Notes and scales of the fiddle

Contents

Chromatic scale

A scale

D scale

Notes and scales of the fiddle

This page gives the notes and major scales for the keys of the fiddle tunes in the book, specifically the relationship between where the notes fall on the fingerboard of the fiddle and where they fall on the staff.

The major scale is the familiar "do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do" scale. For more information on the basic theory behind major scales, see the Keys and Chords pages in the General section of the Instruction pages.

The scales represent the range of first position on the fiddle. This is the range of notes that can be made comfortably, using all four fingers, without moving the entire left hand. It is necessary to move the left hand to reach notes higher than first position range. A few fiddle tunes use notes higher than first position range, but the vast majority are played entirely in first position. If specific instruction is needed on left hand technique for playing the higher notes, consult other instructional resources. Here in these pages, we will focus only on first position.

Chromatic scale

The chromatic scale gives all the first position notes of the fiddle, including all of the sharp, flat, and natural notes. The chromatic scale has 12 different notes; the major ("do-re-mi...") scale has 7. The major scales of all keys are formed by deleting certain notes from the chromatic scale.

Here it is illustrated as the fingering falls on the fiddle. The red numbers represent which finger makes each note.

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A scale

All of the scales are given beginning on the lowest note in the fiddle's range that is part of the scale. This means that the major ("do-re-mi...") scale will not necessarily begin on the first note.

But the major scale is there. In the case of the A scale, it begins on the second note; only the G# note is lower in pitch. Listen and you will hear it.