viola inventory

Viola or Violin?

Pitch and Strings

• The Violin: The highest-pitched instrument in the string family with four strings tuned to E, A, D, and G. It is known for bright melodies.

• The Viola: It's tuned exactly one fifth lower than a violin with four strings at A, D, G, and C. It loses the high E string of the violin but gains a deep, low C string, allowing it to play much lower notes.

Size and Scale

• The Violin: Violins have standardized fractional sizes. A full-sized adult violin has a body length of 14 inches.

• The Viola: Violas are larger, wider, and thicker than violins. Adult violas are measured by the total length of their body in inches (typically 15 to 17 inches) rather than fractions. Because they are larger and heavier, they require a slightly wider finger span and arm reach to play.

Tone and Sound Profile

• The Violin: Bright, vibrant, and brilliant. It easily cuts through the sound of an orchestra and is frequently the main solo instrument.

• The Viola: Deep, warm, and mellow. Often described as dark, rich & soulful. It provides the harmonic middle ground blending the higher register of a violin & lower sound of a cello.

Reading Music

• The Violin: Violin music is written entirely in the Treble Clef.

• The Viola: Viola music is written in the Alto Clef. It's one of the only modern instruments that uses this specific clef, meaning a violin player must learn a new way to read notes to play the viola.

SHARNEL CROWN   Intermediate Viola

16" intermediate viola with mellow tone, better resonance & aged wood construction. upgraded strings (c,g,d,a), custom bridge, bow & padded transport case

$340 + GST