Well at the moment I play the Tuba, Bassoon, and trying to shape up a bit on trumpet and with me, nearing the end of my school years and finally majoring in something I figured I want to choose the right instrument to play professionally and which one to play for fun at home. As most of you can see from my choice in instruments (well maybe except trumpet) I like the bass to middle ranges and I would like to get the melody every once in a while giving a good ground for the orchestra to play on.

What instrument would you play if you had these set of qualities and what piece of music would you suggest me to look at to see if I like the sound and tone of the instrument? Thank you a lot in advance. You may be changing a future here XD

Perhaps the cello? Violin/viola would probably have too high a range, and double bass might be too low - a cello would have a 'bass to middle range'.

Sorry, I don't know enough about playing the cello to reccommend any pieces of music, but perhaps some kindly cellist will come along soon!

Good luck .

Viola or cello. Viola may go quite high, but it's main 'thrust' is in the mid ranges. Cello can go every bit as high, but an octave lower. Depends also on how much money you have. Cellos are about 4 times as costly as violas!!!!!

To get anywhere near tuba/basoon pitch it has to be cello or double bass.

I'm not sure quite what you are asking though. Are you thinking of choosing a string instrument to study at college (sorry never know the right terminology for the American education system) and then play professionally? If so, then given your age, the only string instrument you are likely to be able to get a place in a professional orchestra starting now is bass and even that will be tough. It's nice and deep sounding but you may only get the melody for about 4 bars once every 3-5 years. I fear you have left it too late to become a professional orchestral player in any of the higher instruments.

If you want a string instrument to play for enjoyment only then cello will give you more chance of the melody and generally more interesting parts to play. It is the main provider of lower harmony and underlying beat/rhythm for the string section if that is what you enjoy. You can start now and get into amateur orchestras and have fun.

I'm not sure you should just get some music and try to see if you like it. I would recommend some lessons to try it out as there are lots of techniques which are very different from brass or woodwind.

If you are determined to have a go yourself then the string builder series of tutor books exist for all the instruments I think. They are not childish (no silly pictures) and take you through fingering for all the notes at a reasonably fast pace with some good tunes along the way

Actually, double bass can play some nice 'higher' melodies (loads I would say, see on youtube or example). And it is thought to be the 'easier' one to learn in a short space of time (so they say).
so yes, double bass or cello
have fun in choosing
ps as double bass is an 'endangered instrument' you may find that if you are a student (at school/college) you may be able to borrow it for free or rent it at 'slashed prices', it is also well known not just in classical but also jazz and rock music (can't you tell I love the double bass??? )

Yes, i'm thinking of choosing a stringed instrument to play in college and then play professionally once I get out of college.

I play tuba and I know what you mean, its just makes it oh so much better when I actually do get the melody XD.

jojo: I'll go look at some of the youtube videos ^^

Also I'm in 10th grade which means its my tenth year in school and I only have 2 left. Also, i'm 15 atm.

you could start with this:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u16a_w0BTTc
you can also see/hear it played alongside violin (played by Vengerov), this video is EXCELLENT, its double bass and violin 'racing' each other and it is 'breath-taking'!!!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNKiilwpdk&...ted&search=
I thoroughly reccomend watching it!!

I like it, now I have to find out where to buy/rent a double bass x.x

Edit: Well, how long do you think it will take to learn cello or Viola well enough to play it. I am willing to practice every day and such and I really want to learn. Also, the double bass is really out of my price range with 2000 for a cheap instrument. x.x. Once I get into college I will probably stay and practice for four years, please consider that.

Edit 2: Let me edit the topic post. I do like a low bass sound but I like do like a lot of higher sounds. The reason I play a lot of bass instruments is because my lips are large and getting high notes are hard for me. I'm willing to play Viola and cello at the moment, Double bass cost a lot and renting price seems to be a bit much for my parents . I would like to say I have the money to just go out right now and I buy both but I don't and I want to know which instrument, with constant practice, will give me a better chance at a job since I like the sound of both evenly.

If your budget is $2000 for a reasonable instrument, I'd say go for the viola then. Good cellos are much more expensive than good violas IMO. However, just see which instrument you like better. If you're really good in college, some schools give out scholarships and if you get one, you can use the money to get yourself a good instrument.

Well, of course I'm gonna say go for viola and what Andromeda says (and I mentioned too in my first post int his thread) about costs is true too. You have to pay 4 times as much for a cello. Also, the world needs more violists!!! You have to learn a new clef, but that's no big deal. Having said that, cello is mostly in bass (esp in the early levels) and can go very high. To be honest, I would have a good listen to some of the repertoire and see which sound you like best. It's way more than just range, there's a distinctly different sound quality to each instrument.

As for how long it takes, it's a complex combination of a lot of things: how much time you have, be it daily or not, how well you take to it, how many bad habits you pick up in the early stages (a good teacher will work towards good habits very conscientiously from day one and DON'T even try to start learning without a teacher - even bow hold can be tricky!! ), and how good your ear is. One thing's for sure - it ain't easy, but you have a musical background, so you have a lot on your side already.

Have fun!

You will have a hard job on any string instrument becoming a professional from where you are now but I think Double Bass is the most likely.

Just out of interest, why aren't you thinking of studying one of the instruments you already play as your professional instrument?

There are a lot more cellists around than viola players, so you would have a better chance of getting into a college playing viola than cello, but viola is not an easy instrument to play well. I'm not sure that it would be possible to reach a high enough standard on it in just two years. Typically you would need to be playing some of the intermediate level concertos to a reasonable standard by the time you apply.

You are much more likely to win a place at college playing double bass, because fewer people learn to play it, so there is less competition.

If you want to try out a low cost double bass type instrument, the cardboard bass made by Bogdon costs just 70 dollars and sounds surprisingly good. Here is a google video of it in action.

There are a number of melodies given to the bass. The Elephant from Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals. The opening to the slow movement of Mahler's first symphony. Schubert 'Trout' Quintet. Stravinsky's Pulcinella. The later romantic and modern 20th century orchestral repertoire is also quite difficult! On the solo side of things, there are various concerti written for double bass.

The baroque repertoire is surprisingly difficult too, since the double bass does exactly what it says on the box, it 'doubles the bass'. Baroque parts for cello are doubled by the bass and those can be fast moving movements!!

OK, so you won't be playing them all of the time, but in general the repertoire is a lot more complex than the 'oom-pah-pah, oom-pah-pah', most people would associate with the instrument.

As far as I can see from the video it is a purely electric instrument like a large homemade bass guitar - so no proper bridge. It would be fine for some jazz style pizzicato playing but no bowed techique would be possible

I mainly play tuba and the only reason I play it is because that was suggested by my teacher. I'm not that great on it but I seem to be better on it than the two seniors, Bassoon I started last year and it was fun for a while but I stopped playing it. I play trumpet from time to time but I don't have a book to study from so i'm kinda waiting on it.

Now I've listened to some Videos on youtube and I have a few classical cds laying around and it seems that I like the sound of a Viola more than Cello. Yes I'm getting a teacher for what instrument I do learn and don't get me wrong, music is what I want to do. If my skills aren't up to the task for a college conservatory, then I will practice for enough years until I can play, Two years is an optimistic timing because thats pretty much when I start my senior. In total,l it will most likely be three by the time I apply for college.

Tuba players who double on a string instrument, both to professional standard, have an edge in applying for jobs in orchestras, because so many works don't use tubas that the managements of the smaller orchestras prefer to bring them in as extras when required. Having one within the orchestra, playing something else the rest of the time, suits the management. It also suits the player, because MU rates specify a doubling fee whenever s/he plays both instruments in one concert. Double bass is the traditional doubling instrument for a tuba player, but I don't see why the viola (the other "Cinderella" instrument) should not be just as good. In the past, the double bass would have been the easier option, because rather few people could start it before they were well grown, so late starters were at only minimal disadvantage. Nowadays, the mini-bass project means the competition is fiercer, and it's probably no easier than on the viola.

Proffetional stnadard on 2 instruments is must be very hard... lol

Ok, i'm pretty sure I have picked Viola as my new instrument but that one thing that is stopping me is Prelude to Bach's Suite for Cello Solo Nr. 1 G major. Do you know of any other music that uses the cello's high range (compared to other video I've seen) and do you know of any music using the Viola's low range.

Cello suites are available transcribed for viola and most music specifially for viola makes use of it's lower ranges. Vieuxtemps' Sonata for viola and piano has a good C-string section, but he's very high technical level, as is most genuine repertoire for any instrument. Go to the AB's main site and look at the viola syllabus. The 'real' stuff starts from grade 6 on and that should also give you some listening ideas. If you don't mind contemporary music (which I hate, so I can't recommend pieces) then you'll find lots of viola stuff as it's becoming more popular to write for and someone who likes that genre can no doubt suggest some things there.

It's really hard not to be impatient to get to 'real' music when you start a new instrument as someone beyond childhood, but we have to be! I know, 'cos I'm in the same boat - stuck doing viola beginners' exercises and endless bowing practise before I can really learn to play anything!

My faves for viola are the 2 Brahms sonatas, Hummels Fantasie and Bruch's Romance. I also love the famous Telemann concerto and the 2 by Hoffmeister. Don't just go by watching on-line videos, get some good CDs in!

Online videos are the way to go when you don't have enough money to get CDs lol.

There's some brilliant stuff on a CD called "English Music for Viola" which has pieces by Britten, Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger, Frank Bridge, Arnold Bax, and someone who I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of - Rebecca Clarke.

Only if you like 20C English music though. I didn't buy this one on the principle that I don't!!! Everyone's different though, but I love the Romantic and Baroque sorts of periods - actual melody!

Rebecca Clarke's a big name in British viola music although I've only heard one of her pieces. If I hope to take high level exams one day, I guess I shall have to 'learn' to like the genre...

Thanks everyone for the help. My dad has just agree'd on getting me a viola and my private teacher is the principal violist at university of central arkansas. I have another question though, how do I determine what size Viola I need? Also, I'm considering renting from Saied music and I was wondering if you could take a look at some of the violas here and tell me if these are reasonable instruments for 35 dollars a month.

I had a look at the violas on the Saied website. I think they are American brands and not marketed here in the UK (but I might be wrong about this). On the viola lists, however, people seem to be happy with Eastman violas - they seem to like the Eastman 305 model. I have not heard of the other make before. You would need to contact other rental companies to see if the rate is reasonable for your area.

As for getting the correct size viola, you should get your new teacher to advise you as to what size would be appropriate for you.

I'm going go try and rent the viola this week and visit the teacher late this week, or next week. I don't think showing up without an instrument is going to be an effective use of 70 a month.

Well no, but neither do you want to end up with a viola that you can't handle because it's too big. Others much more expert than I am will be able to advise you better, but my understanding is that if you put it under your chin and put into a playing position you should be able to get your left hand comfortably round the scroll. If you go to a music shop, the people in the shop should be able to advise you and let yuo try different sizes. I've always rented instruments on the understanding that the shop will exchange them (or if necessary cancel the agreement) if the teacher doesn't like them.

Incidentally, my viola is 15.5 inches and I'm only 5'3, so on the assumptrion that you're taller than that, I'd try a 16 inch one initially. In my (very limited) experience, the bigger they are, the better they sound, but the downside is that bigger ones are heavier and harder to play.

Actually, I bought a 15 inch viola and I'm pretty comfortable with it, I already broke the A string though >_>

Whoops! I've managed not to break any yet, but my old teacher did! How did you do it? Over-zealous peg turning??

Woo! 15" is quite tiny - esp for a guy! Most women uses 15.5" and men 16". Still, I daresay you'll move on to something bigger later on and the quality of sound has as much to do with the musician as anything else.

Have fun!

Heh, Exactly. Is 15 that small, the store I went to had a ton of 14 and below and only had one 15 that wasn't even supposed to be there which is why I got it so cheap compared to what it originally cost.

Fifteen is VERY small for a viola, really. Most players use at least 15.5, Mine is 17 inch.

That said, there are some great sounding smaller instruments (I used to have a gliga viola which was 15.5 inches and that sounded better than some 16 inch violas I've heard).

As long as the instrument suits you and you enjoy playing it, you will make a good sound eventually. If you need to change to a larger instrument, your teacher will let you know.

Enjoy!