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On the "strings" topic:

A few weeks ago I switched from my usual Vision solo strings, to standard Vision. I must say I prefer the solo version, but it was worth giving it a try, no regrets here.

What I don't understand is online strings charts, that try to compare different brands in terms of warmth, power, etc. Or how reliable they are. Just out of curiosity, I looked at a viola string chart (that will be kept unnamed) : it classifies the Vision solo as more brilliant, and the Vision as warmer. However, on Fiddlershop, it's the opposite (see 3rd picture - I have no idea where this chart comes from, maybe from Thomastik?) ; I would agree more with them.

That, or I don't know what warm, brilliant, rich, …  actually means. (I'm not too sure, in fact.)

It would be interesting to find several charts and compare them.

Quick update there. I didn't play much my viola recently. But I'm trying to practice those double stop exercises

(some additional info here, about the differences between violin and viola) : https://www.violinist.com/blog.....187/27365/ ) 

I'm bad at them so the free preview sample is enough for me : I'll be satisfied if I even manage the first two lines (1st position, p. 5). I'm struggling with bar 2 (B) : I already find it hard to play an octave in double stops, but doing so while holding one or two other fingers down is almost impossible. Maybe I should work on them in 2nd or 3rd position first, the finger spacings would be a little smaller.

More importantly, I feel that double stops exercises (and especially those, which ask to keep fingers down) can help me in a general way with my left hand, which is very bad. I think I'm starting to see a difference - at least, I hope so!

It's going rather well, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Yesterday, I did mostly mindless playing - went back to some klezmer and tango tunes, with accompaniments. 

And today I got little violin out of the cupboard. I looked at Casey Willis' tutorial about double stops, and tried it some (the beginning, at least). It's hard, but at least he's not pretending that it's easy (… does that make sense?), and you get a good view of the left hand. Anyway, on the violin it's much easier to bow and hold strings down compared to the viola, and the finger spacings are easier, so that removes a few difficulties. That, and not having to transpose anything down. I think I'll go back to it. I  finished with some viola, I'm not leaving it aside ;--)

Back! Work has been hectic these days (still is), and I haven't given much time to playing or for the forum.

Lastly I've been looking at the technique of the scottish "cut" as presented here by Hanneke Cassel, and trying to do it. I'm not having much luck, but still I'm not despairing to manage it at some point. I'm attaching an audio that will count as a 'first version', it's nowhere near what it should be yet, hoping to improve. It's still somewhat better than it was the first time.

I'm using a violin for this right now – I don't know if it can be done on the viola. I guess it probably can, but I suspect it must be more difficult, because the strings don't respond so quickly and need more 'force' to be put into motion.

Thanks Mouse.

Going to BingChat (which is ChatGPT-based) for the same question yielded much better results. It advised me to use Sevcik op.9 and - surprise- the Roland Vamos book (and Heather Figi's Etudes for double stops, pretty unknown I think ?). So, I'm suspending my judgment on AI, and I'll probably give it a try from time to time.

Anyway, I'm not doing much these days, and starting to be dissatisfied with my sound and the way my bow grips the strings (or rather, doesn't grip well). I don't know if I should get a rehair - iti's been one year and a half - or change my strings (only 6 months). I'll probably start with the bow, and then the strings if needed.