.. a VIOLA!

A real one, so now i don't have to use my violin + C string!

Tis 15 and 3/4 inches and is absolutely gorgeous It's fairly modern, mid C20 and has such a lovely tone, and goes really well with the bow i chose.

x

Hurrah for violas!

nick

How exciting! There's nothing like a new instrument for increasing your enthusiasm for playing. Hope you really enjoy your new purchase over the coming months.

Congratulations.

Violas forever!

Congratulations on your purchase but excuse my ignorance .... what's the difference between a violin and a viola?

A viola is bigger than a violin, and therefoure sounds lower in pitch - so much so that it reads from the Alto clef opposed to the Violin which reads the Soprano/treble clef.

It doesn't just sound lower in pitch, it is lower in pitch. 3 of the 4 strings are tuned the same as the violin, but there is a string below the lowest violin pitch and the top violin string is not included. So violin is G-D-A-E, but viola is C-G-D-A.

Also the sound quality is somewhat different - much mellower and less brilliant. It can also be somewhat louder than a violin owing to size and the lower notes and is considerably heavier than a violin, even though the body is usually only a couple of inches bigger. I can hold a violin very easily with no arm support, but my viola 'pulls' a lot further down, (although I can still do without arm support, but I daren't risk it for very long!). For such a similar instrument, there are quite a lot of differences!!

Never tell a violist s/he just plays a big violin though......
(A 'small cello' if you must!!! )

Thanx for the explanation.