Viola vs. Violin

One of the major differences between the violin and the viola is the clef that each instrument uses. The violin is played in the Treble Clef. The violin is known as the 'soprano voice' and is the highest instrument in the string family. The viola uses the Alto Clef, or C Clef.

Which is easier to play violin or viola?
Which is better violin or viola?
What is the main difference between the violin and the viola?
Are violas more expensive than violins?
Is Viola harder than violin?
Can a viola player play violin?
What is the hardest instrument to play?
Which came first violin or viola?
What do you call a viola player?
What does Viola mean?
What is a viola made of?
Is the viola older than the violin?

Which is easier to play violin or viola?

The viola is easier to learn for a beginner; if you can play the violin, you can also play the viola. There is far less competition with the viola, making it much easier to get a spot in an orchestra.

Which is better violin or viola?

Due to its size and its tuning, the viola can play notes that are four steps lower than the lowest notes on the violin, but violins can play higher notes than the viola. ... However, if you prefer to play the melody – or you desire to become a concertmaster someday – violin is probably your better choice.

What is the main difference between the violin and the viola?

So what are the differences between a viola and violin? The most obvious difference you'll notice when you place a violin and viola next to each other is their size. The viola is bigger, with an average body length of between 15.5 and 16.5 inches for adults, compared to the violin which is between 13 and 14 inches.

Are violas more expensive than violins?

Matthew Noykos. It seems most makers charge more for their violas than their violins. To me it seems they both take about the same amount of time to make. Fittings will be slightly more for viola, but not much and a lot of the wood I have, I could either make a violin or a viola.

Is Viola harder than violin?

Contrary to popular belief, playing the viola is actually harder than playing the violin. ... Overall, it is harder to make a good sound on the viola than it is on the violin because of its larger size, but the sound when it comes out is gorgeously rich and full.

Can a viola player play violin?

In contrary! Playing the viola will benefit your violin playing. You'll play lighter with a relaxed technique. By having to get used to larger distances between the fingers, your intonation (playing in tune) will improve.

What is the hardest instrument to play?

The violin often tops lists of the most difficult instruments to play. Why is the violin so difficult to play? It's a small instrument with strings that are played with a bow. To play the violin correctly, you have to hold it in the right position while maintaining good posture.

Which came first violin or viola?

Which came first? The first instruments that we would recognise as being in the violin family appeared in the 16th century. The names of all the instruments in the violin family – violin, violoncello, viola – come from the term 'viola'.

What do you call a viola player?

A person who plays the viola is called a violist or a viola player. The technique required for playing a viola has certain differences compared with that of a violin, partly because of its larger size: the notes are spread out farther along the fingerboard and often require different fingerings.

What does Viola mean?

A viola is a flower (“VI-ola”) or a musical instrument (“vee-OH-la”). The expression which means “behold!” is voila. It comes from a French expression literally meaning “look there!” In French it is spelled with a grave accent over the A, as voilà, but when it was adopted into English, it lost its accent.

What is a viola made of?

Traditionally, viola strings were made of catgut (dried out sheep or goat intestines) but they are now made of metallic materials such as titanium and aluminium.

Is the viola older than the violin?

A term used to refer to a variety of bow and string instruments. Nobody knows for sure where and when the first viola was created. However, it is known for a fact that the instrument was in use in northern Italy around the same time as its cousin, the violin (i.e. the first half of the 16th century).