Category: Lower Intermediate Bass

Looking at the technique of Chordal Fingering and how it maintains the resonance of the viol. How do you know when to use it and does it really make life easier?

Viol Player Book 2, Chapter 4 Exercise 1, 2, (eyes closed).

In this lesson we recap on some of the bowing technique learnt in the Elementary Lessons to enable a beautiful sound. Also starting to build a repertoire of good habits! For example:

• putting the left hand on the viol without looking

• putting your bow on the string, breathing in and out, relaxing and sinking into the string with good sense of bow arm weight
• Keeping the same hand shape using chordal fingering in first position using fingers 2-3 and half position with fingers 3-4.

P 33 Fanfare No 33 No 3:
Covering notes for bass lines and putting your left hand on autopilot!
p.38 Rondeau:
looking at changing hand shape from chordal fingering to normal hand position.
Playing with dynamics using the 2nd and 3rd finger on the bow:
• 2nd (or middle) finger can provide more weight (or pressure) on the horse hair, making the sound louder
• 3rd (or ring) finger supports the weight of the bow hair, making the sound quieter.
In conclusion: Chordal Fingering: don’t jump on the same fret with 2-2 or 3-3, just add a finger 2-3 or 3-4.

How to play elegant dotted rhythms. Understanding the relationship between different types of compound time signatures: 6/4 and 6/8 How well do you know your C major scale? Looking at c major in first position with F on the C string. C arpeggio with chordal fingering P38. Viol Player Book 2 Lull me Beyond Thee p37 : Using a 4th finger or an open string to avoid string crossing for one note. The un-cluncky quaver: bow distribution for dotted rhythms and playing short bows for short notes. Skye Boat Song p45 Looking at slurs on 3 notes and bow direction across 4 strings. Bowing long notes and feeling free and relaxed.

Half position, hand shape and resonance C major scale: holding fingers down when string crossing for resonance. C major arpeggio; do you have a good hand shape so chordal fingering in half position feels relaxed? Viol Player Book 3, Page 2 Dance: Working on bow distribution, so weak notes have shorter bows. F major Scale: comparing bow direction on the top and bottom D strings and relating the notes on the top D string to the bottom D string. F major arpeggio: Chordal fingering in half position and keeping the hand relaxed by having a left thumb bent outwards. No 7 Helas Madam: Resonant fingering by holding thirds down and starting on a back bow. Playing quietly by supporting the bow hair with the 3rd finger. P4 Mrs Nag Viol’s Chordal Fingering Challenge! Exercises to install the feeling of chordal finger in your hand. For access to lessons 4-10 at Lower Intermediate and 4 other levels, become a Patreon.

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