Hello,
My girlfriend plays the fiddle, and has aquired a viola, can they be put in GDAE tuning? If so does it need different strings (like when octaving a tenor banjo).
The viola is a lovely instrument in its own right, so it seems rather unfair to try to turn it into a violin. (I started out on viola, and have heard all the jokes, so I feel strongly about it.) I suppose that you could use violin strings for it, but my advice would be to keep CGAD tuning and look for tunes that suit the viola's temperament.
You probably could, but it might not be a good idea. A viola in it's natural tuning is a beautiful addition to a session. There was a recent discussion about this...
I've just done the reverse conversion, and changed one of my fiddles (the Jay Haide) to CGDA tuning - I suppose you could call it a "fiddola" This is a preparatory exercise so that I can get used to viola tuning and its high position fingering before I get the real thing.
On the conversion, the A,D and G are violin Spirocores, and the C is a viola Spirocore, which gives nearly the correct tension and a viola tone. Naturally, because the instrument has a fiddle body I'm not expecting the full-blown viola tone, but what I'm getting is a smooth even tone over the range, and the C isn't too floppy.
I firmly agree with the others - don't convert a viola to fiddle tuning. You'll probably be disappointed, quite apart from the extra strain on the instrument and the strings.
Jim, if you're thinking of GDAE an octave below normal fiddle tuning, there are strings made specially for that. But they're meant for a fiddle, not a viola. Not sure how they'd work on a viola, but maybe the bigger body would help give voice to the lower pitch.
Off hand, I can't recall who makes these strings (D'Addario maybe?), or where to buy them. Might try www.johnsonstrings.com or www.juststrings.com. Or do a google search for "octave violin strings."
I think she should just play it like it is a Fiddle you know using the same fingerings and all the tunes will be the same except will be a fifth lower it is kind of like what us Flute/Whistle players do with instruments in different keys by the way doing what I say to do it would line up with a Bass G very uncommon (the only makers are Overton and Jubilee) but there is always the Alto G which is just an octave above that.
I took the "fiddola" along to the tune workshop last night for the tutor to try it out (and for me to hear the sound independently). She genuinely liked the sound, and I was not unpleasantly surprised at what I heard. Even though I was using the original violin G,D and A Spirocores, in this setup there was a subtle tonal alteration over the range, perhaps hinting at the richness of a viola tone (oh heck, I'm starting to sound like a wine buff!). The A-string in its new location (where the E was) now sounds more like a viola A than in the original violin setup. The instrument is certainly overall more resonant, probably because of a slightly reduced overall pressure on the bridge (no E string, you see). I use a low action anyway, so it is easy to articulate the notes.
Will, Jim, anybody know if putting those octave strings on a fiddle makes it an octave fiddle, or do you have to have a different instrument? I've got a John Taylor CD where he plays an octave fiddle, but I think it's electric. Very unusual, appealing sound. Any info on the octave fiddle would be welcome.
Carol, one of our regular fiddle players, a ceili band player who is one of the best in the Bristol area and also a qualified luthier, has lately taken to bringing an acoustic octave fiddle to sessions as well as his normal instrument (which, btw, he made himself and is the loudest I've ever heard).
His octave fiddle is a perfectly normal fiddle fitted with specialist octave strings - I think he said they're made by Pirastro, but I'll have to check on that - the only, very slight, difference being that you don't want an action that's too low with these thick strings. He said that an octave fiddle sounds better if it is a relatively cheap instrument rather than a specially good one. (So perhaps there's an opportunity to resurrect that old beat-up fiddle that's been gathering dust in the attic for years.) A heavier bow than normal also helps with the octave strings.
The octave fiddle certainly adds a useful depth of sound to the session.
Another way to retune the viola for ITM DAEB or a tone higher than concert pitch. It works well for most fiddle tunes and you can use the same strings.
GDAE tuning a Viola
GDAE tuning a Viola
Hello,
My girlfriend plays the fiddle, and has aquired a viola, can they be put in GDAE tuning? If so does it need different strings (like when octaving a tenor banjo).
Any advice would be greatfuly recieved.
Jim
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by TallJim
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
The viola is a lovely instrument in its own right, so it seems rather unfair to try to turn it into a violin. (I started out on viola, and have heard all the jokes, so I feel strongly about it.) I suppose that you could use violin strings for it, but my advice would be to keep CGAD tuning and look for tunes that suit the viola's temperament.
Good Luck!
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by fiddlenovice
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
You probably could, but it might not be a good idea. A viola in it's natural tuning is a beautiful addition to a session. There was a recent discussion about this...
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/6903
I hope that helped!
~Kit
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by Fiddlekit
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
I've just done the reverse conversion, and changed one of my fiddles (the Jay Haide) to CGDA tuning - I suppose you could call it a "fiddola"
This is a preparatory exercise so that I can get used to viola tuning and its high position fingering before I get the real thing.
On the conversion, the A,D and G are violin Spirocores, and the C is a viola Spirocore, which gives nearly the correct tension and a viola tone. Naturally, because the instrument has a fiddle body I'm not expecting the full-blown viola tone, but what I'm getting is a smooth even tone over the range, and the C isn't too floppy.
I firmly agree with the others - don't convert a viola to fiddle tuning. You'll probably be disappointed, quite apart from the extra strain on the instrument and the strings.
Trevor
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
Jim, if you're thinking of GDAE an octave below normal fiddle tuning, there are strings made specially for that. But they're meant for a fiddle, not a viola. Not sure how they'd work on a viola, but maybe the bigger body would help give voice to the lower pitch.
Off hand, I can't recall who makes these strings (D'Addario maybe?), or where to buy them. Might try www.johnsonstrings.com or www.juststrings.com. Or do a google search for "octave violin strings."
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by Will Harmon
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
I think she should just play it like it is a Fiddle you know using the same fingerings and all the tunes will be the same except will be a fifth lower it is kind of like what us Flute/Whistle players do with instruments in different keys by the way doing what I say to do it would line up with a Bass G very uncommon (the only makers are Overton and Jubilee) but there is always the Alto G which is just an octave above that.
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
I took the "fiddola" along to the tune workshop last night for the tutor to try it out (and for me to hear the sound independently). She genuinely liked the sound, and I was not unpleasantly surprised at what I heard. Even though I was using the original violin G,D and A Spirocores, in this setup there was a subtle tonal alteration over the range, perhaps hinting at the richness of a viola tone (oh heck, I'm starting to sound like a wine buff!). The A-string in its new location (where the E was) now sounds more like a viola A than in the original violin setup. The instrument is certainly overall more resonant, probably because of a slightly reduced overall pressure on the bridge (no E string, you see). I use a low action anyway, so it is easy to articulate the notes.
Trevor
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
Will, Jim, anybody know if putting those octave strings on a fiddle makes it an octave fiddle, or do you have to have a different instrument? I've got a John Taylor CD where he plays an octave fiddle, but I think it's electric. Very unusual, appealing sound. Any info on the octave fiddle would be welcome.
Best, Carol
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by carolsviolin
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
Carol, one of our regular fiddle players, a ceili band player who is one of the best in the Bristol area and also a qualified luthier, has lately taken to bringing an acoustic octave fiddle to sessions as well as his normal instrument (which, btw, he made himself and is the loudest I've ever heard).
His octave fiddle is a perfectly normal fiddle fitted with specialist octave strings - I think he said they're made by Pirastro, but I'll have to check on that - the only, very slight, difference being that you don't want an action that's too low with these thick strings. He said that an octave fiddle sounds better if it is a relatively cheap instrument rather than a specially good one. (So perhaps there's an opportunity to resurrect that old beat-up fiddle that's been gathering dust in the attic for years.) A heavier bow than normal also helps with the octave strings.
The octave fiddle certainly adds a useful depth of sound to the session.
Trevor
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
Sorry if I mentioned this before, but there's a sound demo of an acoustic amplified octave fiddle at
http://www.sonicviolins.co.uk/Images/Sound/Sub%20Sonic.mp3 . If there's any trouble with that direct link, try http://www.sonicviolins.co.uk/SoundFiles.asp , then click on "Sound Files" on the fiddle picture. then select "sub-sonic.mp3".
I played this same fiddle at my local sesh recently (although not on every set)!
Jim
Oh, and it's tuned GDAE.
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: GDAE tuning a Viola
Another way to retune the viola for ITM DAEB or a tone higher than concert pitch. It works well for most fiddle tunes and you can use the same strings.
# Posted on August 2nd 2005 by McMandolin