help it with your right hand. Go SLOW and deliberately, give your hand a chance to figure out how to obey your brain's commands, and help as needed with right hand.
FOR AWHILE.....LIFT YOUR FINGERS EXTRA HIGH. (this exagerrated motion helps the fingers learn their jobs faster)
Also, for my student who had FUSED FINGERS, I forbade her from putting "block fingers" or clusters of fingers down. She was strictly only allowed to put ONE FINGER DOWN at a time. I call is "spider fingers". Because we had to get her brain to stop thinking of "2 and 3" as being fused. It took 4 months of intensive work, but she got it.
Every once in awhile, I'd have to remind her "stop blocking your fingers", but it was basically fixed. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! If you need more help, contact me.
@@RedDesertViolin Thank you, Lora -- at least now I feel that it is not just me, and you have given me hope :-) I really love this instrument and want to at least be able to get good tone. Someday. I really appreciate your helpful instruction and words of encouragement.
DOIN GOOD! HI MRS.LAURA ITS NO BIG DEAL TO ME ANY MORE IF I Grasp with thumb. I have recently been made aware of some other things that countermand the phenomenon of overgrasp. It is a sort of reverse psychology not even intended to correct the so called doomsday cherry choke.Lets just say at least for the moment I have overcome! Bless you and thank you for your wonderful teaching and merry christmas!
Thank you! I LOVE to know my videos have helped people! Keep up the great work!
Hi, I was wondering what to do if I’m part of a orchestra class and I can’t stop playing my repertoire?
Do you mean you are bored in orchestra, so you want to practice your solo repertoire during rehearsal? My advice is
1) Try to pay attention in rehearsal....and if you are bored, try learning other people's parts....like, try to keep track of who has the melody at any given time, try to listen to what others are doing WHILE YOU are playing the melody. Try to hear if you are playing together, or if someone is getting ahead or behind. If you were to do this for 6 months, I GUARANTEE you will be amazed at how interesting rehearsal can be, AND you will triple your musicianship in that time. I want to hear back from you!
Hi great video :) my squeezing is not from the thumb, it’s my index finger..can you please help out? My index finger first knuckle just cannot leave the violin neck, even when i shift from first to third position. Is this normal?
Hi Joanne, so in your case, it STILL boils down to the thumb squeezing against the opposing index finger. BUT, you could adapt the exercises, and focus more on the INDEX contact point. So instead of "thumbless torture", allow your thumb to touch lightly, but require air space between your index and the neck. Same with "Scroll to the Wall" exercise...you might introduce your index knuckle back to the neck, but you need to require it to be FEATHER LIGHT. I think if you eliminate ALL other practicing for 28 days, as outlined, and you progress week by week to slightly more difficult stuff.....with 100% of your focus on no contact (or feather light contact) with your index knuckle, you will break the habit. It just takes 100% of your focus, and you have to eliminate all advance practicing. It's a bit boring.....but do it like your life depends on it!!!
Let me know how it goes!
Red Desert Violin thank you so much for your guidance :) you’re a great teacher!
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks Sandeep!
Hello! I am trying this to remove tension from my left hand. I have tried thumbless torture, but the force of my fingers pushes the violin down and causes tension in my neck. For the scroll exercise I have to push against the wall such that I don’t have tension in the neck. Naturally, I believe it is a shoulder rest and setup issue, but I can hold the violin up fine without my hand. It is only when I press down when tension transfers to my neck. Any suggestions? Thank you!
1) Explore the concept of the thumb pushing upwards on the 7 and 8 of a clock.....teach your thumb to cling to the neck like a tree frog sticky feet.
2) Learn to minimize the amount of finger pressure you use
3) Did I mention the "torque" or "twist" concept in this video? Explore that more too.
Make this a top priority....especially if your neck is responding with tension.....you don't wanna mess with your neck.
Please keep me posted on your progress.
@@RedDesertViolin Thank you! I have a lesson coming up to see if there is any problem with my shoulder rest and posture. Thank you so much for responding to our comments, it means so much to us!
@@steaklover575 I have exactly the same issue. I am able to hold the violin comfortably without using my left hand, but the moment I try to play notes without using my left thumb, the violin is pushed downward and my neck feels a lot of tension. Have you been able to fix this issue?
Hi, I am usually non-rest player, and you said you couldn't help me. Do you think once I've done the 28 days with a rest I'll be able to go back to not using a rest?
Ohancockett, if you are normally a non-rest player, then I HIGHLY recommend that you do the 28 day challenge without shoulder rest, otherwise it won't solve your problem.
The main concept you need to keep in mind, is TAKE 28 DAYS TO PLAY EASY STUFF. Do not play your hardest stuff during this period. The idea is to "clear your plate", so that your ONLY focus is to learn to relax left hand. I still think you can do this without shoulder rest.....I only meant to say that I'm not an expert in that area. All the exercises should still work except maybe not the "thumbless torture"...not sure if that works without shoulder rest. GOOD LUCK! If you find a video that helps you, feel free to tell us about it here.
Hello, I am a beginner and seems like I have this problem. When I play without the thumb with the first finger I can't press the G and D strings enough to make a good sound. Same with 2, 3 and 4. I need to press with my jaw so hard that it becomes uncomfortable, even painful. And when I take off fingers the violin pops up a few centimetres. Could it be due to my forward head posture? I don't know what to do, maybe I am doomed not to play the violin.
Do you use a shoulder rest? If your shoulder rest fits properly, it will provide enough resistance to play without your thumb and still get solid tone.
@@loralynstaples5483 yes, I use shoulder rest. Seems like it is the cause of the problem. My shoulder rest doesn't provide enough elevation to keep the violin stable. I should visit some music stores and find comfortable one when quarantine ends. Thank you for the help.
How do i transfer these ideas for cello? I cant find any videos like this for cello
Hey Sum Dud', reach out to my friend Daniel Plane. He is EXACTLY what you want and need. He is tech-savvy, so he can do online stuff. And OMG the way he plays is fantastic. His site: www.reelcello.com/index.html Please share his info with other cellists you know!
Also, have you heard of Cassia Harvey? She is a cellist who has published lots of instructional books. She did some on violin that are FANTASTIC....I can only guess that her cello books are even better.
Hi, I’m having a problem with my vibrato. I can’t keep my violin still :(( what do you recommend I do?
Gia, it looks like you are looking in the right places, because you watched "break the squeezing habit in 28 days".
I find that a scroll that moves around excessively is caused by a few things.
Most common, is a squeezing, or OVER-ACTIVE thumb. So Learn to get your thumb out of the mix. (Have you seen my vibrato Quick Tips video? I think I give a prep exercise designed to keep the thumb stationary during vibrato....I call it the "thumb swing". Let me know if you see that video and if I talk about thumb swing)
The other common causes of a moving scroll during vibrato is fingers that are not rolling in a perfectly parallel motion to the strings...they go off sideways or get out of alignment, or have a strange "wobble" to their axis. The BEST CURE for this particular issue is "WHOOSHES"....starting with giant whooshes, then mini-whooshes, and then FAST mini whooshes.....(also, use the tape on your finger tips...this really helps to relax a wobbly vibrato and get it in line.
Finally, the last common cause of a moving scroll is inconsistent finger pressure. Make sure you are not "hopping" your finger instead of "Rocking" your finger. I had a student who vibrated like a little jack-hammer....and once we fixed that, she was good.
GOod luck!
Red Desert Violin Thank U so much!
What is pop quizzes???
Did I say pop quizzes in this video? What I think I meant was "Surprise Inspections".....where you suddenly say, "FREEZE".....and then inspect your left hand......are you squeezing, is there any tension, etc.
With the Thumbless Torture, are you using your first finger joint for support?
No, and that is why it is torture....because it is hard to sound really good while doing thumbless torture. BUT it is important to do it anyway, because it teaches us that we do not need as much "opposition" as we think we do. I WILL TELL YOU THIS: My index knuckle lightly touches the side of the neck, which helps me to stay oriented, but it is not under the neck or providing support at all. Your shoulder rest or collar bone should do that.
Aaargh!! Hmmmm... Ok 🙂
Oh. Thanks... I was going to ask this same question because I was taking my thumb away but still managing to somehow squeeze between the downward finger pressure and my knuckle - but only on the a and e strings. Is that because my base knuckle is in the wrong position or do I just have to learn to not squeeze? Should I move it away when I play a and e strings?
Darn it, Kazzeny, sorry 4 weeks have gone by. I hope you are still working on this challenge. Yes, I would say move your index knuckle away from the neck when playing on the A and E to avoid cheating. It is torture, and feels awkward, and sounds bad......but it's about finding new ways of support, and learning to MINIMIZE downward pressure. That knowledge combined with all the other exercises and thumb training you will do will all come together and clobber the squeezing habit once and for all.
Red Desert Violin thanks! I realised by trying to do the thumbless torture that I was moving my hand under the violin to reach the A and E strings, I hadnt even noticed I was doing it. I have already improved my squeezing a lot thank you!
Do you have any videos where you play the violin for us ?
Haven't you ever clicked on her actual page? Just go to her page ("Red Desert Violin") and just click on "Videos" ~ sorry, it's just weird that you don't know how to access more information on someone who has a Social Media page. I'm guessing you are new to the internet.... she most certainly performs.
Hi Debbie! If you explore my youtube channel, you will find me playing lots of stuff. Hope you can find it!
@@123jozef there really is no reason to act snippy. Yes I access the internet. I was asking because I would like to hear beautiful violin playing and I didn't know if the were any videos . I didn't need your negative input.
@@RedDesertViolin Thank you very much . I look forward to finding them and listening. I really value your instructional videos . Much love
@@DivaDeb1234 ~ ✌️✌️ ~ 🎻 🎻
Without shoulder rest is it possible to break this problem??
YES, Sharbani, it is totally possible. It takes a little magic mixed with alien technology!!! LOL Seriously, lots of people are able to do it, but it defies logic. (in other words, I am not qualified to teach that concept....but there are SPECIFIC THINGS that are taught to help offset the lack of support from the shoulder rest. Little tricks you do with the thumb, using your collarbone, etc. My best advice: Watch the masterclasses given by Yehudi Menuhin (they are available on youtube). He starts to teach the concepts. Then, explore youtube for other resources like "how to play without a shoulder rest". You will discover the tricks you need to employ.
Do you have a video done on finger pressure on the strings .
Chris, I do not.....but that is a GREAT idea. (I'm not an expert at this, but I know what you mean) Describe your problem to me, and it will help me format the video in the most helpful way.
Red Desert Violin I find sometimes more on the C# and D notes on the A string in first position that the sound sometimes is scratchy and other times is not, so not sure if it s a pressure issue or not. That’s why I was wondering how much pressure I should be using.