Sorry to ask this, but What is the difference between Viola and Violin? I am wishing to take one up, because I love the sound but I don`t know the difference.

Thanks a lot for your time,
~ Chloe

A viola is tuned a 5th lower than the violin so the strings are C G D A whereas the violin strings are G D A E.A viola can produce rich and mellow low notes that the violin cant, and if you want to get good on viola you would have to learn both alto and treble clef.its really which preference you have and which one you prefer the sound of. Hope this helps!

Hmmm, is alto clef and tenor clef different? I`ve heard of tenor clef and know the sign thingy, but alto clef, I searched on google and has the same sign. Alto and Tenor is different right?

^different. Middle C is in the middle of alto clef while it`s one line up on the tenor clef. (thus making the tenor clef for lower notes)

i`d choose the viola over the violin. there are too many violinists... lol. i like the viola`s sound better too.

Oh, ok jay. I personally like viola better than violin, as you said everyone does it! Sure, viola parts might be boring at the starting, but when you get better music you get better parts. In an orchestra or symphony, violas play 3rd violin normally and occasionally get viola parts right? Anyways, the rich sound of the viola is great!

The violin is smaller and higher ( tuned G-D-A-E ) and the viola is larger and deeper ( tuned C-G-D-A ).
But the biggest difference of all is the sound. The violin has a loud, peircing and brilliant sound, where as the viola has a soft, dark and warm sound. It`s very hard to the discribe the difference, but There is quite a large difference in tone colour. The best way to understand the tone colour of the viola is to hear one played.

Okay, thanks a lot guys, you`ve been really helpful.

Could you also please tell me if you play viola with it on the floor and then you use a bow (like a cello), or do you play it like a violin?

Thanks a bunch

You play it like a violin. The position is slightly different, but on the whole very similar to violin.

The clefs are different. The viola sounds lower. The viola is bigger. The strings are different.

Here`s an easier question-what`s the same about the violin and the viola? :P

Btw, Riki, the alto cleff is just another name for the tenor cleff. The cleff for the violin is the treble cleff.

ok i see that most of the people here like viola`s i play the violin but really if u can play a violin u can play a viola they are very similiar just its bigger and doesnt hav an e string instead has a c string

Yes, you can pick it up and get a sound...but, it is different. You have to hold it slightly different. You have to be able to read a different clef. And, you have to adjust your hand to the slightly bigger instrument. The distance between half steps and whole steps is going to be slightly different. If you are a musician already, and have good violin skills, then, you should be able to convert to viola rather quickly. And, although viola is the favorite here it seems...I am a violinist...who has played violin, viola, cello, and bass. I am in love with the sound of the cello (melt me)...and a well played viola is something to hear (Bloch liked violas, gave them good parts...listen to his music). I think I like violin better because, it sounds most like a human voice, if played right. It also has this clear sound that I`ve never found on another instrument. It is clear (like flute), but organic sound. The wood gives it this alive, organic sound. I do love the warmth of the viola. But, I play a very warm toned violin...I like the darker E. Either way, I say, everyone should play strings!!!