This is a thread where one can discuss numerous ways of doubling instruments, effective ways in use of different instruments in creating different effects and ask questions.

My first question would be, how is a viola used in an orchestra. I had always thought it was to add depth to the violin but apparently composers rarely use it to double the violins. I've read about a contrasting melody to the violins, does this mean a "mirrored melody" or something else?

Second question, how can one keep the deep powerful sound of the brass with the strings without sounding clustered.

And third: What percussion instruments can I use to creat the sound of a water drop with an echo?

1. Learn how to create middleground melodies/harmonies/fragments. Viole are not hard to manipulate as long as it doesn't shawdow the melody lines.

2. Spread the brass's chord.

3. That's up to your personal taste.

Good luck.

1. There is a beautiful viola solo in Dance of the Hours. Just thought you'd like to know.

3. There's probably some intrument out there that makes that sound. I don't know what. Experiment.

Let's see, different effects...

There are a whole bunch of electronic effects things that you can get for an electric guitar that can make it sound like a whole bunch of different instruments, but that's kinda like cheating. :heh:

Oh! If you use a guitar slide and a lot of treble on your amp (and maybe some echo) you can get an electric guitar to sound like a harmonica. All you really have to do is pull the slide back so that you're a tiny bit flat from the actual note you're trying to play.

Jimmy Page (lead guitarist from Led Zeppelin) used to do that a lot.

I see, I'm sort of guitar stupid, especially for electric. I can't use synthesizers(sp?) cause well...it's gotta be playable for an orchestra haha!

But I made this thread not only for my question. If anyone else have some ideas for making cool effects, please share, and if you have questions about an effect you're trying to creat and can't quite get it. Ask away!

Spiccato, jete, portamenti and strings harmonics are pretty cool. Wiki them or do some research to find out how they sound like. :P

1- The viola's role depends on how much importance you want to give to it. If you're in a concerto and define it as one of the solos, then you'll find a florid way to display virtuosity with it. But some people say that (arguably), the viola is not as rich an instrument as the violin or the cello, it's like an "in between". The violin can reach those very high notes, which stand out in an orchestra, whereas the viola doesn't unless the orchestra dims down, as in a solo section. The cello has that rich timbre that the viola lacks also. So when you want to showcase a viola, either recuce the size of the orchestra to add importance to the viola part, or put it in a solo.

2- There was a very interesting horn concerto that I heard recently. If you give rapid notes to the horn, it plays just like any instrument, with a rich deep tone. Adding a "muffler" (silencer? I don't know the exact term) might also help, especially with the trumpet. The horn can be played by obstructing the opening with one hand, so the sound can also be dimmed that way so that it harmonizes well with the strings.

3- Water drops... the xylophone's wooden sound can imitate rain falling, so why not an echoing droplet? You could also use a high-pitch bell/triangle/piano note repeated in decrescendo for the echo.

I hope this helps!

I've been thinking on the rain drops recently and these are what I have.

Xylophone+Woodblock+vibraphone pedal with heavy vibrato for echoe

crotel+glockenspiel+tenordrum with a hand placed on the diaphram to prevent sound echoe.

Xylophone+crotel+ violin with heavy vibrato and mfp (mezzofortepiano)

Triangle+Crotel+glockenspeil. This combination is also pure metal so I think it represents spots of stars more than raindrops.

If I do raindrop, I think pure string pizzicati is good enough already, no need to fancy all those percussions really. ._.

I'm using violins as a pedal for my song though, and the viola, cello, and db base is just too...dark for pizzicatto raindrops. I thought about a harp playing while holding the string with the other hand but that will change the note itself and it would be too quiet.

I'm using violins as a pedal for my song though, and the viola, cello, and db base is just too...dark for pizzicatto raindrops. I thought about a harp playing while holding the string with the other hand but that will change the note itself and it would be too quiet.

Actually, cello pizzicato is the best out of all the string pizzicati because of its thicker strings and warmer resonance. ._. The violin pizzicato is alright, but it's too dry for many situation.

Is there any way to play sticcatto on an accoustic guitar?

Is there any way to play sticcatto on an accoustic guitar?

All instruments can play staccato. ._. Except for celesta, which cannot play a 'true staccato' (thought it could still play staccato) because of it's resonant tone.