The Clefs and Notation for the Viola

The Clefs and Notation for the Viola
The clef regularly
indicates the position
Clef s.
employed in writing music for the Viola is the Alto or C Clef; which
"Middle
of
C ] ' a l s o s h o w n f o r s a k e o f c o m p a r i s o n i n t h e Treble and Bass
C
Notes that would necessitate continuous use of leger lines
in the G or Treble
Clef. sometimes
#
c d e g a g e d
called the Violin
above the staff are often written
Clef.,
* ' c u ! d b e e a s i e r t o * ' r i t ea - d r e a c . t h u s :
@
v
c d e g a g e d
The four stringsl C, G D, A are tuned in 5ths, like the Violin strings,but beginning on C, a 5th below
"G"string.
Therefore the Viola is said to be pitched a fifth lower than the violin.
the Violin
the identical
sounds would
be written
0
in the 2' and $ clefs, thus:
Violin
Vi ola
Ce1lo
The full orchestral compass of the Viola
is as follows:
but the extreme upper notes would preferably be written for the violins except where it is necessary to
carry the viola into the high register to preserve continuity of tone color in a passaS'e' or where the
peculiar tone quality of the viola A string was PurPosely sought.
?3036- Yr
15
The Positions
TABLE OF RANGE AND FINGERING OF THE
F IRST FIVE POSITIONS
3
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rsrposition
ffi
CU
o
2nd position
4
-o-
c
3rd position
4
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{>
4th position
4
-o.
c
5th position
The above Table is written throughout inthe Alto-clef,
are generally written
whereas notes requiring leger linesabovethestaff
in the Treble clef.
A
€
>
(
r
<
>
r
.
}
=
g
=
4
Seconds
Thirds
Fourths
Fifths
Sixths
Intervals
Sevenths