How to Transpose a Viola to a Violin

It is fairly easy to transpose from viola to violin.

The four strings of the viola are tuned in fifths; the four strings of the violin are tuned in fifths; and the strings of the viola are tuned a fifth below the strings of the violin. This means that the highest three strings of the viola are tuned to the same notes as the lowest three strings of the violin. A lot of viola music can be played on the violin by simply shifting the patterns of notes over one string. In terms of sheet music, this shift is also simple.

Instructions

1. Transpose some memorized tunes instantly from viola to violin by playing the tune that is played on the highest three strings of the viola on the lowest three strings of the violin. One problem with this approach is that it does not work if any of the notes in the tune require the C string — the lowest string on the viola. This approach also does not address the sheet music, but if the C string or sheet music is not involved, this approach is the easy path to transposition.

2. Change the clef as the first step to rewriting viola music for violin. Viola music is written in alto clef and violin music is written in treble clef. Once the new clef is written the notes will need to be moved a uniform amount to fit the new clef.

3. Move each note that is written on a line, down two lines. Move each note that is written on a space, down two spaces. Remember that the lowest note on a violin is the G below middle C, so notes written below this G cannot be played on the violin — which makes the transposition more difficult.

4. Go up an octave by changing the clef and moving each note up one step in the scale. This means moving a note written on a line up to the space above that line, and moving a note written in a space up to the line above that space. You should be aware that this changes the fingering of the piece completely.

Tips & Warnings

• If you only change the clef, or if you transpose the piece up an octave, the key signature does not change, although it will look like it does. The pattern of sharps and flats that signify a particular key look different in different clefs. If you transpose up a fifth, the key signature will change even more. The number of sharps or flats needed to show the key signature will change. There will be one more sharp or one less flat.

• When you transpose viola music to the violin, even when the notes stay the same, you often wind up with awkward notes high on the A string — the second highest string. The fingering can often be simplified by moving these notes to the high string — the D string.

References

• Music Arrangers: Music Theory / The Score
• Horn Player: Transposing
• Fiddling Demystified: Transposing for cello & viola

Resources

• Violin Tuning: How Do You Transpose a Violin Part to a Viola part?