This week, you will learn how to play a new scale, the G Major Scale. Scales are always named by the letter name that they begin and end on. For example, the scale that you’ve already learned this year is called the D Major Scale because you started on D and ended on D. Practice this scale using the "Conestoga Valley" rhythm.
Violins & Violas
The G Major Scale will use exactly the same fingering as the D Major Scale, except you will start on open G instead of open D.
Start on open G and add fingers until you get to 3 on G, then go to the D string and add fingers until you get to 3 on D. You do not have to go to the A string. Once you have reached 3 on D, take away fingers and go down until you end back on open G.
Cellos
The G Major Scale will use exactly the same fingering as the D Major Scale, except you will start on open G instead of open D.
Start on open G and add fingers until you get to 4 on G, then go to the D string and add fingers until you get to 4 on D. You do not have to go to the A string. Once you have reached 4 on D, take away fingers and go down until you end back on open G.
Basses
As you may have guessed, your scale is going to be completely different than everyone else's :) You will use a different fingering for the G Major Scale than the one that you used for the D Major Scale.
You will be able to play the whole scale in I Position, so you will not have to shift to III Position at all. You will use all 4 strings to play the G Major Scale.
Start by playing 2 fingers on the E string. After you play that note, go to the A string and play 0, 1, 2. Then go to the D string and play 0, 1, 4. Then go to the G string and only play open G. Then, come back down the scale until you are back at 2 fingers on E. Remember that this entire scale is in I Position.