Scale Manuals
Introduction to the Crabbers Alternative Scale Manual
The manuals for Violin, Viola, and Cello offer an alternative method to learning scales.
Unlike conventional scales (notes on stave lines), the Crabbers system uses just letters and numbers.
The layout and content of the manuals are designed to increase the speed and accuracy with which you approach and learn scales.
Students have benefited from using this system for the many years and now finally this system is available to you.
The manuals are standard music book size, containing 170 pages of scales which cover all your exam requirements.
HOW THE SCALE SYSTEM WORKS
Letters and Numbers
The letters represent the notes, and numbers represent the fingers.
For example:
Violin
LETTER (A) and FINGER (1) on the G-STRING would be the first note in the scale of A.
Viola and Cello
LETTER (D) and FINGER (1) will be the first note in the scale of D.
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Signs
Down and Up Bow
Down and up bows are placed on the main rhythmic beats of the scale whether in simple or compound time.
This allows you to begin in any position within the scale, making it possible to have the correct finger with the correct bowing. This will save time and allow the difficult areas of the scale to be prepared more thoroughly.
Commas and Arrows
A comma instructs the player to change string (no comma then no string change) and the arrow conveys the descending part of the scale.
At the beginning of the manual there is a more detailed explanation regarding the use of signs.
Scale Chart
To use this effectively begin by learning all the scales horizontally from left to right and from right to left.
Make a list of the scales which need more practise, and perfect these before working the table vertically.
When reading the table vertically it will throw up keys at random which will test your ability to memorise and retain finger patterns. This will quicken your responses.
Violin and Viola ~ See Page 169
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Violin ~
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Viola ~
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Cello |