The viola and the violin are both crucial orchestral instruments. The viola origins trace to the beginnings of orchestral music itself. In fact, the viola is considered to be the first of the string instruments to be developed and is said to have played an important role in the composition of chamber music with string quintets. It was also the favorite instrument of the great Sebastian Bach. As to the beginnings of the violin, the violin came a bit later, when the first violin became popular during the late 16th century Baroque period.
These two musical instruments share a number of striking similarities, but are ultimately very different from each other. For instance, they both trace their origins to Italy and they both require a bow. However, this is where the parallels end. Below are the key differences between the viola and violin.
Size. The violin is considerably smaller than the viola and it has a longer bow. The viola, has no standard size to speak of but it is definitely bigger than the violin. It also has thicker and heavier strings.
Sound. The treble clef is often used in violin pieces while viola pieces are often composed in the C clef. This means that the viola has a deeper and mellower sound when compared to the higher-pitched violin. When orchestra members tune their instruments, the violin is tuned one-fifth above the viola’s sound. In fact, the violin is capable of hitting the highest notes in the orchestra.
Playing Techniques. There is a significant difference between the techniques used to play the viola and violin. This is primarily caused by the size difference between the viola and the violin. Violinists play their instruments by letting it rest on the left side of their jaw which serves as a chin-rest while being supported by the violinist’s left shoulder, and then take their left hand to press on the heavy strings while using their right hand to pluck or bow the instrument’s strings.
If you are looking for private music lessons to learn your preferred musical instrument, whether it’s the viola, violin, guitar, piano, voice, flute and more … simply contact Kathryn Brickwell Music today at https://www.music-instruction.com and 800-285-5732. They offer private music lessons for music students of all ages and experience levels. In closing, the differences between the viola and violin may seem minor to those unfamiliar with musical instruments. However, it is these little differences that define both the viola and the violin. Nevertheless, … whether it’s the viola, the violin or another musical instrument, check out Kathryn Brickwell Music today for professional private music lessons and instruction. https://www.music-instruction.com