Classical Viola
Overview
Tuning Steps
Sweetened Tunings
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Classical Viola
Overview
Like violinists, Violists have a love/hate relationship with electronic tuners for good reason, up to now most electronic tuners made are not suitable for tuning a viola, the interval spacing between the strings of a viola is slightly wider than electronic tuners indicate, this is astonishingly true even for tuners which are marketed specifically to violists!
The viola, which many believe to have predated the violin, is tuned to the notes C G D A with the lowest open string pitch being C and the highest pitch being A. The intervals C to G, G to D and D to A on a correctly tuned viola are all Perfect Fifth intervals. The interval C to G, G to D and D to A on an electronic tuner are Equally Tempered Fifths, so what does that mean?
The notes that make a perfect fifth interval are in total consonance with one another, there is no oscillation or beating heard when played together. The notes that make up an equally tempered fifth are not in consonance with one another and a slight oscillation or beating will be heard when played together. Equally Tempered fifths are 1.9 cents narrower than perfect fifths and the cumulative error caused by tuning using a tuner without a Viola Sweetener can be as much as eight cents in the case of a five string viola, a totally unacceptable result.
The result is that violists don’t like tuners, they tune by ear. Tuning by ear is not a problem when time and ambient noise allows. It is however a problem when working professionally in an orchestra pit, studio or live situation where time is tight, standards exacting and conditions less than optimal.
If you are someone who plays professionally, then tuning will be a consideration and a tuner that works professionally is what you need. Peterson tuners feature the correct interval tuning target displays for viola, just dial in the VLA Sweetener and let the tuner do the work for you!
Begin with the first string A, it’s located closest to the bow when holding the viola in the normal playing position.
How To Tune Your Classical Viola
- Use the bow to play notes when tuning, simply plucking the open strings does not take the weight of the bow into acount. Draw the bow across the 1st string. Observe the tuner display, check that the note “A” is displayed. Adjust the fine tuner to stop the strobe pattern image from moving contuously in any one direction, continue to adjust until the strobe pattern is motionless. If the note displayed is other than A, adjust the tuning peg until A is diplayed, then use the fine tuners to tune the string until the strobe pattern is motionless.
- Repeat the above for the D, G & C strings until all are tuned.
- Make a final check to counter changes in the tension of one string affecting the others, starting at the fourth string and ending with the first.
Standard And Alternate Tunings for viola family instruments
Classical Viola
Viola D’Amore
Lira Da Braccio
C3 G3 D4 A4
Standard Orchestral
A2 D3 A3 D4 F#4 A4 D5
D Major
D3 G3 D4 A4 E5
A#2 G3 D4 A4
Tertis/Elgar
A2 D3 A3 D4 F4 A4 D5
D Minor
C3 C4 G3 G4 D4 A4 E5
C#3 G#3 D#4 A#4
Mozart
G2 C3 G3 C4 E4 G4 C5
C Tuning
D3 G3 D4 A4
Classical Viola
C3 G3 D4 A4
Standard Orchestral
A#2 G3 D4 A4
Tertis/Elgar
C#3 G#3 D#4 A#4
Mozart
D3 G3 D4 A4
Viola D’Amore
A2 D3 A3 D4 F#4 A4 D5
D Major
A2 D3 A3 D4 F4 A4 D5
D Minor
G2 C3 G3 C4 E4 G4 C5
C Tuning
Lira Da Braccio
D3 G3 D4 A4 E5
C3 C4 G3 G4 D4 A4 E5
Sweetened Tunings
Sweeteners For Viola
Products With Viola Sweeteners
StroboClip HDC
$79.99
StroboStomp LE
$169.00
StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99
StroboStomp HD
$149.00
StroboClip HD
$59.99
StroboPLUS HD
$149.99
iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99
StroboSoft 2.0
$49.99 - $99.99
Things to check to get the most out of your instrument’s tuning
Keep an eye on fine tuners, ensure they are backed off enough to allow immediate adjustment at any time.
Check the tuning pegs to ensure a good friction is maintained between peg and pegbox to anchor the strings at pitch.
“Concert A” Pitch Adjustability
Famous Violas
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