Now, we all know that most violinists chose their instrument in part because they cherish the singing high melody you can play way up on the E string, and that violists chose their instrument because they got confused on instrument picking day...I'm sorry -- couldn't resist. At any rate, most of us high strings players are generally pretty comfortable and satisfied in our respective tessitura. But from time to time, at least I and I'm sure most of you, have wondered what it would be like to dig into that low cello C string and rumble the stage a bit, though we violinists (1st violinists, especially) would never admit jealousy of another string instrument aloud. We at Electric Violin Shop would like to save high string players the potential embarrassment of being caught sampling a cello after rehearsal -- hey, we've all done it once -- by letting you know that your own violin (or viola) can rumble the low notes. And those J.S. Bach cello suites you've been searching for a violin transcription of? Well, polish up your bass clef reading and play them at pitch! How, you ask? Well, there are two fun, easy ways...

Scaled 'Octave' strings

Advances in string technology have made it possible to produce high quality, tonally stable strings that sound an octave below high string range but fit high string instrument's scale length. Super-Sensitive's Sensicore line of high quality perlon strings offers a comprehensive selection of possible extended range strings. In addition to 'octave strings' that sound one octave below the violin's GDA and E, they make a violin scale C string (as does D'Addario) and octave C string, as well as violin scale strings that descend below violin G in fifths (i.e. low F, Bb and Eb!). Therefore, a violinist could create a small scale viola out of his instrument by removing the E string, bumping the GDA up a spot and adding a C string on the bottom. Likewise, he could substitute an entire set of low-range strings, either octave GDAE to create a 'Baritone' violin, or octave CGDA for a 'chin cello,' literally a cello range instrument in violin scale, playable under the chin! Violists are afforded similar options, including low F string, octave CGDA viola strings (again a viola-scale 'chin cello') or the [insane?] option of going up using a viola-scale high E string!

Listen to heavy metal violinist Earl Maneein play the 'chin cello' in our shop. We set this 14" viola up with Sensicore Octave violin CGD and A strings.



If you want to play on low extended range strings, you'll also need a bow capable of grabbing them sufficiently to produce good tone. Violinists could reach for a viola bow, but we strongly recommend the CodaBow Joule series, the first bow designed specifically with extended range playing in mind. These bows work great with octave or low extended range strings and CodaBow has made viola and cello versions as well. Actually, they make great bows for normal range playing as well, so if you're in the market for a new bow and considering some extended range playing, why not kill two birds with one stone?

Although this post is really about how to turn a high string instrument into a low string instrument, it is worth pointing out here that thanks to some excellent NS Electric strings from D'Addario, cellists have stringing options as well, namely the choice to string down to a low F or up to a high E (a fifth above cello A, or an octave below violin E).

We must also point out that depending on how extreme a stringing alteration you make, your instrument may require some modification to accommodate the greater girth of the lower strings. No alteration should be necessary to add a viola C to a violin, or a low F or high E to a viola, but when incorporating the larger, lower octave strings, be aware that wider bridge and nut grooves as well as string holes in the pegs might be in order. Therefore, a 'chin cello' is best made out of a secondary fiddle--not your Guarneri!

Octave/Pitch shifting pedals

For many of you who might like to play 'chin cello' but don't have a second fiddle to sacrifice (pun intended), you can easily go low electronically. Pitch shifting pedals, while not an acoustic solution to becoming an upright cellist (a pickup and amp will be required as well), are fairly easy to use and require no [significant] alteration to your instrument. Now, to become a true 'chin cellist' using this method, violinists will need to restring their instruments CGDA using either the D'Addario or Super-Sensitive violin C string and then employing the full-octave drop effect for a gorgeous, convincing cello tone. Violists require no string change at all as they are naturally a perfect octave above the cello in range.

*Note that some pickups might require a small adjustment to the bridge in order to fit snugly where they belong, normally in the wing slot. This is often required when fitting the Kremona or Fishman pickups and entails nothing more than the removal of a mere shaving from the inside of the side slot to accommodate the width of the transducer. The alteration is barely if at all noticeable visually, and does not produce a measurable change in tone quality of the instrument.