Are Violin and Viola Same Musical Instruments?

Are Violin and Viola Same Musical Instruments

?

To the question whether the violin and viola are same musical instruments the answer is Yes and No.

As compared to violin, the viola is much larger in physical size as well as longer string lengths. Besides, the viola is generally strung with thicker strings than the violin. The thicker strings of the viola mean that more pressure must be applied with the bow to make them produce sound.

The fact, however, remains that the material used and manner of construction of both the instruments are similar. Unlike the violin, there are no prescribed standard sizes for a full viola.

For long, viola manufacturers have experimented with all sorts of sizes and shapes for the viola though bulk of their efforts has not succeeded. Increasing the size of the body of the viola has often resulted in a much deeper tone of the instrument, more like the tone of a cello. Some recent innovations are making the viola shorter and lighter while finding ways to retain the traditional sound.

To put things in proper perspective, the violin is the highest pitched instrument of the entire violin family that includes the viola, the cello, and the double bass. The viola may be deemed as the second highest pitched member of the violin family. The viola has a key role in the symphony, although its solo repertory is limited.

The violin and viola have many things in common including shape and color, but the sounds they emanate are different albeit both the sounds are equally pleasing.

As regards the bow, if the end which the artiste holds the bow is a straight 90 degree angle, then it is a violin bow. The viola bow, on the other hand, is a 90 degree angle with a curved corner and is a lot heavier.

When looking at the strings, you will observe that he violin has an E string and devoid of C string, whereas for the viola it is the opposite. Coming to the pitch, the violin has a higher e-string while the viola has a lower c-string.

Music professionals confirm that violins generally play higher pitched parts of music while Viola plays the lower pitched parts. However the techniques involved are much the same for both the instruments and they require the same level of training and practice to gain proficiency.

When deciding whether to learn playing the violin or the viola, you should take into consideration the size of your hand. Aspirants endowed with large hands can opt for the viola as those with small hands may find playing the viola somewhat inconvenient. For a person who wants to be conspicuous and get noticed in a concert, violin is the obvious choice. But if you are quiet and unassuming and yet passionate, then viola is the ideal instrument for you.

Be it the violin or viola, you need a competent and knowledgeable trainer if you are keen to learn. As viola players are relatively fewer, you may have difficulty in identifying a good viola teacher in your vicinity whereas getting an experienced violin teacher may be easier. But, if you are looking to make it big in music, then learning viola is the right thing to do because there are not many capable viola players out there.

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