Viola

Violas are members of the string family of instruments, and closely related to the violin. They occupy the alto space of the violin family, with the violin taking the soprano and the cello and bass taking the lower parts. Slightly larger than the violin, violas have a lower, more mellow sound than the violin. As a result, they have historically been relegated to accompaniment roles. However, there is a large body of work devoted entirely to the beautiful tones of the viola, and many solo parts in orchestral pieces from famous composers.

The Instrument

Violas are shaped exactly like violins. There is no standard size; the individual player uses the largest size they are comfortable playing. Violas have four strings and are played with a bow. They are tuned using pegs at the top. Tightening the pegs makes the notes higher, while loosening them makes the notes lower.

Music