Barre Chords - A Major Step

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Barre Chords:

A Major Stepfor solo violin

By Matt Westwood

28/5/2011



“Barre Chords: A Major Step” aims to explore the potential of a barre chord technique that is

possible using scordatura – the G and D strings are tuned down a Major 2nd. When the lowest 3

open strings are sounded together, an F major chord sounds. When a barre chord is played with

the 2nd

finger (in first position), a G major chord sounds. And when a barre chord is played withthe 1

stfinger (in first position), an A major chord sounds.

The title is a play on words – the piece can be thought of as being in A major, with the F and G

chords acting as borrowed chords from A minor, and each of those chords move in step wise

motion. I also believe that the discovery of this barre chord technique is a major step forwards

for rhythmic violin playing, opening up a wide range of possibilities that can be applied to

popular genres of music.

Extended Techniques

Barre Chords: G major: A major:

The F major chord, as it uses open strings, gives the performer an opportunity to pivot between the

barre chord position, and the usual playing position. An up arrow above the staff indicates the hand

should pivot into the barre chord position, and the down arrow indicates the hand should pivot into the

usual playing position.

Chop: Lower end of the bow strikes the strings heavily as a percussive effect. The unpitched

scrape of the chop should be the predominant sound, however the notes being fingered should

be heard slightly as well.

Duration: 3¾ mins



Barre Chords: A Major StepMatt Westwoodq=150

untransposed

5

11

17

23

29

35

39

43

48

Scordatura: FCAE

f

p

pizz.

mf

arco

p

f

ppp

mf



52

57

62

66

72

76

80

84

88

p

pizz. arco

ff

3 3

3 3 3

p

pizz. arco

pp poco a poco cresc.

ff

2



92

97

101

106

111

117

122

128

134

f

p

pizz. arco

mf

3

f 3 3

fff p

3



f

q=150

4

p mf

8

p

14

19

f

24

30

ppp

35

Scordatura: FCAE

transposed

Matt Westwood

Barre Chords: A Major Step

pizz. sul darco

sul g

3

0



mf

40

44

f

48

52

55

p ff

59

64

p

66

pizz.arco

3 3

3 3

4311

3

3

2



pp poco a poco cresc.

70

75

79

82

85

ff

88

92

mp

96

100

pizz.arco

3



f

104

108

p mf

112

118

f

123

fff ppp

128

p

133

138

pizz. arco

3 3 3

4

Barre Chords - A Major Step

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