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What Is the Difference Between a Violin and a Viola?
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Violin
Violin
Violin A full-sized acoustic violin, the highest-pitched instrument in the string family, commonly used in orchestras and chamber music.

What Is the Difference Between a Violin and a Viola?

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The primary difference between a violin and a viola lies in their size, tuning, tone, and role within an ensemble. The viola is slightly larger than the full-size violin, which typically has a body length of about 14 inches (35 cm), whereas standard violas for adults range from 15 to 16.5 inches (38 to 42 cm). This size difference contributes directly to their tonal contrast: the viola produces a deeper, warmer sound, while the violin has a brighter tone.

Both instruments have four strings, but the viola is tuned a fifth lower than the violin: g–d′–a′–e″ for the violin, and c–g–d′–a′ for the viola. This lower tuning, along with its thicker strings and larger body, gives the viola its characteristic mellow and rich timbre.

The two instruments also differ in notation. The violin uses the treble clef, while the viola is notated primarily in the alto clef, making it the only string instrument in the standard orchestra that uses this clef regularly. In an orchestral setting, violins typically carry the melody because of their higher pitch, while violas provide harmonic foundation and tonal depth.

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