# The High Road, Viola

Fifth position and above

The upper positions of the viola take you into a register that is uniquely neither violin nor cello, a range that great composers have found irresistible. Learn to live there with ease.

Advanced · 5 lessons · approximately 120 minutes of material (not a mastery deadline).

## Before this module
- [Two Voices at Once](/learn/viola/two-voices), Double stops and broken chords

## What this module covers
1. **Fourth Position**, The geography, hand shape, and intonation landmarks of fourth position (24 min)
2. **Fifth Position**, Moving into fifth position cleanly and knowing when to use it (24 min)
3. **Navigating the High A String**, Bow control and precision in the viola's extreme upper register (24 min)
4. **Multi-Position Shifting Fluency**, Chaining multiple shifts smoothly in a single phrase (24 min)
5. **Passage Work in High Positions**, Running passages and scales in fifth position and above (24 min)

## Practise with a free reference
- [Free metronome](/tools/metronome), Use a steady pulse while you count or repeat a short phrase.
- [Viola tuner](/tools/tuner/viola), Check the open-string reference before comparing stopped notes.
- [Public scale references](/learn/scales), Read pitch sequences and play reference examples. Available routines do not establish an exam syllabus requirement.

## What comes next
- [Reading at Sight](/learn/viola/reading-at-sight), Fluent score reading at tempo

## Where should I start with the high road?
The curriculum places Two Voices at Once before this module. Review those topics if they are unfamiliar. The first lesson is “Fourth Position”: The geography, hand shape, and intonation landmarks of fourth position. The order is a study guide, not proof that every learner needs the same pace.

## How long is the the high road module?
The 5 listed lessons total approximately 120 minutes of material. That estimate describes lesson content, not the practice time needed to become comfortable with fifth position and above. Revisit one task at a time and use feedback from a teacher where physical technique is involved.

## What can I try here without an account?
The the high road description, lesson sequence and prerequisite links are public. There is no full worked lesson sample for this module yet. The linked public tools and references are free. A free account includes the complete five-lesson foundation module in each instrument and five lessons in music theory, with saved progress and no expiry. Later lessons require the relevant paid package.

## Continue in Arco
The complete five-lesson foundation module in each instrument and five music theory lessons are free with an account, including saved progress and no time limit. Later lessons require the relevant paid package. Public samples do not assess your physical technique or certify exam readiness.

[See packages and pricing](/pricing) · [Back to the viola curriculum](/learn/viola)

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/learn/viola/high-road