Hello violin experts. This is my first post so please be generous...

My daughter has a piece of music to learn for the Lincoln Massed Strings Project (Grantham) - anyone going?

Anyway it seems to contain the instruction to play C-flat. Does this really exist? Is it just another way of playing a B natural?

My own musical knowledge does not stretch much past childhood recorders, but as she is only 9, my daughter gets quite upset when the music is confusing and I'd like to help her if I can.

Many thanks.

Welcome to the forums JellyWobble

Yes a Cb is a B natural.

And for future reference:

Cb = B
Fb = E
E# = F
B# = C



Car Expert

Actually no it's a Cb. On the piano they share the same key (due to tempering) but on the violin there will be a subtle difference... unless of course it is accompanied with a piano

The note will be on the fingerboard in (roughly) the same place as a B but the fingering may be different (depending on position). If it is chromatic I would tend to use the finger I would have used of it was a C but low, rather than the finger I would use for a B.

If the person in question doesn't know the difference, playing a B natural will probably suffice...

Wouldn't that make it a semi-choromatic?


anyway. welcome to the forums

Thank you everyone for your helpful and speedy comments.

We have been using an electric keyboard to check against, so it is easy to spot the unusual names for known notes, by simply looking at flat=one note down, sharp= one note up. We use the keyboard so that she can hear how the notes should sound, especially when using the higher positions, then she can match her fingering to the sound.

I appreciate that there is some subtlety in violin, so it is possible for Cb to be diferent from B, but for the present anything that is within the right note is good enough !!

This is a tricky piece for her, with lots of high notes, so we are going through it a bit at a time.


Many thanks.

Most people just think of it as being a B natural. I got told off by my flute teacher for it the other day though because apparently a Cb is a Cb, even if it does sound the same as a B natural To be honest - i can't see the difference!!

It depends on the function of the note relative to the key you are in (that's the short answer I usually give when asked 'why?' about strange looking accidentals).