Exploring Viola Positions Anew

#2025-1201

中提琴按弦位置

（ 總　複　習 ）

Like a violin—which has the G, D, A, and E strings—a viola also has four strings: C, G, D, and A. The lowest note that the thickest string can produce is “do” in the key of C, while the basic note that the open A string produces is “la.”

If the scale “do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti” is represented by the numerals “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,” then you can see in the clock photo above (or in the last two pictures below) what scale degrees the open C and A strings produce in each of the twelve major keys.

For example:

• In the key of Bb, the open C string produces 2 (re), and the open A string produces 7 (ti).
• In the key of F, the open C string produces 5 (sol), and the open A string produces 3 (mi).
• In the key of C, the open C string produces 1 (do), and the open A string produces 6 (la).
• In the key of G, the open C string produces 4 (fa), and the open A string produces 2 (re).

If you focus only on the thinnest string, you’ll find that the open A string produces 7 (ti) in the key of Bb, 3 (mi) in F, 6 (la) in C, 2 (re) in G, 5 (sol) in D, 1 (do) in A, and 4 (fa) in E. In other words, moving clockwise on the Circle of Fifths, the open A string on a viola produces 7, 3, 6, 2, 5, 1, 4 (= ti, mi, la, re, sol, do, fa) for the keys Bb, F, C, G, D, A, and E, respectively.

Conversely, if you focus on the thickest string, the open C string produces 4, 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7 (= fa, do, sol, re, la, mi, ti) for the keys G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db, respectively, as you move counterclockwise on the Circle of Fifths.

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Note: Click here for more information about the Circle of Fifths (五度圈).

 

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