String Instruments: The Complete Guide | String Orchestration

This video combines a whole series of my shorter videos on the string instruments, so there’s A LOT of content here! Get the complete guide to the string section : https://soundtrack.academy/string-instruments/ Here's what you're going to learn (detailed descriptions below): 00:00 - Introduction 00:46 - The String Section – Instruments, Numbers, Playing Style, and Layout 04:52 - Parts of a String Instrument 08:22 - The Violin – String Notes, Range, and Timbre 09:41 - The Viola – String Notes, Range, and Timbre 10:58 - Cello – String Notes, Range, and Timbre 11:43 - Double Bass – Range, String Notes, and Timbre 13:11 - String Techniques & Articulations [with Demonstrations] 18:39 - String Bowing Techniques [with Demonstrations] 21:29 - Other String Techniques [with Demonstrations] 26:30 - Divisi Strings & Double Stops --- 0:46 - The String Section – Instruments, Numbers, Playing Style, and Layout In this section I’m going to teach you all about the four string section instruments in an orchestra. We’ll look at: - The string instruments - How they’re played - The sound they create - How many you’ll find in typical groups - The layout during performance and recording 4:52 - Parts of a String Instrument Knowing the parts of a string instrument will help you better understand how to write for the instrument. How? Well, if you know how the instrument produces and projects sound then you know how to experiment with that sound. Likewise, if you understand what the instrument is physically capable of, you’ll know exactly how to push its limits. 8:22 - The Violin – String Notes, Range, and Timbre The violin is the smallest of the string family, and possibly the most famous. From bright piercing horror sounds, to beautiful warm love songs, the violin can do it all. 9:41 - The Viola – String Notes, Range, and Timbre Often the viola is the most overlooked of the string instruments. That’s a real shame, as when you play to its strengths it can give you a really unique texture in your compositions. Learning about the viola’s characteristics will help you understand how to best play to its strengths. 10:58 - Cello – String Notes, Range, and Timbre Most people agree that the cello is one of the most beautiful sounding and emotive string instruments. Perhaps that’s because it’s less piercing than the violin, but just as expressive. It has a huge range, allowing it to be used in a wide variety of ways. From a dark, penetrating low range, through a full, warm midrange, all the way to a bright, piercing top register. 11:43 - Double Bass – Range, String Notes, and Timbre The double bass is the largest instrument in the string family. You can refer to the double bass as “contrabass” or simply “bass”. In jazz and popular music, you often call it an “upright bass” to distinguish it from an electric bass guitar. The difference between the cello and double bass is threefold: - Size - Timbre - Range 13:11 - String Techniques & Articulations [with Demonstrations] You can play all of these string techniques on all four string section instruments, but they will have different tonal qualities to them, depending on which instrument is playing them. Even if you deal exclusively with sample libraries, and have no intention of ever writing for real instruments, this section is still massively important. It’s going to help you understand all of the various articulations that come with sample libraries. And the more you understand them, the better you’ll be able to write for them, and the more realistic you’ll be able to make your pieces sound. It’s going to open up a whole new world of timbres and sounds for you to get your teeth stuck into. 18:39 - String Bowing Techniques [with Demonstrations] There are many different ways that a string player can bow their instrument. Each way creates a slightly different tone. Learning these bowing techniques will help you find new timbres and textures to exploit in your compositions. 21:29 - Other String Techniques [with Demonstrations] Some more extended string techniques that didn't quite fit into the other sections! 26:30 - Divisi Strings & Double Stops If there are four string instruments split into five parts (first and second violins, violas, cellos, and basses) then surely that means the biggest chord you can have is a five note chord, right? One note per section? Well, no. There are a couple of ways of creating fuller chords with more notes. Namely: divisi strings and double stopping. All demonstrations performed by the amazing Xiana Harron: https://www.facebook.com/xianaharronmusic/ Don't forget to get your complete guide to the string instruments here: https://soundtrack.academy/string-instruments/