A viola is bigger than a violin and has a lower pitch. A viola's sound also tends to carry more because it has a fuller sound if played right.
Like the violin, they come in 4 standard sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full size.
A violin has a high E string but a viola doesn't. Instead, a viola has a low C string as its lowest string, instead of the G string which is lowest on a violin.
It is not just the size (most violas are between 15 and 17 inches long): a viola player is going to read music mainly in the Alto Clef whilst a violinist reads music in the Treble Clef. (But both occasionally read the other clef.)
More details
A violin and a viola have differently tuned strings. They both have A, D, and G strings but the viola has a low C string and the violin has a high E string. The sound of the strings will also sound deeper since the viola is bigger and has a overall lower register of possible notes than the violin.
The viola bow is slightly larger than a full-sized violin bow and a bit sturdier. Playing the instruments is quite different as it takes a good deal more bow pressure and a more dramatic (or aggressive) technique for the viola, in order to get a good strong sound.
Many viola-ists begin as violinists. It is difficult for children to handle a viola and most students cannot manage a full-sized viola until their teen years. And finally, the bigger the viola, the more resonance; this is an eternal struggle. (How large can the instrument get and still be playable?)
The main tuning of the strings of a viola can be described as one octave higher than the 'cello and one octave lower than the violin.
1) A viola is slightly larger.
2) A viola doesn't have the highest violin string (the E string) but instead has a string 5 notes lower than the violin can reach (the C string).
3) Viola music is generally written in the tenor clef, whereas violin music is written in treble clef.
Many people believe that the difference is just the size: the viola is just a larger version of the violin. However, many people fail to realize that as a result, the viola focuses on a deeper and middle voice sound, while the violin focuses on a high, melodic sound. In orchestras, the violin usually takes on the melody while the viola takes on the middle voice. Moreover, another technical difference is that a violin has the strings: GDAE... while a viola has the strings: CGDA.
As answered by Charlotte Rose:
A viola is bigger than a violin and has a lower pitch. A viola's sound also tends to carry more because it has a fuller sound if played right.
Like the violin, they come in 4 standard sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full size.
A violin has a high E string but a viola doesn't. Instead, a viola has a low C string as its lowest string, instead of the G string which is lowest on a violin.
It is not just the size (most violas are between 15 and 17 inches long): a viola player is going to read music mainly in the Alto Clef whilst a violinist reads music in the Treble Clef. (But both occasionally read the other clef.)
More details
A violin and a viola have differently tuned strings. They both have A, D, and G strings but the viola has a low C string and the violin has a high E string. The sound of the strings will also sound deeper since the viola is bigger and has a overall lower register of possible notes than the violin.
The viola bow is slightly larger than a full-sized violin bow and a bit sturdier. Playing the instruments is quite different as it takes a good deal more bow pressure and a more dramatic (or aggressive) technique for the viola, in order to get a good strong sound.
Many violists begin as violinists. It is difficult for children to handle a viola and most students cannot manage a full-sized viola until their teen years. And finally, the bigger the viola, the more resonance; this is an eternal struggle. (How large can the instrument get and still be playable?)
The main tuning of the strings of a viola can be described as one octave higher than the 'cello and one octave lower than the violin.
An excellent answer from Charlotte Rose:
A viola is bigger than a violin and has a lower pitch. A viola's sound also tends to carry more because it has a fuller sound if played right.
Like the violin, they come in 4 standard sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full size.
A violin has a high E string but a viola doesn't. Instead, a viola has a low C string as its lowest string, instead of the G string which is lowest on a violin.
It is not just the size (most violas are between 15 and 17 inches long): a viola player is going to read music mainly in the Alto Clef whilst a violinist reads music in the Treble Clef. (But both occasionally read the other clef.)
More details
A violin and a viola have differently tuned strings. They both have A, D, and G strings but the viola has a low C string and the violin has a high E string. The sound of the strings will also sound deeper since the viola is bigger and has a overall lower register of possible notes than the violin.
The viola bow is slightly larger than a full-sized violin bow and a bit sturdier. Playing the instruments is quite different as it takes a good deal more bow pressure and a more dramatic (or aggressive) technique for the viola, in order to get a good strong sound.
Many violists begin as violinists. It is difficult for children to handle a viola and most students cannot manage a full-sized viola until their teen years. And finally, the bigger the viola, the more resonance; this is an eternal struggle. (How large can the instrument get and still be playable?)
The main tuning of the strings of a viola can be described as one octave higher than the 'cello and one octave lower than the violin.
Yes, the viola ones are bigger since the viola is bigger.
Well, no because it'll only end up being a violin... and the only difference between a viola and a violin is it's strings and the size of it for the note pitch.... Well the thing is that for people that aren't commfortable with the violin finger board, they usually have a viola, but there is violin strings. Which means that you are playing the violin all thought the body and shape is the viola. So you can use violin strings on a viola.
Viola is bigger by 2 to 3 inches. The size of a viola varies(unlike the violin) but it is always bigger then a violin.
The "Viola Family" is the history of the viola and violin ,alias, the "violin family."
They both are from the violin and the string family. The violin and viola also share 3 of the same strings: G string, D string, and A string. They generally look the same, except the viola is usually bigger than the violin (depending on the size of the viola).
A viola has the (left to right) C,G,D,A strings and the violin has G,D,A,E strings
A viola has the (left to right) C,G,D,A strings and the violin has G,D,A,E strings
Yes, the viola ones are bigger since the viola is bigger.
You hold a cello between your knees, whereas you hold a viola/violin between your chin and shoulder.
Well, no because it'll only end up being a violin... and the only difference between a viola and a violin is it's strings and the size of it for the note pitch.... Well the thing is that for people that aren't commfortable with the violin finger board, they usually have a viola, but there is violin strings. Which means that you are playing the violin all thought the body and shape is the viola. So you can use violin strings on a viola.
Viola is bigger by 2 to 3 inches. The size of a viola varies(unlike the violin) but it is always bigger then a violin.
The "Viola Family" is the history of the viola and violin ,alias, the "violin family."
The viola is held in between your chin and left shoulder. Same as a violin :)
First of all a violin is smaller than a viola making it higher pitched. The viola isn't very low compared to the violin, it's just about 5 (I'm guessing) notes deeper.
They both are from the violin and the string family. The violin and viola also share 3 of the same strings: G string, D string, and A string. They generally look the same, except the viola is usually bigger than the violin (depending on the size of the viola).
The violin will not by itself try to become a viola, so it doesn't have to be restrained. Should you want to restring it, you would have to use viola strings en set them at the right pitch. But since a viola is larger than a violin, you'll never get the exactly right viola sound in the ears of connaisseurs. Lesser people will hardly hear the difference.
violin, viola