Karen3d ago
I know how to read the viola clef, but not as fluently as I read the treble and bass clefs. I'm going to spend this weekend to see how good I can get...because for this last piece there has so far been only one violist at the rehearsal and the conductor jokingly begged for a violinist to try the viola
Show threadKaren
Ha! Maybe I don't know how to read alto clef after all! It's actually SEVEN steps down, not one step up!
Mar 21 at 6:25pmMastodon for Android
Show threadKaren3d ago
Playing the Bach Cello Suite transcribed for viola on my violin. For some weird reason I would occasionally do 7 steps down from the bass clef 🤦‍♀️ Fortunately I've listened to these pieces enough times to know what they are supposed to sound like
Show threadMark Hoemmen3d ago
@kpdooty oh wait alto clef maybe i'll un-volunteer myself
Show threadKaren3d ago
@mhoemmen right? I might rent a viola for the summer to see how it goes...the notes are farther apart, plus the violin doesn't go low enough (I'm not tuning my violin down a perfect fifth lol)
Show threadMark Hoemmen2d ago
@kpdooty had the opposite problem today -- i'm so used to the 59 cm string length on my octave mandolin and lute that i keep hitting the wrong notes on the regular mando
Show threadKaren2d ago
@mhoemmen yeah it would be great if they make a viola the same size as the violin...I should talk to my violin guy!
Show threadMark Hoemmen2d ago
@kpdooty are those 5-string violins (with a low C) a bit shorter than the usual violas? i imagine they would have to be so you don't break E strings all the time
Show threadKaren2d ago
@mhoemmen hmm that's a thought (although my violin guy probably would not approve)...IIRC @hpcgal has one...
Show threadMark Hoemmen2d ago
@kpdooty @hpcgal if the conductor doesn't mind plucked strings, tenor guitar in viola tuning sounds great
Show threadRebecca Hartman-Baker1d ago
@kpdooty @mhoemmen mine is electric... Maybe with amplification they'd need only one new viola
Show threadKaren1d ago
@hpcgal @mhoemmen good viola joke!