10 Cool Viola Techniques You Probably Didn't Know Existed

[@elissahunt]

It's cool you can still discover new ways to play such an old instrument. I have a feeling though, that many people don't have hands big enough for that last technique. (Makes me think of some of Rachmaninoff's chords.)

[@ViolaKing]

Bigger hands would make it easier to get more sound but people with smaller hands would still be able to get something out of the instrument. Of course a smaller viola might help them as well

[@elissahunt]

@@ViolaKing Of course. Those of us with petite hands always find a way. 😄

[@TheMotherOfBambi]

That last one is insane

[@rodrigomoraes2305]

Hard to see something original in a 400 years instrument, You just did it : )

[@paulieboy6644]

Thank you for all you do. I played the viola in elementary and middle school and then quit to join chorus (when I should've just done both). I picked up viola again last year and have been loving the journey. It's good to find KZbin personalities like you and That Viola Kid, especially when TwoSet's obnoxious viola joke videos keep coming up - I don't mind a good ribbing, but their relentlessness and lack of comedic timing make it just sound like bullying. I feel like there's a lot of pressure as a violist to sound super amazing or just give up entirely to prevent further stereotyping, but you remind me that the viola can just be super fun!

[@E_FoxSnowspirit]

Yeh- I genuinely love twoset but their jokes stressed me out for a long time and made me feel like I had to be perfect to combat every stereotype... I feel a little bit more enthusiastic now and I hope twoset improves some in regard to violists

[@achen5689]

Ah, yes. A fellow choirmate. Have you noticed how altos can relate to the viola in at least one way? =) (I actually wrote a whole "novel" on this in the comments' section of Viola King's video addressing TwoSetViolins. Wonder if any actually cared to read all of it. haha)

[@paulieboy6644]

@@achen5689 the sexy way. Violists and altos are sexy.

[@hamidghalandari9371]

The last one was really mind-blowing! Lateral thinking which yields creativity.

[@acoustic_tourist]

Thank you for sharing these techniques. I’m about to embark on writing a solo viola piece, and your video has given me lots of ideas.

[@badpiggies988]

I’ve recently gotten back into playing the viola, after so many years; I have long arms and fingers, so it was a perfect fit for me in middle and high school. Thank you for your videos!

[@TeenTitanGirl123]

I remember I played a piece some years back (7-8 yrs ago) and I had fell in love with it because it had this part where you would continue to bow this long melody but at the same time you were plucking on the same string while bowing, not stopping, you plucked and bowed on the same string at the same time and at first I thought it would sound awful but it actually gave it this really cool sound especially if you practice it enough... I still have yet to see it anywhere else but it was fun I remember that!

[@tiramisu-sc3fx]

ooh omg what's it called????

[@Casutama]

I'd never considered most of these tactics! This was a really interesting video, thanks for sharing what you (and other composers) are experimenting with!

[@violintegral]

DUDE THIS VIDEO IS SO GOOD

[@franciscosard]

I am a 61 years old profesional violinist and I have seen a lot in my lifetime. You surprised me with these effects in your video. Bravo!! A cool effect I like is the pizzicato with nail sul ponticello. It sounds more effective in the viola lower strings (i also play viola too😊).

[@oxoelfoxo]

pretty sure i didn't enjoy it as much as you did since i don't play an instrument but happy to see a video anyway. thanks for linking to the clips!

[@ViolaKing]

Yeah I was completely nerding out putting my list together, hard to beat that kind of excitement

[@Raintini]

Please upload more of this!! That was so cool❤

[@E_FoxSnowspirit]

These are so avant garde! I love the variety of sounds you can get from strings instruments- It genuinely blows my mind

[@nathanielouzana]

Two techniques I like for strings are also half-harmonics and multiphonics :3 And scratch-tones (the so called "growling") are actually quite popular in contemporary repertoire :)

[@dehmarcarothers8938]

i love your channel so much it has helped me a lot! i started playing viola back in 2021 and now i’m first chair so thank you! i was also wondering if you could do a video on learning how to play in treble on viola! i’m struggling 😢🙏🏾

[@ViolaKing]

Congrats on 1st chair! I played violin before I started viola so treble was not too hard for me. However in my experience learning new clefs, I’ve used the following system: master one note at a time. I recommend starting with open string A,open string D,E and then the midpoints between those 5ths: C, F. Then gradually fill in the rest of the notes and lastly use the same method to learn ledger lines. If you learn 1 note a day then in 2 weeks you know most of the staff for treble

[@dehmarcarothers8938]

@@ViolaKing i will do that! thank you so much!!!!

[@songfulmusicofsongs]

Great video. Lots of great info.

[@ashtondavies]

Great video man!

[@Driftssounds]

Great video! As a composer who loves the viola, this is so exciting!

[@maslelviz]

Regarding this col legno thing, you should check Lachenmann's Toccatina for violin, he specifies each pitch produced this way.

[@yunanchen911]

check out a contemporary piece for viola called "Toccatina" by the well known composer Hermut Lachenmann!! He explored unconventional techniques in a non-violist perspective in this piece and when you suddenly hear this single harmonic pizz after the "noises", this sound that we're more familiar with becomes so much more breathtaking.

[@bbvv2967]

what do you think about playing in reverse (finger at bridge bow at the nut) and guiro bow ( wrap bow hairs around stick to get different textures)

[@mendyviola]

Viola Zombies has a lot of fun techniques. Surprised you didn’t talk about the Bartok Pizz.

[@MNTviolin]

roman kim actually used the last technique very high pitched left hand pizzicato in the end of his piece "i brindisi"

[@kungpaochicken89]

This man's viola has gone through a lot.

[@jjschm20]

Cello player here. Obviously violin and viola share these techniques but could all of them be applied to cello as well?

[@maxsilva11]

I'd say the best use of growling overpressure technique on viola has to be the climax of the Prologue from Grisey's Les espaces acoustiques

[@CaasiAndestein]

Onesetviola

[@ajbloxgaming6992]

in berlioz’s symphony fantasique it was col legno

[@frappecheno]

Good video brother

[@moondog50002000]

Thanks Gillian

[@8Phoenix8]

Check out Chop Notation Glossary by Casey Driessen. 😊 Chop notation Glossary is also a great way to do percussive techniques. :)

[@ViolaKing]

Sounds like an excellent resource, thanks!

[@8Phoenix8]

@@ViolaKing it literally changed my LIFE. No joke! Including any video with Christian Howes and The Bow techniques he teaches for Modern/Creative String playing. :)

[@coby.t]

that is so interesting, so you think we can finger tap on a violin too, or is it a viola only thing?

[@ViolaKing]

It works on violin but won’t be as loud as viola. The G string probably would be usable for finger tapping in a performance

[@nowhereman6391]

Why the C and G strings do this "buzz"? Sometimes my viola does that... Any help? Great work!!

[@ViolaKing]

It could be a loose fine tuner, a loose string end in the peg box, a fray in the string, or an open seam in your instrument. If it’s none of the first three, make sure you are using a humidifier and if the buzz persists ask a teacher or luthier about it

[@nowhereman6391]

@@ViolaKing Thanks!!! Yes, I have to find a luthier...

[@ApplepieFTW]

Isn't "Abmaj7add6,#11" a more logical name/notation for the chord? (Aka the d is just missing its natural in the notation)

[@ViolaKing]

I was thinking about that too as a possibility but I went with Fdorian since the F is doubled. It could be either though depending on context

[@ApplepieFTW]

@@ViolaKing oh yes I looked over that, and I agree with your point

[@EmAiliot]

It's really just an Fm15 chord in first inversion. When you start on F4, each pitch stacks in thirds. When you get to the 15th degree, the chord starts to repeat itself (the doubled F).

[@SisselOnline]

Fun fact, the last technique actually has been used in Roman Kim's I Bridisi XD

[@SuperAmazingPower]

I am a composition student, I wish you were my friend. So far all string people in my school are very conservative and don't like to experiment.

[@PointofConnection]

12tuple pizzicato, you play beyond the bridge, you use the thumb to cut the string and 3 fingers to play on 3 sections

[@IsaacParkViolin]

!

[@thesamchannel.8883]

I play the Viola and my chin rest is kind of on the corner of my instrument. Why is yours in the middle?

[@ViolaKing]

It’s a personal preference. It helps me balance the instrument on my shoulder bc I’m skinny and my viola is wide

[@daviddaasian9685]

POV: he says "artificial harmonic" Me: wait, isn't it finger harmonics??? oh whatevs, they're viola

[@swflcocmusic4626]

Bro, i love ya, but.. Have you ever heard of Gilligan's Island?

[@NIKOLAOSAGGELOPOULOS-n6m]

What is the use of these ? seems a waste of time and our patience .

[@Pianisimo1875]

Dawg, what. ☠️

[@ovtsagrishkovets9678]

Clown instrument

[@123-v6g2t]

technique no1 is a violin basic 😂

[@calebavelino6827]

I hate viola. To learn Viola without a teacher is impossible

[@achen5689]

***Gasp*** You saying such things.... how could you.... xD

[@achen5689]

[@BlitzBoxer]

You can not be talking your vids suck