Viola Finger Chart
First position, every note · strings C–G–D–A (perfect fifths) · reads in alto clef
How to play
- Tap any dot to hear the note and see its name, finger and placement. The top dot of each string is open; the numbers in the corners are fingers 1, 2, 3, 4.
- The viola is a fifth lower than the violin (C–G–D–A instead of G–D–A–E) and normally reads in the alto clef. Being fretless, most fingers have a low and a high spot a half step apart (e.g. low 2 vs high 2).
- Use Highlight scale to light up just the notes of a key, revealing the finger pattern across all four strings.
- Open strings plays C–G–D–A. Play runs up through the highlighted notes. Vol sets volume. Keyboard: Tab + Enter/Space.
The following widget offers a fingering chart for the viola in first position. With this tool, you are able to locate each note on fingerboard and also hear what that note sounds like. You can also use your computer keyboard or simply click directly on the instrument. It aims to provide an audible and visual representation of how fingers sits on the fingerboard.
To begin with, let’s look at the four strings running down the vertical axis. These is C, G, D, A respectively. The notes of these open string can be seen at the top of each column. You’ll notice below the line marked Nut, there are dots along the length of each string. If you click one of these dots, you’ll hear this note played.
How to Use the Viola Fingering Chart
Above the fret board, the note’s frequency and note name appears. This also shows which finger to use for the note and its position on the string (high or low). On others, if it has a dot in the corner there is a number showing the finger number. Zero are open strings, one through four are your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers respectively.
It also allows you to develop your first position technique as if you were actualy playing on the instrument. Click quickly for checking out intervals or take your time to get the feeling of every semitone change. Focus on individual keys using the Highlight scale row. For example, if I click on the C Major or D Minor key it will highlight just those notes that is contained within that key. Everything else dims out, which makes the pattern far easier to see from string to string.
For example, you can quickly establish where the scales join from one string to the next. You can also quickly see what moves which finger and what stays in place.
The Open strings button will play all four open strings, one at a time if you wish to get an idea of how they sound together. That way you can tune your ear to individual tones of each string. The Play button is similar but does this for the selected scale. You can see that on the fingerboard and then hear how it sounds moving around by scalar motion. Scales can be changed easy and played again with no delay. So you can compare how different tonal centres sound more better than before.
Down at the bottom right corner of the interface is volume control. Before beginning play, drag the slider up/down to set desired sound level. It is useful for late night practice sessions and those times when you want a quieter experience without disturbing others. Changes take effect instantly, letting you settle into it with no break in your flow.
Click the Fullscreen button for a better look (on small screens). When you do that the widget fills out more of your browser window. The dots on the fingerboard are bigger and easier to read. Click it again (or use the usual controls in your browser) to exit fullscreen. All elements adjust nicely, everything is still reachable whether in full screen mode or not.
If you’d rather go hands-free, you can also tab around using your keyboard. Focus move from one note dot, button or other interactive element to another when pressing the Tab key. You then press Space or Enter to perform an action on the selected item. Precise, it allows you to keep your hands free for anything else you need to do. It also ensures that this tool will be available to you, no matter how you prefer to interact with web content.
All of this is available at-a-glance through the Help panel. If you’re ever unsure about what a symbol represents, simply click the How to play button at any time. It will expand to show you summary information that covers the finger numbering system and how the symbols relates to the displayed clefs. When you’ve finished learning and want to concentrate only on your performance, you can also close it with equal ease.
Experiment with other key changes where you will notice variations in finger pattern. Some will be more stretched out and others may need finger positions to change. Once you have mapped it in your head, use the play buttons to check how it sounds on the virtual instrument. It’s a bridge from sheet music study into real world of playing the viola. You should of spend a minute just clicking around, listening to what your new instrument can accomplish.