Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 May 10 - 02:27 PM

"Hold the viola while weighing..."

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 May 10 - 02:25 PM

" If you need further help" , ask Joe. He always has the answers.


Actually, Joe, a bathroom scale would be fine. Hold it while weighing, then weigh yourself without it.

A lot better than trying to weigh a cat this way--as I often have to do.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 10 - 11:38 PM

All this theoretical stuff, and none of you have the answer. A bathroom scale wouldn't work very well for a viola, because violas are too light. Try a postage scale....









....I'll get me coat.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 May 10 - 11:22 PM

Fingering on the fretboard

A--first finger on G string (second string from bottom)

B--second finger on G string

C#--third finger on G string (stretch finger)

D--open D string

E--first finger on D string

F#--second finger on D string (stretch it)

G#--third finger on D string (stretch it)

A--open A string


This is by far the simplest way.   You have be able to hear exactly where you should be on the string--especially for the accidentals (here sharps).   If you have a good ear it should be no problem.

Hope this helps. If you need further help we'll do what we can.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 May 10 - 07:47 AM

"when my teacher wrote out the D scale for me, she wrote it out like this: (F# C# for key of D)

D D (D) 1D 1D (E) 2D 2D (F#) 3D 3D (G) A A (A) 1A 1A (B) 2A 2A (C#) 3A 3A (D)"

I cannot understand the code....

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,Susan (at work).
Date: 28 May 10 - 07:11 AM

My viola is tuned in standard tuning for viola....C G D A. How would I finger the A string going up the string for the notes in the scale? What fingers would I use and in what order?

Thanks,
Susan

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 May 10 - 05:07 AM

A scale should be A B C# D E F# G# A. (The "G" needs to be a half step below the last A.)

By "I play the viola as a fiddle" do you mean that you tune the strings G D A E and not like a "normal" viola C G D A?

You could start with an open A string, and proceed up on that string, but with normal viola strings and tuning there isn't an E string.

If your strings are "tuned like a fiddle" then the A scale fingering is exactly like the D scale except you shift up "one string," starting with the open A instead of with the open D.

John

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,Susan (at work).
Date: 28 May 10 - 01:44 AM

I forgot to mention that I play the viola as a fiddle (I'm a beginner.) A friend sent the A scale to me like this: A scale: (A B C# D E F# G A)

Open A, whole step to 1A, whole step to 2A, half step to 3A, Open E, whole step to 1E, whole step to 2E, half step to 3E.

Any ideas on how to finger it on the fretboard? She wasn't too sure.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 10 - 07:29 PM

Tune your instrument two half steps higher. (One Whole Note)

When you are playing in the G you know ... it will an A-whole.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 May 10 - 06:44 PM

If you google or bingle for "viola fingerboard diagram" or "viola fretboard diagram" you will find lots of representations of how to finger all possible notes on the instrument. Print a few out and circle the ones that correspond to notes in the A scale (A B C# D E F# G# at various octaves) with green felt marker. That tells you which finger positions you'll be using for tunes in A.

(Well, I'd use green because for me the key of A is grass-green. You'd use yellow for D, brown for G, red for F, sky blue for C and light yellowy-green for E).

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 May 10 - 04:30 PM

The viola strings are tuned C G D A the same as many people tune tenor (4-string Irish?) banjos. You might look for banjo tab for "enrichment" in viola studies?

John

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 May 10 - 04:21 PM

I can't quite figure out how to write it down in the form used by your teacher, but would expect that you would start the scale where the teacher notated the second note of a G scale (A on the G string).

The second note would be B, the third note shown in teachers notation for the G scale.

The third note would be a C#, which is a half-step higher than the fourth note of the G scale. I don't see how your teachers notation permits the half-step up indication.

The fourth note, D#, would be reached by stretching the "pinky finger" two semi-tones higher on the same string.

You would then repeat the identical finger pattern on the D string to continue the scale.

The finger pattern is identical to what you would use if you played the G scale starting on the open G string but then played down the scale onto the C string.

You can find the location of the notes on the viola chart at Viola Fingering Chart. The A scale starts at the second number 1 on the G string.

The chart shows finger/note positions numbered 0 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 in first postion on each string.

For a scale starting on an open string, you would play the underlined 0 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 and then jump to the next higher string and repeat the sequence.

Since the A scale starts a full tone (two semi-tones) up on the G string, you wuld play the underlined 0 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 and then repeat on the next higher string.

????

John

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,Susan (at work).
Date: 27 May 10 - 02:13 PM

Thanks for all the replies. For example: when my teacher wrote out the D scale for me, she wrote it out like this: (F# C# for key of D)

D D (D) 1D 1D (E) 2D 2D (F#) 3D 3D (G) A A (A) 1A 1A (B) 2A 2A (C#) 3A 3A (D)

Even though I don't read music at this time, it's easy to play scales and figure out songs this way.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 May 10 - 08:00 AM

Sorry about that - working on a flaky computer - missed that F#

"I need for someone to type out the A scale for the viola."

Same for every instrument.

A B C# D E F# G# A

I know a little about violin - my dad was brilliant, but I don't actually play
Violin strings - G D A E

Viola strings - C G D A

Limit of my relevant knowledge - but if you can play the G scale in first position

G A B C D E F# G

start on the second of that scale and sharpen the C note to C# & G to G#.

You must always have the pattern (Tone = T, semitone = S) in a Major scale

T T S - joining Tone - T T S

If you need more specific info, I can't really help you much more, sorry.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,hatless
Date: 27 May 10 - 01:22 AM

As above. Start on G string, first finger. Keep your second and third finger stretched and use open strings.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 May 10 - 11:40 PM

A scale (major) is always 3 sharps:

A -B- C#- D- E- F# -G#- A

Is that what you needed?

Easiest way is to start with first finger on the G string (second string from bottom) and go up that way--you'll be able to use open D.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 May 10 - 10:57 PM

"I need for someone to type out the A scale for the viola."

Same for every instrument.

A B C# D E F G# A

I know a little about viiolin - my dad was brillant, but I don't actually play
Violin strings - G D A E

Viola strings - C G D A

Limit of my relevant knowledge - but if you can play the G scale in first position

G A B C D E F# G

start on the second of that scale and sharpen the C note to C#.

If you need more specific info, I can't really help you much more, sorry.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 May 10 - 10:54 PM

I don't play viola and I'm not sure I understand your question. But does it help to know that the A scale is this:

A B C# D E F# G# A

The # (sharp) means that those notes are raised a half-step from where they would be in the scale of C.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 May 10 - 10:37 PM

"...I myself sing...."

Subject: RE: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 May 10 - 08:59 PM

It's unclear exactly what you mean: Do you mean which fingers on which strings?--since you don't read music.   

It is admittedly not easy to read viola clef even if you did read music.   You would start with the middle line as middle C.

I play viola--but haven't played classical viola for several eons---for quite a while it's just been bluegrass and country viola-- which for me consists of making up harmonies or countermelodies and flourishes at the end of lines--to complement, not compete with, the singer. It is amazingly well appreciated--perhaps since being in a different range than the singer it's not a rival.   And if I guess wrong as to where the song is going, I change immediately-- (that was just a passing tone).   And in bluegrass and country it seems to be almost always 1- 4- 5 -1---- with detours along the way (and exceptions of course).

All I want as a violist is to be part of the musical texture.

Mainly of course myself sing--so I know the singer wants accompaniment, not competition.



At any rate I think we need a bit more clarification on the request.

Subject: Chord Req: A scale for viola needed.
From: GUEST,Susan (at work).
Date: 26 May 10 - 08:37 PM

I need for someone to type out the A scale for the viola. I don't read music, so I will need for someone to type it out, so it's easy to understand. I can play in the keys of C, G and D on the viola. This is the A scale (in the first position)for a viola, not a violin.

Thanks