Arranging for Strings

Learn to use strings in your compositions and arrangements! From romantic chord pads to powerful grooves to gut-wrenching passionate melodies, strings do it all. This book presents time-tested techniques and contemporary developments in writing and arranging for strings. You'll learn strategies for authentic writing in many different styles and find ideas to take your personal sound forward. Discover voicings that work best for each project and explore the intricacies of bowing. Hear articulation approaches from pads to chopping in the online audio examples. See how other composers have used strings to heighten the impact of their music in the written examples. Make your work stand out with the drama and depth that well informed string writing can bring.

You will learn:
- The tunings, range, and timbres for the violin, viola, cello, and bass, including standard instruments and common variations, including acoustic, electric, and synthesized string instruments and sections
- Bowing techniques and possibilities
- Characteristic articulations and sounds, such as vibrato, pizzicato, sul tasto, trills, tremolos, and harmonics
- Timbral and rhythm effects, such as chop technique, ponticello/feedback, portamento, and falls - String-section arranging techniques, such as melody/countermelody, fills, pads, and comping
- Stylistic nuances of genres such as American roots, Celtic, jazz, rock, klezmer, eastern European, Gypsy jazz, and swing
- Mic, recording, and live sound techniques for capturing the best string sounds for both acoustic and electric instruments

CONTENIDO:

Introduction
Live vs. In the Box
About the Audio

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. String player perspectives
Classical Training
Folk/Roots Training
How Much Detuning is Safe?
American Roots Intonation

Chapter 2. Tuning, range, and timbre
A Few Words about Tuning and Intonation
Standard Notation
Violin
Viola
Violoncello (Cello)
Double Bass
Range
Timbre
Large Interval Skips
String Range Quick Reference

Chapter 3. Basic bowings and articulations
Bowing
Slurs
Down-Bows vs. Up-Bows
Tenuto
Accents
Articulation Choices for Fast Passages
Dynamics
Bluegrass: Hokum Shuffle

Chapter 4. Standard techniques
Vibrato
Sul Tasto
Pizzicato
Using a Conductor
Bartók Pizzicato
Pizzicato Bass
Trills
Tremolos
Mutes
Harmonics
Natural Harmonics
Artificial Harmonics
Double, Triple, Quadruple Stops
Ricochet/Jeté
Using the Stick of the Bow

Chapter 5. Chops, ponticello/feedback, portamento, and falls
Chop Technique
Soft Chop
Chunks
Ponticello
Enhanced Ponticello
Glissando/Portamento
Papa John Creach Portamento
Fall

Chapter 6. The string section
String Quartet
Melody/Countermelody
Fills
Pads
Comping
Section Size
One Player
More Than One
Range

Chapter 7. Stylistic approaches
American Roots
Strong Rhythm
Fiddle Keys
First Position
Western Swing
Celtic
Fiddle vs. Violin
Jazz/Swing
Gypsy Jazz
Gypsy vs. Roma
Rock/Pop
Repeated Notes
Funk/Fusion
Hip-Hop/R&B
Charanga
Eastern Europe
Klezmer
Arabic Music
And More

Chapter 8. Improvisation or written part
An Improvised Part
A Written Part
Strings in the Score
String Parts
Enharmonic Spelling
Music Writing Software

Chapter 9. Recording and sound reinforcement
Recording Acoustic Strings
Make Tuning Easy
Mic Technique for Solo Strings
Mic Technique for String Sections
Quartets or Less
More Than a Quartet
Seating
Isolation
Beware of Doubling
Headphones
A Big Section with a Small Budget
Recording: Pickups vs. Electric Instruments
Amplification: Acoustic Instruments with Pickups
Amplification: Electric Instruments
Effects
Headphones
Sound Reinforcement on Stage
Acoustic Strings
Headphones/Monitors
Electric Strings
Cellists Sitting vs. Standing

- Afterword
Next Big String Things
Even More New Techniques
Go Forward and Create

Appendix. Selected listening
Classical
String Quartets
Movie and TV Scores
Western Swing
Old Time Country Music
Celtic
Jazz and Swing
Rock/Pop
Funk/Fusion
Hip-Hop/R&B
Charanga
Eastern Europe
Klezmer Music
Arabic Music
Free Improvisers
Subharmonics
Conductors of Improvising Ensembles

About the author
Index