Introduction to Level 3 Violin Scales
Ready to take your violin playing to the next level? In this section of the TQ Violin Programme, we'll explore selected scales, chords, and arpeggios. "Mastering scales, chords, and arpeggios is like unlocking secret codes in music.
To start unlocking these codes, this level three section will guide you through playing scales to a regular beat using a long tonic with the rest of the scale played in quavers. This is important to improve finger dexterity, intonation, and musical understanding. By practicing this, you'll start to recognize the unique sound of each interval within a scale.
These videos break down each scale into smaller, manageable sections, allowing you to master each part before moving on to the full scale.
Tuning should be within 20 cents of the exact pitch and the scale should be played as notes of equal value before starting this level.
It is highly recommended that you keep a journal to track your progress. Note your tuning accuracy, rhythmic precision, and areas for improvement. Remember, patience is key. The accuracy you develop here will lay a strong foundation for your future progress.
Rhythm
In theTQ Violin programme, level 1 and 2 you were introduced to playing the scales and tetrachords in even notes using the upper and lower bow positions. In level 3 this skill is developed by using two rhythms that we will join together. From level one we have TQ Rhythm Card thirty-eight which is a minim and a minim rest, and from level two we will use TQ Rhythm Card twenty which is a crotchet followed by six quavers. These two rhythms are shown on the images below, try to clap the rhythm counting while you clap. You could use the French Time Names, ‘Ta’ for a crotchet and ‘Ta-Te’ for the quavers, the minim will use ‘Ta-a’ for the longer beat. After this play it on a single open string to ensure you are happy with the bow movement. When you are ready try playing with the videos, remember accuracy is important, there is no rush.
Scales
G major
In this set of videos we will expand on the Level 2 build programme where you mastered playing the upper and lower octave of the G major scale in notes of equal value. Now we will focus on the ascending and descending scales separately using either the upper or lower bow, for now we will not be using the whole bow.
The lower octave will use the first finger in first position, the second finger should use the upper second position and the third finger should use the third position. The D4 can be played with either 4th finger or the open string, although we would encourage you to use both positions.
For the upper octave remember to bring the second finger on the A-string to the lower second position for the C natural. Do the same on the E string for the G natural. I recommend the alternative 4th finger on the A-string for an E5 as an alternative, and vital, scale positioning.
The rhythm should be a crotchet value on the tonic (first note) followed by quavers for the remaining notes, ending with a minim followed by a minim rest. Keep a steady beat, there should be two quavers at the same time as one crotchet. Remember not to take the violin down until after the minim rest. At the end of the scale there is a repeat that should be acknowledged.
Many violinists start with G major because it is often used in elementary violin music, one sharp makes it easily accessible to new violinists. For the second finger, aim for a higher placement within the second position. It is recommended you start the scale with a down bow and with an up bow.
Pay attention to your hand position and the frame it forms with the violin. There are two types of videos below, one video has a chord accompaniment and the other has a drone, I encourage you to play both.
As you practise, you will hear the sounds change as you try to achieve the correct sound that we called intonation. While these are notes, they aren't the ones typically used in Western Classical music. They are called microtones, it will be exciting to explore them in the future.
Use your practice journal to record any challenges you faced with the G major scale and how you overcame them. This key is happy but with a poetic or idyllic feel, can you think of any pieces that fit this character, can you find any of the notes in G major. Check with your TQ teacher about the key of the original.
G major Videos
Ascending Scales
Descending Scales
D major
While many of the points we discussed about G major also apply to D major, this scale is a one octave scale at this level.
You've reached Level 3! This means you should already be comfortable playing the scale with notes of equal value using both the upper and lower half of the bow.
The tonic of this scale (D4) is a fifth above the starting note of the previous scale. This means it is the next position on the Circle of Fifths and has one more sharp called C. On your violin this means you will use the higher placement in the second position for the F-sharp-4 on the D-string, as we did in G major. However this time we will use the higher position on the A-string for the C-sharp-5.
Did you notice that the last four notes of G major are the same as the first four notes of D major. This pattern is seen when moving between related scales (also known as keys).
Remember to adjust your hand frame as you move over to the A-string. Keeping a good frame while using the finger tips, and avoiding gripping the violin neck too tightly will help achieve good results.
In your practice journal, make a note of the challenges and success you experience with D major and how you felt about the different experiences. Feelings during the process are as important as the results with the violin as your emotions are heard in the music.
How do you feel about the sound of D major? It is often used for confidence and songs about winning. D major is often the favoured key for composers who write music that inspires confidence and victory. Have you ever thought about writing a victory song? Using your own voice in music is a great way to understand a scale, so ask your TQ teacher for help at your next lesson.
D major Videos
Ascending Scales
Descending Scales
A major
A major is another two-octave scale, starting one note higher than G major.
The top half of the D major scale is the lower half of the A major scale.
Did you notice how the F-sharp of G major was on the seventh note?
The new sharp in D major was also on the seventh note, making C-sharp.
The same pattern happens in A major, the new sharp is on the seventh note, making a G-sharp.
In the A major lower octave scale the C-sharp is in an upper third position on the G-string. The G-sharp is also in the upper third position but on the D-string. You can see these new positions in the image below.
The key of A major evokes a sense of peace, innocent love, joy, optimism, and trust. It might remind you of the feeling you had when you first heard the violin. Perhaps it's the feeling that motivated you to learn and practice A major.
How can you express that innocent joy through your music? One of my students composed this song that fits the characteristics of A major perfectly. It is called ‘Summer Wind Blows’.
In your practice journal remember to make a note of your experience with this delicate scale.
Listen for the microtones either side of the scale notes. Can you slide into the correct pitch using those microtones to enhance or decorate the melody, a little like trinkets or mementos of innocent times of love, joy and trust?
A major Videos
Ascending Scales
Descending Scales
Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifths is a tool that helps musicians understand connections in music. The diagram below of a segment of the circle will help to explain this useful tool.
This circle is like a road map that shows how all the major keys are connected to each other like the road network in your town. "Each key is a 'fifth' away from its neighbours, that's five notes apart. As you move clockwise around the circle, each key adds one more sharp to its key signature.
As we practiced the G major and D major scales, we saw how they are connected on the Circle of Fifths. D major is a 'fifth' higher than G major, a fifth is five notes or letter names, G, A, B, C, D, and it has one more sharp (C♯). Continuing this pattern, the next key is five notes higher than D: D, E, F♯, G, A. This brings us to A major, which has three sharps. The next scale is the one we studied above, A major which has one more sharp, 3 sharps. The new sharp, as discussed above, is one the seventh note.
Can you predict which scale is next and how many sharps it will have? (Hint: think about the pattern of sharps we've seen so far!)
"As we work through this level, we'll understand how scales produce chords and how chords are used to compose music. We will use this circle and find out how to use this fabulous tool that musicians have used for centuries.
Microtones
Western music uses a system of tuning called twelve-tone equal temperament. This simply means that the octave (the distance between the open D string and the third finger on the A-string) is divided into 12 equal units called semitones. The notes between the notes of our Western scales are called microtones. These intervals, smaller than semitones, are used in many musical cultures, including Indian, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern music, as well as jazz and blues.
I once heard a gardener say that there were no weeds, just plants that were not in the right place. It's the same with notes; sometimes you'll play a note that seems out of place. But that doesn't mean it's wrong; there are no wrong notes, just different contexts.
Indian ragas, Arabic maqams, or Indonesian gamelan music sound very different to Western music, this is due, in part, to microtones. One of the reasons the violin is such a magnificent instrument is that it allows you to explore these microtones by sliding between notes. However, when playing a specific piece of music, there are usually certain tuning requirements to follow. That is part of the choice of a piece of music. The same way you do not want to find brussel sprouts in the middle of your rose garden you would not play A major (Western classical) using the tuning of a gamelan or the techniques of raga (or vice versa). However it is interesting to explore both, in their own unique ways. It's easy to take the familiar for granted, but I assure you that every musical tradition has its own unique beauty and complexity. For now, embrace the pitches you find outside of Western classical sounds, and we'll explore them further in the future. Once we've mastered the Western scales, a whole world of sonic possibilities will open up!
Summary
Scales on the violin are much more than sequences of notes. They hold the key to the codes behind the music, some of this information is embedded in the Circle of Fifths. This circle presents the connections between the keys on a clock-like diagram. The clock represents the notes that you find on the piano, however the violin is such a fantastic instrument because it can play the notes in between the piano notes, these are called microtones. These small sounds can be heard when the violin is used in folk music of Eastern music. These traditions use notes that fall outside the Western tuning system that the Circle of Fifths represents. This is where the violin’s versatility is, you can play a wide range of musical styles on your chosen instrument.
While exploring the full range of sounds, including microtones, is important, mastering scales provides a crucial foundation for your musical journey. The benefits of mastering scales include knowing the sounds you can expect to hear in music. The simple patterns improve the way you move between the notes and your technique and left hand framework. The repetition allows your focus to be on bowing which also affects sound production and provides a known arena to practise musical and creative expression.
Scales, and violin work, is a muscular experience, therefore, just like going to the gym, consistency is important to train the muscles to achieve the goal. With the violin you are training the muscles in your arms, fingers, upper back and lower back with the addition of hand-eye coordination. Use your practice journal to write down how your muscles feel after you practise, your experiences and feelings as you practise. Perhaps you could also consider what you had to eat and drink before your practise, the experiences and tension level, and the time of day you practised. All these can make a difference to your progress.
So grab your violin, your practice journal, with dedication to practice, you will be ready to move up to level four!