Orchestration Notes

Strings

The open strings are tuned in 5ths

Open strings:

Violin– G D A E
Viola – C G D A
Cello – C G D A
Double bass – E A D G

The lowest open note

on each instrument is
the lowest available
note. The highest note
on the highest string is
your highest note
available.
However, 2 octaves
and a perfect 5th will be
difficult to play.

Violin and Cello are hemigynous whereas the Viola and Double bass
are not. Both Viola and Double Bass strings are slackened to maintain
pitch.

The Bow
Bows use horse hair as its thick and enables what you may
call slip stick action
The bow Is used in three dimensions:
Left to right – articulation (tongue)
Up and down – effects, colour, filter
In and out – “volume”

Each end of the bow also has a name

Frog/ Heel – holding point
Point/ tip – end
The heel point is stronger as when you pull away from the
strings you have more power

away from string

towards string
You have to think about bow placement when writing for
strings
One effect you have with your bow is the tremolo, usually
played with the tip of the bow. This effect is produced by
moving the bow very quickly in small strokes, so fast that the
notes are not measured but a note that has three slashes
through its stem is used to signify tremolo.
You can only bow 2 strings at any given time on these
instruments except for rare cases; with spreads you can
create the illusion of a chord being played
The Bridge
This is the most important part of the instrument, taking the
vibrations out of the strings and transferring it to the body