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Ok, this should not be that hard, but it has me fumbling. I am playing viola so I need to deal with the C string. I can't quite get the sequence of fingering down and watched a video on two octaves and they started in the fourth position. I'm trying to learn, "I am a man of constant sorrow" by Carter Stanley and the lowest note is a low A. Would the fourth position be an easier choice or should I stick to learning A Major in the First position first
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how do I rotate a photo? ugh
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@Ripton -
I'm not very techy - can't believe how long it took me to figure out how to flip this!
I'm really starting to develop a serious Love/Hate relationship with my laptop! 🥴
- Emily
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I wouldn't use fourth position at all. There's simply no reason to. I might consider starting the song in third position to allow for easier vibrato on long notes, but it's also perfectly fine in first position throughout.
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Wow, I must be off in La La Land - didn't even realize the original question about positions!
Sorry! ...too focused on flipping the photo. 🙄
I have the melody from the movie so stuck in my head - other than a little sliding, just seemed the whole tune is in the 1st position with only like 1 note on the C string, 3 notes on the G and 2 notes on the D string. Never occurred to me to think there was anything else to consider - but a few chords backing it up.
I do have a page I save for quick reference to help me choose from position/fingering possibilities.
It might be of some help in the future?
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Thanks
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The key sig is a puzzle. It's in A minor. Why the three sharps?
Like Andrew says, first position on the G and D strings. Third position optional (i.e. 2nd finger for long Ds on the G string, sliding down to first to play the Cs with your third finger afterwards)
Andrew
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My guess is that it was either transcribed or published by someone who doesn't know a lot of music theory (i.e. doesn't understand the idea of minor keys) and just thought the key of A meant three sharps.
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Ripton said
how do I rotate a photo? ugh
I never told you but I had flipped the photo, however I didn't flip the preview.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Gordon Shumway said
The key sig is a puzzle. It's in A minor. Why the three sharps?Like Andrew says, first position on the G and D strings. Third position optional (i.e. 2nd finger for long Ds on the G string, sliding down to first to play the Cs with your third finger afterwards)
all the c#'s and g#'s natural and no f#'s played. it does seem like the long way around. maybe had something to do with chords played? wonder if its normally played with an Amaj , Dmaj and Emaj or some form of those major chords? or at least Not an Am, Dm, Em. Maybe easier to explain what chords are used notating in A and negating the few times a sharp note is used. just a guess.
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