How to Play the Viola

The Viola is the Alto voice of the String Quartet. Its "C" string is 5 notes lower that the low G string of the violin. Its music is written on a 'staff' called the "C" clef that spans the center of the piano bass and treble clef.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pianos

Preliminary Set up and proper holding of the instrument

1. Find a private area with a straight backed chair and a music stand.

2. Open the viola case and place the instrument base upon your lap.

3. Most string instruments arrive with strings in place. See the eHow, re-string a Viola, if the strings are not mounted.

4. Pluck each string, using your right or left thumb, to test the tension and hear the pitch.

5. Using a piano, tune the instrument to match each viola string from the lowest to the topmost sounds of C - G - D - A.

6. The "C" clef of 5 lines and 4 spaces is used by the viola with the piano middle "C" notated on the 3rd line.

7. Tune the top string "A" to the pitch of "A" above the piano middle "C".

8. Wrap the left hand around the upper body where the neck and fingerboard extrude from the instrument.

9. Place the base of the viola and the black chin rest below your chin.

10. Bring the left shoulder around so it is under the chin rest to form support from below.

11. Keep the viola level with the left hand. The shoulder and chin provide firm but easy contact and support.

12. Be comfortable and relaxed.

Playing Pizzicato

1. Place the right thumb at the corner of the fingerboard nearest the bridge.

2. Put the index fingerpad on top of the "C" string, apply slight pressure so to land on the "G" string. This is "plucking" or playing pizzicato.

3. Pluck the "C" string 4 times in a steady rhythm. Use no fingernails.

4. Repeat the above on the "G", "D", and "A" strings with a steady count or while using a metronome.

5. Speak the names of the strings each time you pluck to make a sound.

6. Mix the sequence and keep the tempo at a slow rate. Focus on accuracy.

Use of the Bow

1. The French bow affords agility and the accurate rendering of fast passages.

2. Tighten the bow hair so there is 3/4 inch space between the hair and the bow at the closest point.

3. Place the right thumb on the bow at the "inside" of where the frog "creeps" forward and back.

4. Lay the 3 middle fingers on the outside of the bow with the "pinkie" on top or near the adjustment screw.

5. The side of the index finger just above the 2nd joint should rest on top of the bow stick.

6. Place the "frog" end of the bow hair on top of the "G" string half way between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge.

7. Allow the hand to "fall" naturally from the arm at the point of the wrist.

8. Apply a slight bit of pressure on the bow and draw a straight line while vibrating the string and stop near the bow tip. This is a "down bow".

9. Travel on the string from the tip to the frog. This is an "up bow".

10. Move the bow at a medium slow and regular rate of speed. Focus on producing a steady and sonorous tone.

Tips & Warnings

• The Suzuki Viola method book has a book of piano accompaniments that correspond to all the exercises and tunes written for the viola. This makes the lesson and practice more enjoyable.

• Always loosen the "horse hair" of the viola bow at the "frog" after a playing session. An adjustment of this tightening device is an unnecessary expense at the repair shop.

• A shoulder pad or shoulder rest that attaches to the base of the instrument often helps the young student to do a better job of securing firm support at that point. $12 to $35 is the cost range.

• Focus on the goal of knowing how each of the four strings sound.

• Train your ear to recognize pitch changes and the qualities of sound.

• Try to reproduce the pitch of the string while speaking its name.

• Each string is 5 notes (a fifth) above or below its neighboring string.

• Keep the bow hair at the same point of string contact during its traverse.

• Avoid undue tension pressure in one area of the bridge by over-tightening one string.

• Bring all 4 strings to a medium tension after adjusting the placement of a new bridge.

• Now do the tuning.

• Avoid "picking" the strings vertically. This can cause a "slapping" sound when the string hits the fingerboard.

• Don't allow anyone else to use your instrument.

• Do not allow the palm of the left hand to collapse on the viola neck.