Scales + octaves = not in tune

So I’ve been on a scales kick lately and I thought to myself how fun it would be to post a video doing octave scales.  This was one of those times when I played it, got tickled pink, and then looked at a less than enthusiastic Danielle.  You see, playing an octave scale involves a bunch of shifting, and when you have to switch strings, it involves moving both fingers at once.  This is a little tricky, so I got it to the point where it wasn’t too painfully slow to move to the next two strings.

For me, that was a victory.  Another victory was not having it too horribly screechy.  Win, right?

Yeah, well, apparently I’m not in tune.  What’s hard here is there are two fingers to keep in tune.  The first finger needs to be on the right note, and then the fourth finger needs to be exactly one octave higher than the first finger.  My main problem is that pesky fourth finger–it’s typically too high.  As you move up the fingerboard, the distance between fingers to keep an octave keeps getting smaller.

Oh, and I was practicing thirds some more today and they’re coming along slowly, but a little better.  Why do double stops have to be so difficult?  Danielle played the Bach Chaconne at a recital on Saturday and man, is that an awesome piece.  The double stops there are what make it, so it looks like I should probably practice them.  But don’t worry; I’m not thinking about tackling the Chaconne any time soon.  Playing that piece too early, according to Danielle, would be sacrilege.

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