Hello Violas!
I'd like to help you with your reading of your open strings on your viola.
Violas play on the A L T O C L E F, and it looks like this!
Violas have 4 S T R I N G S, and they are
C - G - D - A
When we look at the alto clef, it is important to know where our open strings are!
Take a look at this next picture and find where each string lies on the stave (the 5 long lines).
C is our lowest and thickest string! It has it's own little line to sit under. This is called a ledger line.
G is the next string we come to. The G sits in the first space on the stave.
D comes next and it sits higher on the stave. The D string sits in the 3rd space up.
A is our highest and thinnest string. It sits high up on the very top line of the stave.
Lets look at them one after the other.
Notice how the string position of the note rises on the stave
as the sound of the string rises too!
C G D A
Try Plucking each string while looking at where it lies on the stave!
Here are some rhythms you can try clapping and
then plucking (with your finger) on each string.
There are 12 groups and each group adds a new element of difficulty!
GROUP 1
C String
G String
D String
A String
GROUP 2
Try these now...
C String
G String
D String
A String
GROUP 3
Now try mixing these two rhythms together!
C String
G String
D String
A String
GROUP 4
What about trying this new rhythm!
C String
G String
D String
A String
Lets try another variation of these rhythms & lets take away the help of what string to play on. You need to work out what string to play on by looking at the where the note lies on the stave!
GROUP 5
!!!! WATCH OUT - EACH BAR AND LINE IS DIFFERENT !!!!
1.
2.
3.
4.
GROUP 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
GROUP 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
GROUP 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
Great work so far! Lets add in a new rhythmic symbol...
Take a look at this 'rest'
This is a 'crotchet rest' - it gets one beat of silence. The same length as you 'ta' sound.
Try saying "shh" instead of 'ta' out loud when you see one of these, to practice not making any sound on your instrument!
It is the silences between the notes that make the music beautiful!
Okay, lets try adding rests to our rhythms now!
Group 9
1.
2.
3.
4.
Group 10
1.
2.
3.
4.
Group 11
1.
2.
3.
4.
Group 12
1.
2.
3.
4.
Great! Well done getting through all of these =D
I hope you have found this fun, informative, easy to follow
and also a little challenging in places.
Remember, repetition is key, so you can come back to the blog to try these rhythms more than once to keep your knowledge on open strings and rhythms fresh!
Keep an eye out for more blogs on open strings and rhythms!
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