difference between viola and violin

The violin, sometimes known as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular use. The violin typically has four strings, (some can have five), usually tuned in perfect fifths with notes G3, D4, A4, E5, and is most commonly played by drawing a bow across its strings. It can also be played by plucking the strings with the fingers (pizzicato) and, in specialized cases, by striking the strings with the wooden side of the bow (col legno).

Violins are important instruments in a wide variety of musical genres. They are most prominent in the Western classical tradition, both in ensembles (from chamber music to orchestras) and as solo instruments. Violins are also important in many varieties of folk music, including country music, bluegrass music, and in jazz. Electric violins with solid bodies and piezoelectric pickups are used in some forms of rock music and jazz fusion, with the pickups plugged into instrument amplifiers and speakers to produce sound. The violin has come to be incorporated in many non-Western music cultures, including Indian music and Iranian music. The name fiddle is often used regardless of the type of music played on it.

At first glance the violin and the viola are tricky to tell apart. Both are string instruments, both are played on the shoulder with a bow, and both can be a little painful when played by a beginner.

They look similar, but mistake one for the other and you run the risk of encountering the wrath of music geeks. To help you avoid this, we’ve outlined the key differences between the two string instruments.

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.

A little harder to spot is the discrepancy between each instrument’s bow – or, to be precise, its ‘frog’. This is the part of bow that players grip. On the viola bow the frog is chunkier and often curved, compared to the straight edge on a violin bow.

Are the strings of a viola different to the strings of a violin?

Even harder to notice is the difference in strings. The order on the violin from lowest to highest is G, D, A, E, but viola strings begin an interval of a 4th lower down, starting instead on C. Because of its size, viola strings must also be thicker than a violin’s, although both are made from the same materials – most commonly a synthetic core wound with metal.

So how do these differences affect the sound? Well, firstly the viola can go lower, making it better suited to playing music in lower registers. This is why viola players read music in the alto clef (rather than the treble clef that violin players use), and sit right in the centre of an orchestra in between the cellos and violins.

Another difference is the way each instrument ‘speaks’. Because of its thicker strings, the viola will ‘speak’ lower than the violin. This means the sound it makes is more mellow, and takes a little longer to be heard. Therefore, viola players need to stay right on top of the conductor’s tempo, and play with more pronounced articulation than violinist, so as not to get lost in the texture.

1. Size

The most obvious difference between the violin and viola is the size.

The viola is larger than the violin. The violin’s body is usually about 35 centimetres (14 inches) long. The viola, on the other hand, can be as big as 45 centimetres (18 inches) long. In addition, the viola is wider.

Both instruments come in numerous sizes: the viola in four, and the violin in nine. The smallest viola is, in fact, much smaller than a full-sized violin at just 30 centimetres (12 inches) long. These small violas are ideal for beginner students and children.

2. Strings

Although both the violin and viola use just four stings (electric violins and violas sometimes have six strings), the notes of each string differ.

• The violin strings are G, D, A, and E. E is highest, and G is lowest.
• The viola strings are C, G, D, and A. A is highest, and C is lowest.

The viola is tuned to be one-fifth lower than the violin. This lower range attracts many musicians to the viola. The thicker strings require a heavier hand, faster bow tempo, and greater bow weight.

3. Clef

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. One fantastic thing about the viola is that it is the only instrument to use that clef for notation.

4. The bow frogs are different

The frog is the part you hold at the end of the bow, which is decorated with a colourful slide and small circle. Viola bows are generally a bit heavier, and sometimes the frog is curved instead of straight-edged.

5. Listen to the pitch

The top string on a violin is an ‘E’, but the top string on a viola is the ‘A’ five notes below that. The overall pitch of a viola will generally sound lower, and a bit more mellow than a violin. Here’s awesome violist Jennifer Stumm, demonstrating a lovely mellow sound in Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata.

6. Look at their place in the orchestra

Stalking your orchestra crush and don’t fancy accidentally getting the name of their instrument wrong? If they’re sitting near the front on stage right, you can bet they’re a violinist. But if they’re sitting more in the centre of the orchestra, next to the cellos, they’re probably playing the viola.

Sometimes conductors like to mix it up a bit and split the violins up so the second violins are sitting opposite the first violins, but whatever happens the violas are right there in the thick of it.

7. 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’.

Within that, there were two families of violas – the viola da braccio (viola of the arm) and the viola da gamba (viola of the leg). The terms refer to whether they were played on the arm, like a violin, or by the legs, like a modern-day cello.

Which is Better: Violin or Viola?

Neither is better than the other. Both instruments have their advantages and disadvantages. If you like fast passages, clear sound, and high-pitched notes, then the violin is better for you. If you prefer slow, dark, and mellow notes, and your fingers are not that slim, then viola is better for you.

In an orchestra, the viola might not be as loud as the violin or other string instruments, but volume is not everything as each instrument has its uses. Both instruments are needed to create a beautiful listening experience.

Are Violas More Expensive Than Violins?

Usually, violas are more expensive than violins within the same quality range. Since the viola is larger than the violin, it costs a bit more, though usually not that much more. A slightly more expensive price might be also caused by supply and demand since not as many violas are sold compared to violins.

Thank you for staying with this post  “”until the end.

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