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stumpkicker - Posted - 01/11/2018: 04:19:57
Does anyone know of an app, for a Mac or iPad, that would give you scales or arpeggios to play, listen to you play back, and show you how close you are to being on pitch?
Dan Gellert - Posted - 01/11/2018: 08:27:11
There are apps (most intended for Indian music) which will generate a continuous drone at any pitch you choose. Play some scales and arpeggios against that, and your ear will tell you how good your intonation is.
ShadeTree - Posted - 01/11/2018: 08:29:57
Unfortunately, I am not aware of an app. Scales and arpeggios can be found on the Internet or in various "how to play the fiddle" instruction manuals. As for being on pitch, what I use is a D'Addario micro violin tuner which attaches to the body of the violin in an unobstructive location. This is a very accurate tuner. With the tuner tuned on while playing notes or scales, the display will turn red if the pitch is off. Once the ears perceive what tones are proper, one's intonation will improve. This is what helps me and it is a quick reference during practice.
michaeljennings - Posted - 01/11/2018: 08:58:31
I prefer working against a drone as well, or playing "scales" against a recorded piece of music....
Seems to train my ear as well as my fingers and, for me, more fun and less work like.
I have a small harmonium that I can set a drone on and pump with my "foot"... or a tone generator on my tuner.... more often as not though I just let Pandora run on a trad or OT fiddle channel and play along. Not necessarily trying to learn the tune but to "harmonize" with scale tones. Surprising how many tunes I've learned unintentionally that way.
Edited by - michaeljennings on 01/11/2018 08:59:28
Viper - Posted - 01/12/2018: 08:48:07
There's an app called Practice Hub that will produce a drone, along with a metronome, which I find helpful in my practice. I'm not sure if there is a Mac version, however. I use it on my android phone.
alaskafiddler - Posted - 01/12/2018: 13:59:27
I've seen Intonia and Canta, I imagine might be along lines you are looking for. (more complex programs to do frequency analysis, but probably a bit overkill.)
The other alternative is just - Record yourself, listen...
Being on pitch, intonation - for most folks is just how it sounds to human ears; just using ears - if sounds good or not.
Some methods (such as software idea), are linear scale unison, memorizing, IMO are bit abstract way to learn.
Human ears typically consider intonation within a musical harmonic context. How notes sound in context with other notes, and the whole (key). Drone can help hold a tonal center. Playing with basic chords is also useful. Understanding, hearing intonation of diatonic chord triads, gives all notes in scale. IMO with harmonic context, a bit more concrete, easier to hear if sounds reasonable in-tune (or out).
Being on pitch, intonation - for most folks is just how it sounds to human ears; just using ears - if sounds good or not. (listeners don't need special analysis tools or training)
Edited by - alaskafiddler on 01/12/2018 14:03:23
ChickenMan - Posted - 01/12/2018: 15:12:28
Here is a link to a flute maker's site. At the bottom is a link for the application described in the text of the page (do take the time to read). With a simple system flute, you have to adjust certain notes on the fly l to get them in tune (much like the micro adjustments we fiddlers make). This program notes how close you are to being in tune. It may be what you need if you're trying to improve intonation on the fly. mcgee-flutes.com/RTTA.htm
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