The viola is slightly larger than the violin. Like the violin, sound is produced by the drawing the bow across one of the four strings or by plucking the string with a finger. All orchestra string instruments produce sound in the same manner. The main differences are the sizes of the instruments and how high or low each instrument can sound.
The viola is a very old instrument. It has been basically unchanged for hundreds of years. The viola looks and sounds a lot like a violin. The difference has to do with size and pitch. Both instruments have four strings. The highest violin string is the ‘E’ string. If you were to remove this highest string and add a new lowest string or ‘C’ string, you would have a viola.
The viola is not nearly as popular as the violin. Because there are fewer violists, orchestra teachers consider a good viola player as a very valuable asset to the group. Violas are seen in symphony orchestra and occasionally in popular group string sections. In experienced hands the viola can perform beautiful solo melodies as well as the more typical harmony parts with the violin.
The viola is a very old instrument. It has been basically unchanged for hundreds of years. The viola looks and sounds a lot like a violin. The difference has to do with size and pitch. Both instruments have four strings. The highest violin string is the ‘E’ string. If you were to remove this highest string and add a new lowest string or ‘C’ string, you would have a viola.
The viola is not nearly as popular as the violin. Because there are fewer violists, orchestra teachers consider a good viola player as a very valuable asset to the group. Violas are seen in symphony orchestra and occasionally in popular group string sections. In experienced hands the viola can perform beautiful solo melodies as well as the more typical harmony parts with the violin.