I'm a very recent owner of a viola, and am trying to figure out harmony lines. I find that just as the fiddle seems to be easiest to improvise in the keys of the 3 lowest strings (G D A), so the viola seems to be easiest in C G D. I would like to write out nice harmony lines to common fiddle tunes and share with each other, either the same tunes or different tunes and see what folks come up with. I've started working on Ashokan Farewell, using the "Fiddle Hell" CD, in slow mode to try out lines against. I'm learning to read and write the alto clef, but don't read or write tab. Anybody game?
26 Comments |
 | eerohero says:
8/27/2011 11:28:28 AM
I havent got a Clue to your question, just like to a member here, I like Viola. Do you read Music, standard notation ?
|
| eerohero says:
8/27/2011 11:31:07 AM
"just like to be a member here" , to make it sound right.
sorry, just a bit tired.
|
 | notlwonk says:
8/27/2011 12:03:57 PM
Ah....do I need to actually own a viola to join this support group?
|
 | mudbug says:
8/27/2011 3:08:19 PM
Notiwonk, you only have to like viola...or maybe just lie and pretend you do, and you can hang out here.
Eero, yes I read standard treble clef for violin and am now reading alto clef for viola. Welcome.
|
 | Bart says:
8/27/2011 4:51:55 PM
Mudbug, I read regular notation, but not tab or alto clef. When I'm working out different things I want to remember, like various double stops for tunes I'm working on, or harmonies, I tend to do it aurally (sp?) by recording with Audacity.
|
 | transplant says:
8/27/2011 4:59:09 PM
When someone is playing Ashokan Farewell, and I've got the 16.5" fiddle on my shoulder, I double the melody until something else suggests itself. They say second position is your friend on viola, and it works for a little F# E D C# D... lick at the end, on the A string.
I don't read alto clef with any ease, but i can generate pdf's of it with lilypond, for pretty printing.
|
| eerohero says:
8/27/2011 5:22:26 PM
Stevie, do you have this alto Clef Card in print, I´m planning to purchase a Viola sooner or later, would you scan it this one for me,please.
What a wonderful idea, purchasing a Viola, expanding your Musicianship
are you singing in Harmonies also ?
Being real honest, I´m getting so frustrated with the fiddle occasionally, at those times, I´m so glad to get back to Guitar, song makings, harmony singings, and for now ,soon, to A Viola.
Congrats for a Good site !
|
| eerohero says:
8/27/2011 5:32:00 PM
Transplant, maybe you have this alto Clef Card in print ?
|
| transplant says:
8/27/2011 5:39:34 PM
Here is a waltz in both treble and alto clefs. The viola part is written an octave below the violin. Is that any help?
myramac.com/pix/My_Cape_Breton_Home.pdf
|
| transplant says:
8/27/2011 5:42:06 PM
Here is a waltz in both treble and alto clefs. The viola part is written an octave below the violin. Is that any help?
myramac.com/pix/My_Cape_Breton_Home.pdf
|
| transplant says:
8/27/2011 5:55:26 PM
Oops. It seems refreshing the page can make a double post.
Eero, I don't have a harmony part written for Ashokan Farewell, but when that comes to the top of my to-do list, I will put a link here.
|
 | fishingcat says:
8/27/2011 6:29:54 PM
Transplant, I don't know whether to thank you or curse you for that link. I read alto clef (just barely!) when I was messing around with a 3/4 (14") viola in college (a side pursuit to my already-side-pursuit of finally learning violin). I acquired a 15.5" viola a while back and she just returned from the local luthier (needed a neck reset), but I figured I'd take the 'by ear" approach to avoid struggling with alto clef. I suppose I should stop being a baby about it ... or I could take the time (that I don't have) to re-write that music in other clefs less foreign ... ;-P
|
| transplant says:
8/27/2011 6:46:47 PM
The only alto-clef fiddle music I'm aware of is Deb Greenblatt's book which is just a collection of tunes taken one string basswards, and some transcriptions I did for some orchestra kids who needed paper in front of them. That link is one of those.
"My Cape Breton Home" is a tune I know well enough to whistle, so I just play it in its proper key an octave down by ear. As Mudbug said, key of G goes well on the viola.
If I'm reading, these days it is mostly from a treble-clef part, taking it down an octave.
Just had a quick run-through of Ashokan, and it only needs a few quick shifts. I use a little bit of third in the A part, and some second in the B part. Often I will start out in the fiddle's octave, and drop an octave only in the phrases where I would otherwise need to shift.
Oh, and you're welcome! ;-)
|
| eerohero says:
8/27/2011 10:33:07 PM
Thanxs for "My Cape Breton Home" seems like a wonderful tune to me, I will play it with my fiddle at the first place, maybe I find a Video of it at Youtube as well, just not there yet. This will become to my first "Cape Breton" Tune ever !
later on Viola, I got the picture.
|
| mudbug says:
8/28/2011 1:25:59 AM
Thanks Transplant. Beautiful tune. Actually, I'm not finding alto clef that difficult to wrap my mind around. I picked up a beginning viola book and work on the reading everyday. It's funny how your mind will switch between the two clefs. Hey, pianists read two different clefs at the same time.
|
| eerohero says:
8/28/2011 3:55:05 AM
Which book do you have about Viola beginners series ?
of course, I have to buy Viola first, yet I´m always working backwards, its more fun that way. extremely unexpected.
|
 | TimK says:
8/28/2011 4:02:17 AM
Having just acquired a viola myself, I had to join this group. I hope to learn how to navigate this thing without an E string :)
|
| mudbug says:
8/28/2011 8:54:46 AM
Eero, just go to a music store and get any basic book on beginning viola. They all walk you through the reading in first position with simple songs. They're all pretty cheap, but by the second day, you're ready for a more advanced book. I've just ordered the Doflein Method book volume 2 for viola as I have the one for violin "Volume two, development of technique" and really like it. There's enough challenging stuff in it, that I'm still working in it after a year.
|
| transplant says:
8/29/2011 9:01:18 AM
I suppose one day I will drag myself kicking and screaming into fluent reading of alto clef. For now, I still need to count on my fingers, which is difficult at the same time I am pointing my pencil at lines and spaces.
I found a delightful youtube video of Aly Bain, Jay Ungar, Mark O'Connor and friends playing Ashokan Farewell. If I ever work out harmony parts to it, it will be with the audio on endless loop. I have come up with a few repeatable ideas, and I guess I'm willing to take it on as a project. Just don't hold your breath, please.
|
| eerohero says:
8/29/2011 11:58:53 AM
I guess, we are just doing that, holding our breaths, now, when you mentioned it.
|
| transplant says:
8/29/2011 3:40:39 PM
I don't expect to come up with anything special. My harmonies mostly involve root and third of an appropriate chord, stuff that anyone could make up for themselves.
|
| transplant says:
9/1/2011 6:50:05 AM
Here is a first try at a viola line for Ashokan Farewell:
shadetreefiddle.com/pdf/ashoka...rmony.pdf
It is pretty simple, and has plenty of room for improvement. :-)
|
 | edkarch says:
9/1/2011 12:28:25 PM
I restrung my cheapy viola with octive viola strings. Being dots illiterate, I just turn on the monkey brain and improv. have done a harmony to Ashokan but couldent tell you how. I jam with a bluegrass group a couple times a month often using this rig to fill a tonal hole between the bass and fiddle. No one has hit me yet.
|
| eerohero says:
9/2/2011 11:07:38 PM
transplant, thanxs, it suits me just fine, the more simple, the better at the Start, you hit the nerve here !
Which strings to use, I play with neighbors nerves....
|
 | paulinefiddle says:
2/20/2012 8:16:23 PM
Transplant, thanks for My Cape Breton home scored for violin and viola. Maybe this will motivate me to learn how to read alto clef.
|
| paulinefiddle says:
1/1/2013 1:39:51 AM
I still haven't taken the time to learn to read alto clef. However, my viola is my favorite instrument for improvising harmony at jams. I'll try to make a good harmony with my viola, although writing the notes down will be a challenge. There is a beautiful arrangement of Ashokan Farewell for twin fiddles by Jay Buckey, but it's hard to find on his website. I'll upload a copy. I play it with my students, and it's really fun.
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
