Where to buy violin sheet music with words UK.

[TalismanRich]

When I first took lessons (almost 60 years ago) I was taught by trying to read music from books. After 2 years, I could barely stumble though a page of music. It didn't come easily, and timing was always a problem. However, if I HEARD the song, it almost came naturally.

My theory is that reading music is no different than reading another language, something at which I am abysmal. I took 2 years of French in high school, and when I got to college, I tried to place out of taking a language in my sophomore year. NOPE! Another 2 semesters of French, and I STILL can't read or speak it. I can stumble through and pick out a few words, and sometimes get the meaning of what is read. Even today, I try to listen or read something in French and it's just a struggle. (Thank heaven for Google Translate)

I hear music in my head constantly. When I'm on the golf course, if I'm rushing my swing, I try to lock into a song that gets me back into tempo. In the car, I always have music playing, and am usually singing along. I'm like one of those illiterate people who can speak but not read.

I know people who can look at a sheet of music and read it like I'm reading this text. It would nice to have that ability, but for now, I'll take what I have and be thankful.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

I was really enjoying a good violin practice earlier this morning trying to make a decent recording but as usual spoiled by interruptions; the bin men arrived making lots of noise with their bin wagon and yelling at each other; the bin men do an excellent job so this isn't a complaint it just making a mess of my concentration; letting them leave the street I resumed and once again nicely into recording when the batteries died on my Line6 Relay; there's always something to upset my recording; I'll enjoy another session this afternoon and hopefully again this evening.

Many thanks @Slouching Raymond for your replies; I'll definitely have a good look at the sheet music site you kindly linked to as I do with the other sites recommended by members; being still very much a novice I'm making excellent progress and as you rightly say my personal learning system falls down it not having any timing to it hence I try to memorize the song which I find helps so if I can sing the song in my head it does give some degree of timing. I agree with you fully though; it's now time to learn to read music which I've stated I'll have a go at once the "Amazing Grace" sheet music with lyrics arrives; as already stated I'll have a go at enlarging the Amazing Graze so that I can easily see it which should be a huge help; trying to play my violins whilst looking at tiny golf clubs (notes) is hopeless so I'll change it to suit me. Learning with my own method though I found excellent in that it got me playing Lara's Theme even though not perfectly but not too bad for a novice.

Thanks @rob aylestone I thought perhaps you'd misunderstood my method of playing; thanks also for adding the informative piano video; I could tell the difference in notes when pointed out otherwise wouldn't have known.

I'd considered expanding a bit with my method and you're right @TalismanRich it would be very easy to add for half notes and even note length could be shown by gap length between words; it's versatile and being a novice violin player myself it's so easy to follow. Have you ever considered learning to play a violin; it's a huge challenge with a ballistic learning curve but I'd delighted I chose the violin; the sounds I can draw from it are amazing; it sounds very different with the violin on my shoulder to what I hear on recorded playback which is teaching me a lot.

I've briefly tried playing my Russian balalaika but found like you strings really hurt my fingers; I bought a tin of picks through eBay and bought directly from the Ukraine new balalaika strings two of these are nylon but they still hurt; I tuned the balalaka using the violin electronic tuner but there's also a dedicated balalaika tuning video on the web for when I get round to trying again.

I bought my wife a very nice Yamaha mini keyboard to play around with hoping to entice her into the studio with me but after trying to play it she hasn't any wish to learn to play; howeverI've had a go at playing this keyboard finding getting a tune out of incredibly easy compared to getting a tune out of a violin;

At around £60 new through eBay these yamaha keyboards are amazing value containing a huge number of effects I enjoyed messing around with; I enjoyed the diversion but my ambition is to play the violin.

Here's one of my early attempts; I learned four notes at a time playing them over and over until I could play without too much effort then I joined up each four; I obtained the notes from here;



I've got endless patience which I needed as I slowed this tutorial video down allowing me to keep stopping it whilst I recorded every note as seen; it was very slow going because with my short memory I kept forgetting the words and trying to use this method it didn't flow so over the months it evolved to the method I now use and posted earlier which I find much better; if I don't understand anything I simply change it until I can understand it.

I never ever thought violin playing to be so difficult after all those playing violins on TV and in videos make it look so easy.

I started composing this earlier this morning but am now finishing this afternoon; after dinner I got nicely settled in the studio after the two mornings interruptions now scaffolders arrived next door erecting scaffolding; if I tried to shoot myself I'd miss with my luck.

Thanks again everyone for your help I do appreciate it; now to browse the recommended sheet music sites.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

WOW @Slouching Raymond I've just been nosy;

https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:For_violin

All these music sheets go over my head as yet much too advanced for me but will possibly be a lot more useful once I find my around. 1,299 pages on violin alone.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

The snag you will have is that you are learning bad habits, that as you get better have to be fixed. Music on a stave is hundreds of years old now and that's proof it works. Surely the point is to play some nice melodies, NOT, have to do this mechanically like youre doing? They teach kids at school still to read real music. If there was a better way, they'd have done it. In fact, guitarists got a new system to do pretty much what you've been doing - TAB. It has similar problems - it tells you where to put fingers but not how to play them. If you want to progress, then you need to get aurally more proficient. It's really worthwhile, in my humble opinion, to learn treble clef music on a real stave. In fact, I think it is easier than your new system, which just is not musical - but mechanical. It really doesn't take long to learn the notes on a stave, and there are endless videos, books and audio products to help you. With your own system, you are constantly converting to your new 'language'. With your system, how quick is it to read AB, AC, AD and make your fingers play them? Seeing just B,C and D as three notes on the stave seems to me, much more simple?

You also need to learn where to put your fingers to be in tune. I have chubby fingers and found the violin tricky. Hence why when I was a kid, I played the cello. Just recently I decided to throw the rules away and retune my cello to the same intervals as a bass guitar and double bass. Cellos, like your guitar are tuned in 5ths, so I decided to see what happened if I changed it.

There's a very boring video here to see/hear how it worked recording it. Oddly, I think it worked, the nasty sounding cello sounded better tuned in fourths!
video here

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I avoid guitar TAB format like the plague.
I do have a cello, and even considered Rob's scheme of retuning it, which would help me get results faster, but decided against.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks @rob aylestone what you say is obviously true but to me as a total novice and no friends who play a musical instrument I had to find ways of helping myself which I did and yes I developed bad habits because I was and still am very much a novice; I hadn't a clue as to how to read sheet music and like the three ladies I mentioned who tried and gave up learning to play a violin I stuck with it.

My method is what got me started building enough confidence in me to carry on; isn't it better to do as I've done than do nothing at all and give in. I've suffered unbelievable problems all year each time I've tried to get into the studio; this morning bin men were kicking up a racket then the batteries died on my Line6 relay; not major problems but then after dinnner;

Here is a team of scaffolders ready to erect scaffolding next door and now the scaffolding is erected I'm likely to have a roofing team replacing the roof; all necessary jobs but I've had a year of this still with no let up.

I've stated a number of times once the Amazing Grace music sheets arrive I'll start practicing reading music but I'll have to enlarge the print first in order to see it clearly; I'll be making a fresh start putting my own method of learning away it having served its purpose; it's been such a struggle to get this far but now I can at least play the violin so I'm pleased but had I enjoyed peace and calm in the studio I'm sure I'd be even more advanced by now.

I'm obliged to everyone for their generous help and encouragement; the music sheet sites will be very useful once I learn to read music but I need to learn to walk first and as kindly suggested by @Slouching Raymond I need to make the big step in learning to read music; what I really need is a desert island to get away from all the daily hassle and interruptions in my life.

I'm constantly learning; about ten years ago I connected my Union Graduate lathe up to a VFD and I'm not an electrician but I learned how to do it through research; a few weeks ago I sold the Graduate together with a brand new VFD; the new owner and his electrician friend couldn't get the VFD to work correctly these VFD's have around 200 parameters; some fixed at the factory but many needing adjusting; after many emails and wasted time I could have done without I spent three hours copying and logging the parameters on my working VFD then emailed them; now his electrician finally got the lathe running;.

I'm possibly the only person who has been running two lathes from a single VFD; now having messed around logging parameters from my own VFD the VFD died on me; I bought a new identical Huanyang 2.2KW VFD and already having the parameters set about getting it connected; the manuals and VFD's looked identical apart from the new VFD having an onboard speed control potentiometer; I had to wire in remote controls to the orginal VFD; I was using my original user manual but the VFD tormented me for hours over a couple of days;

Here are the two identical user manuals.

Here the new VFD left the original on the right being identical apart from the onboard speed control on the right one.

Not getting anywhere other than increasing frustration I had a look at the new manual only to find a number of parameters had now been changed; by now I'd wasted enough time and browsed the web because the new manual didn't appear to match a number of parameters; I found many owners with the same problem asking for help with answers saying try this try that; I wanted a straight answer so sorted the thing out by changing the rules;

After ten years of restoring vintage valve radios as an hobby I'm very familar with lots of electrical components so I looked around as to what I had left after packing in restoring and I still had a selection of resistors; I tried adding a 10K resistor in series with the pot wiper on my remote speed control and this increased the sweep I then added another 10K resistor still in series making 20K now the Lorch lathe was runnning; next I bought through eBay a 50K linear potentiometer and now the lathe is under full speed control. This isn't in any VFD rules and I've bypassed the parameters which should be set but I want to live long enough to practice a bit playing my violins; I get downright fed up of these constant problems; now I hope I can get studio time but with a roofing job due next door; oh hum what fun I have but I'm never bored.

Time to call it a day; I enjoyed a peaceful violin practice this evening; I should put a ring around the date.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

I think we get it Colin. I can only speak for me, but you've mastered the engineering and the electronics, the practial stuff like soldering - and you presumably have no issues with Mr Ohm's Laws either. It just seems to me that it owuld be like me deciding to buy a lathe, and instead of the top of the chuck moving towards you, wire the three phase in reverse and have the chuck top move away from you, and solve it by putting the cutting tools in upside down. Then discovering you'd made screw cutting an absolute nightmare needing more clever thinking to fix it.

There's nothing wrong with inventing a new system, but you started out wanting to buy violin music, and none of what is available is suitable because you did your own thing. If you'd spent the time learning to read treble clef, you could buy almost ANY music - piano, guitar, flute, violin or organ. This opens up a huge world of music sources.

One thing you could try and see how it works for you is to think of a song you already know very well and can hum without mistakes, then try to play it. You could always youtube search for it and then play along with NO MUSIC. find the key so you know what the first note is (even by trial and error) then try to play along. This develops coordination between your ears and your fingers, via your brain. As in, does it go up to the next note? If so, by how much. This teaches you intervals. if you really try hard, it improves your aural skills and is the basis of improvisation. Sometimes strange old pieces of music work really well. Youtube Ode to Joy. Pretty well known old music, but the fingering is repetitive and predicable. Really good for locking fingers to positions on the neck.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks once again @rob aylestone for your useful advice which I do take note of.

I've got up to date on all the comments now.
I think you would do best by getting to grips with reading music.
That woud allow you to play any tune.
I sight read for classical guitar, and have worked hard at trying to do the same for piano.
I find that by reading music, you only have to consider the moment you are at, and obay the symbols.
Your system falls down due to there being no timing in it.
Mind you, I did invent my own system for playing the trumpet and flute. That gave me a short cut to making the notes, but didn't have any timing either.

@Slouching Raymond kindly pointed me in the right direction which I'm grateful for and have reacted to this by stating a number of times I'm going to learn to read music; my own method of learning is personal to me and I posted it to show my own personal learning curve allowing me to progress to at least playing a violin from being a raw 74 year old novice; I don't regret at all doing it the way I've done and hindsight is truly a wonderful gift.

My life has been one of hard graft starting work down a deep coal mine at the age of 15 then working in all mannner of jobs but not one of these jobs has been associated with music or studios. I do have a deep understanding of practical things as you rightly point out and I can understand your comments regarding comparing a novice on a lathe doing everything wrong; I've done many things wrong in my lifetime but this is how I learn so much; you fully understand music rob and can read music very easily but I doubt you were born with such skills and made your own many mistakes in learning just as I'm making lots of mistakes but I too am learning.

Extremely rare and expensive Lorch Schmidt engineering lathe; it had been dry stored in a scrapyard for over twenty years.

Above pictures show what I fully understand and very far from skills with music. Any three phase lathe will run either forward or reverse but they are fitted with taper mounted chucks not threaded chucks which whould be highly dangerous indeed. Mounting lathe tools upside down is common if a back tool post is fitted to the lathe; you know your music rob as I know engineering; with music at the moment I'm in an alien world struggling best I can to learn.

I don't expect the world to change to suit me but when I requested sheet music with lyrics I already had Lara's Theme with lyrics so this was a progression for me keen to learn more; I've been corrected in my way of learning and hence now know better; I keep repeating I'm going to learn to read music and already I'm starting to notice different tones; as with my engineering and all the many skills I've learned over the years I started out knowing nothing about each.

I've enjoyed all the information kindly given and now I'm a bit wiser I can move forward hopefully in the right direction; good hearing can be taken for granted; I worked for years in a huge weaving shed having 300 looms and been around machinery for a lifetime but I'll do my best.

https://www.yfanefa.com/record/414

I've now been given what I asked for regarding sheet music in fact a great deal more so I'm happy and it's been a pleasure reading all the replies; thanks everyone time now I think to move on to the next phase and learn to read music.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

One thing you could try and see how it works for you is to think of a song you already know very well and can hum without mistakes, then try to play it. You could always youtube search for it and then play along with NO MUSIC. find the key so you know what the first note is (even by trial and error) then try to play along. This develops coordination between your ears and your fingers, via your brain. As in, does it go up to the next note? If so, by how much. This teaches you intervals. if you really try hard, it improves your aural skills and is the basis of improvisation. Sometimes strange old pieces of music work really well. Youtube Ode to Joy. Pretty well known old music, but the fingering is repetitive and predicable. Really good for locking fingers to positions on the neck.

Thank you again so much for this advice rob; I do take note of all help afforded me and this morning amazed myself; I've just enjoyed an hour in the studio doing as you kindly suggest; I'm very poor at remembering lyrics and even tunes unless prompted but I do know the first line of Amazing Grace both lyrics and tune

"Amazing grace, How sweet the sound"

Rubbish at first but it was wonderful attempting to play it at first on single strings just different notes then more strings and what a difference each made; I could instantly tell if a note was way off; poor note; too flat or too sharp play around more to smooth it out; most important I've simply enjoyed it; I recorded it on the Tascam and played back which gave an instant progress report.

I've already got Lara's Theme copied to memory stick so I've knocked off to copy other songs like Amazing Grace which I'll also transfer to stick then I can play them in the studio and I'll print the lyrics which I can sing in my head; I also intend to learn to read music; I'm now free to spend more time in the studio feeling a lot more relaxed. Now it's down to practicing and lots of it.

I often see groups where the players are wearing earphones but only having one phone on an ear the other phone not on an ear; I have some very decent headphones so would I benefit from doing this too by playing a tune or song just through one ear whilst practicing playing the tune on my violin; I could just try but I'm curious so ask questions.

My wife and I watch lots of these YouTube videos;



Much obliged Rob.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

Actually Colin, many string players are totally unable to play with both ears covered. If you are playing on your own, it's OK - ish, but when string players are close to others, what actually happens is each person plays a note, and if there are maybe 3 people playing any note that is not an open one, there will be three slightly different F's or whatever. So they adjust their tuning a bit - microtones, as in tiny bits of a single tone, to try to match the others, but the others hear the first player and try to play what they are playing, and this constant adjustment creates the amazing ensemble sound of a string group. Synth strings sounds try to do this with phasing, but it's never like a real musician playing a real stringed instrument. If you cover both ears, you only hear what is in the headphones, and that means tuning is not fluid. Folk singers used to put a finger in their ear - so they hear their voice by bone conduction and the open ear lets the other contributors in. Helps the tuning. If you try to play in tune, with both ears covered it's quite difficult. Oddly - I have never been able to memorise words. I can't learn dialogue from a script, for instance, but I'm very good at melodies. Hear it a couple of times and it's mostly in. This has always been my bad point. I'd start reading the music, but after a while, realise I'd stopped but my fingers carried on. I got thrown out of an orchestra when a late teen, because the conductor pointed at me and said you lead - bar 21, and I was on a totally different page. My bass playing sight reading is just about OK - rusty but workable, and always gets better again quickly, but for most of the time, my memory works well enough. That is NOT good for learning though. A bad habit that bites back. If you like recording, its good practice.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks rob for your interesting reply; I subscribe to "The Strad" reading this it mostly goes straight over my head but I do learn bits; in one of the Stard magazines I read that it's common where violinists play together for each to be slightly different I think the reason was that if they all played exactly the same the sound would be monotonous and possibly rather bland; playing slightly different to each other really improved the sound quality; as from your kind explanations I keep learning all the time. This morning whilst shopping very early I visited Morrison's first then popped round to Aldi; I arrive at Aldi well before the store opens at 8 o'clock this allows me a bit of peace to read The Strad.

I too find memorizing words to be difficult; I now know most of Lara's Theme but it's been hard won and knowing the words and tune in my head really does help; I've played Lara's Theme hundreds of times to the point if I now play a wrong note it stands out; I can now play for about an hour for a session but then I lose the plot and can't seem to remember anything it going badly so I quit and have a rest; violin playing demands great concentration which I find tiring.

I used to think I was doing OK listening as I played with the violin on my shoulder then my wife spoiled me further; I have the Tascam for recording via a Rode NT condenser mic and amplified monitors for playback these quickly changed the way I now play; I've got to be very careful in that if I leave the mic connected to the Tascam 48V phantom power then switch on the monitors they fall out big style but it's all part of my learning curve; I've also got a Beringer interface;

I've had this Beringer quite a while and even now have a laptop for studio use but still don't know how to play around or connect all the gear up; everything takes so much time and it's this time I've had very little of all year; I'm trying to do so much and learn so much all at once; now I'm looking at learning how to read music and as you kindly suggested even play freehand without recourse to any sheet music; I'm just enjoying a mug of tea then I can head into the studio; yesterday due to being out most of the day I only managed an hours practice very early morning; so far today though I think the day is free but I'm expecting a roofing team to arrive anytime next door; I'd welcome deep snow to keep everyone indoors but living here on the steep exposed valley side our neighbour would be on digging us free with his JCB bucket; we've often talked about moving to somewhere more in the open but there would be other problems; it's pointless moaning or complaining because after all I've got a very nice lifestyle and all I need or want apart from wanting peace to play my violins.

The Judy Collins Amazing Grace music sheets should arrive shortly then I can enlarge by scanning and printing allowing me to clearly see the score; this will be my start at reading music and I'll also browse YouTube tutorials although I find YouTube tutorials often conflict each other such as one will say don't apply too much rosin to the bow hair but another will advise to apply a lot of rosin; by trial and error I only now apply rosin if I find the bow to slightly scate; I used to apply far too much rosin but now only when needed it makes a tremendous difference.

I've rambled on enough so time for a violin practice before the street comes alive.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

If you want something to play that doesnt have words but works really well - have a listen to the Schindler's List music. The main melody is haunting and not too tricky.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Hi Colin,

Some years back I dusted off my old classical guitar from my teens, and set about improving my sight reading.
To that end, I bought a selection of little books about music theory and music notation, and found them to be most useful.
I needed several because where one book might not expain a point well enough, another one would. So they all play a role.
Interestingly, the meaning of a notation symbol can vary, depending on when the piece of music was composed.

My two most used books are:

The Little Book Of Music Theory And Musical Terms - ISBN 1-84449-019-X

Essential Dictionary Of Music Notation - ISBN 0-88284-730-9

Explaining all the symbols you see on a music score really helps.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Sorry for late reply.

Thanks for the tip rob; I've had a look at it both played and score which I've noted for future use.

Thanks also @Slouching Raymond for your information; I'll search for both books and buy them knowing if recommended by you they will be good.

https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Music-for-the-Violin

I've just been looking at the information at the above link and find it informative; I'll also browse YouTube because there are many tutorials covering violin music reading although I do find some better than others.

I'm now making a start at learning to read violin music and as previously stated I'm using Judy Collins Amazing Grace score and have just been doing a bit of enlarging to make it easier for me to see;

I bought the score but parts like this are openly available but not the complete score so I've only added this section for information as to what I'm doing and why. I've taped a full A4 page to about a quarter of an A4 page rather than have lots of seperate pages; so far I've enlarged the first page; it's for my own use so I hope I'm not breaking any rules because as I say it's on the open web.

Having made up my own score I already recognize a number of notes so I'm off to a good start, tomorrow morning I'll have a go with this in the studio,

I'm aware I have a great deal to learn but recorded this practice piece early this morning; I hope it plays because it's a lot of hassle exporting to YouTube. I've got a lot further than the three ladies I know who tried to play a violin but found it too difficult; I'm the opposite I find playing my violins to be addictive. I'll give up trying to memorize the music my memory is useless but when I can read music I can play directly from the score; one way or another I'm determined to improve my violin playing.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks again @Slouching Raymond,

Bought both; ISBN Nos are different but look like the correct books.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

Be aware this is in E Major, so lots of those notes are sharps when you play them. This isnt the easiest key for a violin to play in.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks again rob for your continuing help and advice; it's most welcome. First job after breakfast is to find out what E Major refers to but trust me to pick a difficult tune to start off with; Amazing Grace is one of very few tunes I can relate to; over the years I've liked lots of songs/tunes but they never sunk in only now am I taking more notice. I've never been in any way musical my thoughts concentrating on practical subjects like engineering and all aspects of woodworking. Music is all around us but now I'm interested in learning to play a violin it's ever so strange.

I enjoy interesting challenges and playing a violin is certainly up there with the best of them.

In 2009 I was confronted with another big challenge; I was a member of The British Vintage Wireless Society another hobby started as a raw novice; I was restoring an AVO Wave Winder and it needed a complete set of change wheels it not having a single wheel when bought.

Only having an engineering lathe it not having a vertical slide or expensive dividing head I had to dream something up. After lots thought I came up with an entirely new way of dividing; as seen I made from scratch the full set of change wheels also the bespoke box to house them in. I was honoured with top award from the society in 2009 and I'd had over ten articles published. Once I start a new project I never quit until I succeed.

I accept violin playing is different and I won't make soloist grade but it's something to aspire to; as long as I've got a good challenge ahead of me I'm happy.

Time now for breakfast then look at E Major.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

I’m not sure if we should do it here, but let’s try? Picture a piano. The white notes and the black notes, and as an engineer, look at the pattern they make. Find C as a starting point. The order when you go higher from C is a bit odd. White black white black white WHITE black white black white black white WHITE. The last one is a C again, just an octave higher. On the internet you see that sequence described as ‘tones’ and ’half tones’ or steps and half steps, but that particular order is important. If yo7 start on the C and only play the white notes, that is C Major. No need for black notes at all, and as black notes are the sharps and flats, on the sheet music, or on your own plan, C is always C. F is always F. People always say there are 8 notes in a scale, but really there are more. We just don’t play them. In your amazing grace music, note those 4 little asterisks. They are four sharps. It signifies that every one of the lines or spaces they sit on need a black note, not a white one. If you think of the movie sound of music, and that do a deer a female deer song, it starts on C, and goes up do-re-me etc finishing on a do again. If you start the sequence on the E, and play it on just white notes it’s a totally different tune. It doesn’t work! Just the first three notes MUST go white black black or it’s horrible.

the practical upshot of all this is that when people write a song on a guitar, they pick the simplest chords to play. If you play a rock and roll song, you will find E, A, B and D chords are very common. If you write on a piano, the simplest chords to play are different ones, often lots of C, G, F and maybe an A minor. These mean piano songs are more likely to sound different to guitar songs, and those chords only use white notes!

it’s a bit like the relationships of gears on the lathe. You can have certain speeds, but there is maths involved. The same with music. Where you start on the piano keyboard matters. On your violin, a key with open strings is easier to play. your G for example, G isnt a note in the E Major scale, G Sharp is!

sometimes music rules really sound odd in print, but if you have a keyboard available of any quality, and try these things on a music keyboard, before you transfer things to the violin, it will make so much more sense from the sound of not doing sharps and flats.

 

[Retired]

HI,

WOW rob; this really is kind and informative of you thank you. I can be a real pain once I start a new project asking all the silly questions others would like to ask but fear they would look a fool; I was always the one in meetings at work unafraid of looking a fool; if I had a question I asked.

I bought my lovely wife a mini Yamaha keyboard PSS-F30 so I'll play around with this;

I have played around with this keyboard just for interest and am amazed by how wonderful it is for so little money.

I've also been looking at E Major scales both on the web and YouTube. I can play the standard scales with the aid of my violin tuner and if I'm correct the sharps are half a position towards the nut the flats half position to the bridge; I have noticed whilst playing a very small movement either way makes quite a difference. I need lots and lots of practice; the heating is on in the studio so I'm about to wander in; I'll print off your instructions rob then I can try them out on the keyboard. Fortunately I've got a fair amount of kit to play around with. I've practiced playing scales and now I know what sharps & flats are I need to practice playing them. I'm now also aware of the other three major scales. So much to learn all at once but I'm enjoying it.

Perhaps I should start another thread regarding my journey into learning to play a violin because I've already received so much help in obtaining violin sheet music.

Kind regards, Colin.