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How do you change Violin notes into Viola Notes?

I'm a violist, and I've been trying to find a Viola part for devil went down to Georgia, but all I get is the Violin part. I'm only in 7th Grade, so I'm not so smart that I can play Violin notes on a viola with no trouble at all. Thanks!

4 Answers

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  • Anna D
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The notes are the same as neither instrument is a transposing instrument - a C on the violin is a C on the viola. You might have to put the violin part into alto clef (presuming that you read that clef, as you're a violist) but aside from that, it's the same. You may also have to put some or all of the tune down an octave, as the viola is a lower instrument than the violin, otherwise you're going to end up with a bazillion ledger lines. You can download free notation software from the internet (Finale Notepad is one that springs to mind); if you feed the violin music into that, then change the clef from treble to alto, it should do it for you.

  • 1 decade ago

    I played viola when I was in seventh grade =)

    Since violin parts and viola parts are usually very different, there's not much you can do. I know that the D string on the viola is the same as...something on the violin xD Try playing the open strings on both of them and see which ones sound the same, and work from there.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Music for violins are written in the treble clef, and music for violas are written in the alto clef.

    In other words, the middle C on viola is the 3rd line in the clef. Middle C on the violin is one ledger line below the staff.

    So you have to transpose the violin music down a 5th.

    Source(s): Played violin for 12 years; now a French horn performance major.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You have to transpose them from alto clef to treble clef. Middle C in alto clef is the third line; this is the first line under the staff in treble clef.

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