Violin Forum/Message Board

[Ode to Tragedy]

I really enjoy singing along to some of these tracks and thought the melodies seem really simple such that it doesn't seem to difficult to play on violin.

So here as an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47d6MFyDEbo

Do you reckon it would sound good to play that on violin? I was thinking it risks sounding monotonous since there isn't much variation then again I dunno if it would sound any more monotonous than the original?

I am thinking about learning to play simple tracks on violin like this so I can then sing along as well.

Does it sound feasible?

Ok so I just tried and it sounded like absolute crap . Not cos I couldn't play it but it just didn't sound right on violin...any ideas why/how to make it violin ready? I'm thinking the little breakdown would sound better on violin perhaps.

[Benedict White]

Your problem is that the way the melody is played lacks rhythm, which instead comes from the drums.

So you could play it on violin, if you had a drum track to play to.

[Ode to Tragedy]

but then Id only have the breakdown bits to play in violin though right?

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

When you say melody do you mean the breakdown bit or the whole thing?

Is there any chance you could record it for me on violin or someone else? cos I have no idea really how it would sound played well and if I like it then it would inspire me to learn how to do it myself. It would really open the doors for me in terms of inspiration and motivation cos then I would always be on the look out for tunes I liked (sung most likely) which I could adapt for violin.

As for accompaniment, I like the idea of being a 'one man band' not having to rely on people and all so how could one do that? I have seen people use drum machines and stuff as their accompaniment and hit it with their foot and stuff to cue loops on and off.

I prefer the idea of just using violin though if practical. I am interested in singing and violin. I mean I understand violin will sound BETTER with accompaniments but can it still sound cool as a stand alone. I know when heifitz plays solos on his own it sounds 'complete' enough to me but I dunno if those tunes were 'made for solo' or what.

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

sure; much obliged.

so are you saying the notes that are sung you play with a violin instead of singing?

Does this mean it would sound weird to also sing the exact same notes or would it sound good?

Wouldn't it sound too monotone then?

This is really cool. I just realized some of the implications of your statement that you can play the main sung melodies on violin. Firstly it made me realize what makes signing sound good is the melodies they use like anything else (maybe a no brainer for most but I'd never thought of it). Secondly, since you mentioned that violins are better with accompaniments, and also that you can do sort of improvs of the originals then I was thinking I could do 'jams' along to my favourite tunes.

This is really great news to me cos it opens up a whole new world of musical possibility .

I just tried playing another tune by the same artists of the main melody the guy sings and it came out nice.

This is WAY more fun than learning crappy 'aloutte' and the like from books though I'll still practice those things as part of the 'curriculum'.

I'll give the original tune a go now.

I'm thinking I can 'accompany' the original tunes with my violin playing in the breaks when they aren't singing, correct?

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

By monotone I meant I thought it might sound weird if you were only playing the main melody on violin whilst also singing it since they would both be in synch and there wouldn't be any depth say compared to if you played one melody with violin and sung a different one.

[Lemuel]

[Ode to Tragedy]

Thanks for that.

Do you have to have a good grasp of music theory to know what will sound good when doing variations? Maybe not nec theory but a good ear for what notes would sound good I imagine, i.e. a good knowledge of the violin/instruments and it's notes.

[Lemuel]