Tag: string

Orchestration Basics – Strings (2)

This article was written on August 2, 2022.

Hello? This is Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and singer-songwriter.

In the last article, we covered understanding basic string instruments. Today, we will continue with this and cover techniques mainly used in string instruments.

Shall we get started right away?

  • Vibrato

Vibrato can be used in 3 ways:

1) Finger Vibrato (using fingers)
2) Wirst Vibrato (using wrist)
3) Arm Vibrato (using the entire arm)

Depending on the player, it is used because it is easy to play and effective, but as far as I know, there is no virtual instrument that has been selected for this yet.

I think you just need to know that something like this exists.

  • Double Stop

Double Stop refers to playing intervals and chords. It simply means producing two notes at the same time. A triple stop means playing three notes, and a quadruple stop means playing four notes at the same time. When playing multiple notes at the same time, you need to think about their positions.

In the last article, I said there was a formula for double stop, right?

When the upper note is played down a perfect 5th, it is possible as long as the difference from the lower note does not exceed an augmented 4th. For the viola, it is possible as long as it does not exceed a perfect 4th, and for the cello, it is a major 3rd.

In addition, simple features include

1) It is difficult to establish a major 3rd degree relationship, and a perfect 5th degree or more is desirable.
2) Since double stopping with distant strings is impossible, it is composed of adjacent strings.
3) Good effects are also observed for intervals between the 3rd and 6th (perfect 4th) or intervals between the 5th and 8th (perfect 4th).
4) In the case of Triple Stop or Quadruple Stop, Secco (sound made all at once at the same time) is not possible due to the curvature of the fingerboard.

Depending on the virtual instrument or the playing method of the instrument, Double Stop may or may not be possible. This is a playing method that you must carefully read the manual of the virtual instrument you plan to use.

  • Division

Division is a technique that can be used because it is an orchestra. In Double Stop, each person plays all the notes, while in Division, the notes are played separately by each person.

A double stop would be two groups, a triple stop would be three groups, and a quadruple stop would be four groups, right?

Abbreviated as Div. Alternatively, it is written in the score as Division. Some of these playing techniques are performed automatically depending on the virtual instrument.

A representative example is LASS (LA Scoring Strings).

  • Unision & Doubling

In classical music, unification refers to a technique in which different instruments produce exactly the same sound, and doubling refers to a technique in which sounds are produced in an octave relationship. This should not be confused with what we say about recording doubling in pop.

Violoncello and Contrabass often form a doubling relationship, and in many cases, doubling is done by placing an additional high string on top of Violin 1. When playing loudly and strongly, Violin 1 and Violin 2 sometimes unify.

  • Scordatura

Scordatura means anomalous coordination.

If you play guitar, you may have done this often, but string instruments often use irregular tuning depending on the song.

However, virtual instruments often do not support irregular tuning, so unless it is particularly necessary, it is more convenient to just use the original tuning and write the song.

In this way, we learned about external(?) techniques rather than how to play with a bow. In the next article, we will look at bowing, which is determined by how you play the bow.

Orchestration Basics – Strings (1)

This article was written on July 30, 2022

Hello? This is Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and singer-songwriter.

In this orchestration basics, we will not cover much about arrangement or composition, but will mainly talk about instrument theory. Today is the first chapter on string instruments.

  • Strings

There are many musical instruments that use strings to produce sound. The piano is also an instrument that makes sound by hitting metal strings with a hammer, the guitar is an instrument that makes sound by plucking the strings, and the violin is an instrument that makes sound by rubbing the strings.

We can call them all string instruments.

However, in an orchestra, strings mainly refer to the violin family that makes sound by rubbing the strings.

Therefore, in the ‘Orchestra Basics’ article, please read the article as if the word ‘Strings’ refers to violin families.

  • Characteristics of the violin family

1) It consists of 4 instruments: Violin, Viola, Violoncello, and Contrabass.

2) Each instrument has a total of 4 strings (Contrabass also uses 5 strings), and the playing techniques are similar.

3) It has the largest number of members in the orchestra, making up more than half of the members.

4) All together, it has a wide range of about 7 octaves, which is almost similar to that of an 88-key piano, which is about 7 and a half octaves.

5) Delicate expressions are possible.

6) Compared to wind instruments, there is less fatigue, so you can play for a longer period of time.

Because of these characteristics, it is used as a central part of the orchestra and plays such an important role.

  • Structure of violin
source : https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Parts-of-a-violin_fig4_304090906

Anyone who has played guitar will know that the structures are quite similar. Like a guitar, playing from the bridge side produces a harder sound, and playing from the neck side produces a softer sound.

Additionally, the fingerboard is not flat but has a curvature, so when three or more strings are played simultaneously, an short arpeggio-like effect can be achieved due to the natural time difference.

​Cello and contrabass do not have a chin rest, but instead have a long bottom end pin, which acts as a pillar to support the instrument from the bottom.

Source : https://medium.com/@Fiddlover/as-a-violin-beginner-have-you-really-understood-the-violin-bow-980760682a43

The upper part of the bow is called Tip and the lower part is called Frog, and the Up bow and Down bow signs come from this shape.

The guitar also adopts this same method and indicates the up stroke and down stroke in this way.

The closer you play to the Frog, the closer it is to your hand, making the sound stronger. The closer you play it to the Tip, the softer the sound becomes, as it moves further away from your hand.

  • Open strings and positions

Violin – G3, D4, A4, E5
Viola – C3, G3, D4, A4
Violoncello – C2, G2, D3, A3
Contrabass – C1 (if 5 strings), E1, A1, D2, G2

Position refers to where you place your finger on the fingerboard. I will omit the detailed explanation because it is difficult to explain in writing. These days, we use virtual instruments, so there is no need to know the details..^^

If you have an understanding of open strings and positions, you can write songs by distinguishing whether they can actually be played or not. Determining whether or not you can point out a chord with your fingers is a very important and basic factor when using chords in actual performance.

However, there is a formula that allows you to easily determine this even without understanding the position of the string instrument. I will explain this formula when I explain how to play string instruments in the next article.

Have a good day!