# Scales for violin, viola, cello and double bass

47 instrument-and-key references derived from Arco’s supported Technique Gym routines. Free pitch tables, available lower-position fingerings, notation and output-only audio.

The catalog spans eight major and five natural-minor keys; double-bass coverage is narrower because of its supported range. Octave coverage follows the actual routine range; unsupported routines are not implied. These original exercises are not exam-board prescriptions.

## Violin

Read the treble-clef staff from the starting pitch, then plan each string crossing. A fourth-finger note may match the next open string, but the alternatives in the table are not a complete fingering route. Keep the chosen route consistent for one repetition before trying a different colour.

- [C major](/learn/scales/violin/c-major)

- [G major](/learn/scales/violin/g-major)

- [D major](/learn/scales/violin/d-major)

- [A major](/learn/scales/violin/a-major)

- [E major](/learn/scales/violin/e-major)

- [F major](/learn/scales/violin/f-major)

- [B-flat major](/learn/scales/violin/bb-major)

- [E-flat major](/learn/scales/violin/eb-major)

- [A natural minor](/learn/scales/violin/a-natural-minor)

- [D natural minor](/learn/scales/violin/d-natural-minor)

- [E natural minor](/learn/scales/violin/e-natural-minor)

- [G natural minor](/learn/scales/violin/g-natural-minor)

- [C natural minor](/learn/scales/violin/c-natural-minor)

## Viola

Read this reference in alto clef, where middle C is on the centre line. If you also play violin, name the actual viola pitches before playing: a familiar finger pattern does not produce the same note on a differently tuned string. Choose crossings for continuity of sound, not just convenience.

- [C major](/learn/scales/viola/c-major)

- [G major](/learn/scales/viola/g-major)

- [D major](/learn/scales/viola/d-major)

- [A major](/learn/scales/viola/a-major)

- [E major](/learn/scales/viola/e-major)

- [F major](/learn/scales/viola/f-major)

- [B-flat major](/learn/scales/viola/bb-major)

- [E-flat major](/learn/scales/viola/eb-major)

- [A natural minor](/learn/scales/viola/a-natural-minor)

- [D natural minor](/learn/scales/viola/d-natural-minor)

- [E natural minor](/learn/scales/viola/e-natural-minor)

- [G natural minor](/learn/scales/viola/g-natural-minor)

- [C natural minor](/learn/scales/viola/c-natural-minor)

## Cello

This reference uses bass clef and concert pitch. A pitch with no listed fingering may require a different hand frame or position; a blank is not permission to extend the hand until it reaches. Mark a teacher-agreed route, then separate a difficult crossing or shift from the complete scale.

- [C major](/learn/scales/cello/c-major)

- [G major](/learn/scales/cello/g-major)

- [D major](/learn/scales/cello/d-major)

- [A major](/learn/scales/cello/a-major)

- [E major](/learn/scales/cello/e-major)

- [F major](/learn/scales/cello/f-major)

- [B-flat major](/learn/scales/cello/bb-major)

- [E-flat major](/learn/scales/cello/eb-major)

- [A natural minor](/learn/scales/cello/a-natural-minor)

- [D natural minor](/learn/scales/cello/d-natural-minor)

- [E natural minor](/learn/scales/cello/e-natural-minor)

- [G natural minor](/learn/scales/cello/g-natural-minor)

- [C natural minor](/learn/scales/cello/c-natural-minor)

## Double bass

These notes and playback use sounding concert pitch, one octave below the usual written double-bass part. Do not transfer the staff positions directly into a conventional bass part. The lower-position table uses available 1–2–4 finger references; higher notes need a teacher-chosen position and route.

- [G major](/learn/scales/bass/g-major)

- [A major](/learn/scales/bass/a-major)

- [E major](/learn/scales/bass/e-major)

- [F major](/learn/scales/bass/f-major)

- [B-flat major](/learn/scales/bass/bb-major)

- [A natural minor](/learn/scales/bass/a-natural-minor)

- [E natural minor](/learn/scales/bass/e-natural-minor)

- [G natural minor](/learn/scales/bass/g-natural-minor)

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/learn/scales