As we wrote in post 209, there is a system of melodic improvisation based on drone (isocratic) interval of an octave and melodies derived by alternating intervals 5th and 4rth so as to create successive power-5 chords among octaves. But this requires alo in string instruments special tuning and a space of 3 to 4 octaves.
happily for the violin have been created the octave-violin strings which are one octave lower from the standard. So instead of G3-D4-A4-E5 these strings will tune the violin to G2-D3-A3-E4.
See e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZdlEBpIBI
This allows for mixed low-standard tunings of the violin for melodic improvisations as inpost 209 that are 8-5-8 meaning that the 1st-2nd string are one octave apart , the 2nd-3rd one fifth apart and the 3rd-4th one octave apart E.g.
G2-G3-D4-D5 (utilizing strings octave G2, standard G3, octave D3, standard E4 for the D5 ) or
A2-A3-E4-E5 (utilizing strings octave G2 for A2 , standard A3, octave E4, standard E5)
The 2nd requires one tone loosening one standard string and the 1st one octave string and one standard string tightening by one tone.
ALTHER ALTERNATIVE TUNINGS
1) THE OCTAVES 3 STRING TUNING:
This is utilizing again the D3 octave string of the violin and it is simply the
D3-D4-D5
For the D5 we use obviously the E5 string
The advantage is obviously very easy grasping of the notes on the fingerboard , as known one strings is known all the violin.
2) THE PANDURI OR OPEN MAJOR CHORD 3 STRING TUNING:
This is not utilizing octave strings of the violin and it is simply the open G3 major chord. The advantage is obviously very easy arpeggios (harpisms) on all chords of the (G major) diatonic scale.
G3-B4-D5
For the D5 we use obviously the E5 string and for the B4 the A4 string of the violin.
If we want a more bass version of the open major chord tuning,then we may utilize the G2 octave string of the violin and have the tuning as follows:
G2-B4-D5
FRETBOARD VIOLIN (FRET-LIN OR METRIC-LYRA ) PLAYED AS CRETAN LYRA (OR SMALL CELLO)
Many companies of electric violins manufacture them with frets on the fingerboard.
If we apply on the violin fingerboard ready made auto-sticking fretboards, we still can have tremolo and vibrato and even a type of glissanti while we do not spent so much time learning the fingerboard. Then if we know fretboard string instruments like mandolin , ukulele, guitar it helps a lot to start playing the violin as an instrument without artificial difficulties.
(Here is such a product from a canadian musician http://www.frettedfiddle.com/ )
In addition it is by far more convenient to play it as they play the folk Lyra in Greece (Crete) and other places in other words like a small cello, on the knees. If we want to have also the bow falling with its own weight in stable way on the strings as in the standard position of the violin we may use simple bow drivers like these here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32878752247.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.21cd4c4deuojvB )
FRENCH AND GERMAN BOW HOLDING
The bow in case of this modification of the violin which is essentially a new instrument that could be called FRET-LIN OR METRIC-LYRA can be either with the German or French way. The French way gives more control because of more efficient use of the bones of muscles of wrist for difficult moves of the bow, but the German way is more relaxing. A best result is if we use both ways for difficult bowing the French way and for stand more easy bowing the German way.
happily for the violin have been created the octave-violin strings which are one octave lower from the standard. So instead of G3-D4-A4-E5 these strings will tune the violin to G2-D3-A3-E4.
See e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZdlEBpIBI
This allows for mixed low-standard tunings of the violin for melodic improvisations as inpost 209 that are 8-5-8 meaning that the 1st-2nd string are one octave apart , the 2nd-3rd one fifth apart and the 3rd-4th one octave apart E.g.
G2-G3-D4-D5 (utilizing strings octave G2, standard G3, octave D3, standard E4 for the D5 ) or
A2-A3-E4-E5 (utilizing strings octave G2 for A2 , standard A3, octave E4, standard E5)
The 2nd requires one tone loosening one standard string and the 1st one octave string and one standard string tightening by one tone.
ALTHER ALTERNATIVE TUNINGS
1) THE OCTAVES 3 STRING TUNING:
This is utilizing again the D3 octave string of the violin and it is simply the
D3-D4-D5
For the D5 we use obviously the E5 string
The advantage is obviously very easy grasping of the notes on the fingerboard , as known one strings is known all the violin.
2) THE PANDURI OR OPEN MAJOR CHORD 3 STRING TUNING:
This is not utilizing octave strings of the violin and it is simply the open G3 major chord. The advantage is obviously very easy arpeggios (harpisms) on all chords of the (G major) diatonic scale.
G3-B4-D5
For the D5 we use obviously the E5 string and for the B4 the A4 string of the violin.
If we want a more bass version of the open major chord tuning,then we may utilize the G2 octave string of the violin and have the tuning as follows:
G2-B4-D5
FRETBOARD VIOLIN (FRET-LIN OR METRIC-LYRA ) PLAYED AS CRETAN LYRA (OR SMALL CELLO)
Many companies of electric violins manufacture them with frets on the fingerboard.
If we apply on the violin fingerboard ready made auto-sticking fretboards, we still can have tremolo and vibrato and even a type of glissanti while we do not spent so much time learning the fingerboard. Then if we know fretboard string instruments like mandolin , ukulele, guitar it helps a lot to start playing the violin as an instrument without artificial difficulties.
(Here is such a product from a canadian musician http://www.frettedfiddle.com/ )
In addition it is by far more convenient to play it as they play the folk Lyra in Greece (Crete) and other places in other words like a small cello, on the knees. If we want to have also the bow falling with its own weight in stable way on the strings as in the standard position of the violin we may use simple bow drivers like these here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32878752247.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.21cd4c4deuojvB )
FRENCH AND GERMAN BOW HOLDING
The bow in case of this modification of the violin which is essentially a new instrument that could be called FRET-LIN OR METRIC-LYRA can be either with the German or French way. The French way gives more control because of more efficient use of the bones of muscles of wrist for difficult moves of the bow, but the German way is more relaxing. A best result is if we use both ways for difficult bowing the French way and for stand more easy bowing the German way.
