Violin Forum/Message Board

[Rachael]

Hi -- I need a violin-like string instrument that I can actively harmonize with (almost as if with a human voice, with the melody). My violin is too close in range to my own voice, and probably also too loud. Would an Octave violin be an effective solution? Has anyone worked w/ Octave violins? Btw, I'd rather use it acoustically, without an amp. --Rachael
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-- Rachael

[kjb]

have you tried a viola?

[Rachael]

Yes, given what I'm hearing about the Octave violin, I guess the viola will have to my next step. Thanks for reinforcing that this is the best move. Maybe I might borrow an orchestral mute first, and then just rent a viola to try it out?
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-- Rachael

[kjb]

well you are doing something singing and playing at the same time. Are you planning on using a looper or something??

Have you been playing a long time and singing also?

I am currently using a 5 string, and very happy with , a violin with the c of the viola.

If you are close to a shop somewhere perhaps you could try a viola or a 5 string?
You are kind of on new ground with this, so I am not sure how many responses you will get. good luck with it. let have a link to a sound clip if you get it all going.

[Ken Pollard]

I haven't had experience with a proper octave violin, but I did experiment a bit with the octave strings when they came out, probably more than 10 years ago. These were designed to fit on a normal violin, but tuned an octave lower. They had relatively large diameters, and I would open up the nut and bridge grooves to accomodate them.

I wasn't satisfied.

And to the customers who bought a set through me, they never bought a second set. Also, I don't see them being used around here. Both in real life and in the professional recordings I've heard where they are used, they sound a little 'froggy' (that's the technical term, a very precise technical term ). More distracting than interesting, to my ear. So I'd say, even in my area, where fiddlers try all sorts of things, they weren't a big success.

Might be a different story on a violin that was designed for those strings.

Regarding a mute, if you want to experiment and don't have a mute, you can use old-fashioned wood & spring clothes pins to give you a sense of its use. Clamp one on, say, the far G-string side of your bridge, under the strings. You're just adding mass to the bridge. If you need more muting, clamp another on the e-string side. Goofy looking, but it's an experiment, so it's legal.