- TWO OCTAVES SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS is a collection of scales for mixed strings in the most common keys.
- All scales will sound in octaves in an orchestra setting; arpeggios sound in parallel sixths. An attempt was made to have each instrument begin in an “effective” part of its range: i.e., first position on it’s lowest string.
- The bass parts are necessarily the hardest since a range of two octaves will require very high shifts. Nevertheless, no attempt was made to “dumb down” this part. Good bass players have to learn to shift too.
- Teachers will want to begin by playing every note at least four times so that players can adjust pitch.
- Gradually, reduce to twice, then single. Finally tempo can be raised to any practical level.
- Slurs can be added. There are 16 notes in a measure. Slurs of 2, 4, and 8 work out nicely.
- A really advanced string section can play any line in quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes in sequence. Leave out the last whole note until the end.
- Five minutes of scales at the start of an orchestra rehearsal make a good warm-up. Choose a key that pertains to the orchestral repertoire.
- An assigned scale makes a convenient add-on to a chair audition or a report card test.
| Title | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass |
| C Major/ A minor | Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
| F Major/ D minor | Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
| B-flat Major/ G minor | Click to Download |
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| E-flat Major/ C minor | Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
| A-flat Major/ F minor | Click to Download |
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| E Major/ C-sharp minor |
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Click to Download |
Click to Download |
Click to Download |
| A Major/ F-sharp minor | Click to Download |
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| D Major/ B mino | Click to Download |
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Click to Download |
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| G Major/ E minor | Click to Download |
| Practice Tracks | ||||||
| Key Signature | Key | Exercise | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass |
| No sharps/flats | C major
A minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 1 flat | F major
D minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 2 flats | B flat major
G minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 3 flats | E flat major
C minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 4 flats | A flat major
F minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 4 sharps | E major
C# minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 3 sharps | A major
F# minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 2 sharps | D major
B minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
| 1 sharp | G major
E minor |
Scale Arpeggio Scale Arpeggio |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |
Play Play Play Play |