For those among us whose hearing has become high-frequency-challenged, the viola has its charms. Personally, the 'big viola' produces sounds in its lower register I much relish.

The top of the violin range I can only notice now by the fermata I 'hear' in compositions.

 

Of course the viola's better than the violin! I've traded instruments with the violinists I sit next to in orchestra occasionally during breaks, and they fell in love with it the first time. So I don't blame you in the slightest.

 

I agree entirely re the viola. I started learning the violin a couple of years ago, but when I picked up the viola and heard its glorious tone, I didn't pick the violin up again.

 

Legato, I am interested that you were learning the violin for two years , and just wondered how far you got with that. Are you able to play a few pieces competently now. As I am also an older student , I am just wondering what stage I should be at by now after two years learning violin.

Is the Viola easier to learn?

 

Thanks Stroopwafel,
How long does it take to learn to play reasonably good though?

 

Thanks Stroopwafel,
How long does it take to learn to play reasonably good though?

there's an old saying that string players have to have an active fantasy life....otherwise you'll never make through the first 15 years

 

One is better than the other? Nonsense. Both have their proper place in the ensemble. The higher registers of the violin are just as necessary as the lower registers of the viola, cello, and double bass for proper blending. Just play whichever you prefer to play.

 

Answer to Potiphera's question

Oh, no I was learning violin for about a year when I checked out a viola and fell in love with the rich tone. I've been learning viola for just over a year now and can play intermediate pieces, by Bach, Mozart, Dvorak, Becker, etc. But it's never a good idea to compare, is it, because we all learn at different paces. It seems to me that as long as we're enjoying it, nothing else matters.

 

Oh, sorry, I thought we were just talking about our personal preferences.

 

Hello again, I forgot to answer your last question. I was told the viola was more difficult - I think because of its size - but I haven't found it any different from the violin.

 

I so much prefer the low C string rather than the high E string on the violin and there is some beautiful music written for the viola. Take for example "romance from the gadfly suite by Shostakovich" the viola entry is simply beautiful.

X

Sure. Tastes may vary. But keep in mind that for every beautiful Shostakovich Gadfly there's a few dozen Sibelius or Khachaturian concerti.

 

It depends what standard you are, because the viola and violin are closely related it's relative easy to transfer. The viola does read the alto clef and once you learn that you can just start to learn the instrument I believe. I started to learn the violin at first and I've always stuck with it but I just learnt the viola to go along with it so I have it alway there even tho I prefer it. I am basically the same standard on each.

 

Yea ok, I was Just giving one example!

 

I have been learning the violin since I was 6 so for 10 years now and I have reached 7 standard. But if and when you transfer you will reach the same standard fairly quickly because you know the technique and bow hold etc. It's just the adjustment of a bigger size and new clef to read.

 

I have played both, and they are great instruments, but the viola I would say is better. For one, you have to work a little harder (but not much) to get a better sound out of it as it is sort of a non-proportional instrument compared to cello or violin, and two, if you don't get a good sound, it is certainly better than listening to a high-pitched out of tune violin.

 

I simply adore the viola. It's my favourite orchestral instrument, and I love the rich tone of the C-string.
I do love the violin, too - a very versatile and agile instrument - but not so much.

 

i've been playing cello for a year, but i had a hard time deciding between cello and viola,and every now and then i still pick up the viola. i have not practiced reading the alto clef out of fear that it will distract me and adversely effect my cello work, but i work on the finger positions and play it reading bass clef. i prefer the voice of the cello by a little, but the viola is so much easier to transport, and often there are too few violists. i am torn between the two and while the cello is first now, i can see how that could change in the future.

 

A notable violinist I knew once said to me mediocre violinists often turn to the viola when they realise they will never be able to produce a decent tone on the violin.

 

Not sure the tone is the issue. More the required technical skill for the repertoire. When you have studied difficult violin repertoire, viola repertoire is not difficult.

 

I played the viola for 2 year and the violin for 2 years and I generally think Viola is better especially as it has the C string

 

I played violin (Irish fiddle actually) for 15 or so years, then a couple years ago I picked up a 16" viola and fell in love

the deep tones of the lower strings, the melancholy sound of the upper register....just loved it

now I have a viola that is around 100 years old and it is just wonderful. I haven't even taken my violin out of the case since last summer

you know who makes up all those viola jokes?

violin players with nothing better to do on a Friday night!

 

I've never understood why the viola is the butt of so many jokes. it's a fine instrument.

 

It is not the instrument at all, but the players and the pieces. Viola players are sometimes failed violinist and in many works the viola part is both simpler and less interesting.
A small step on the way to the trianglist.

 

I love the sound of both instruments. The viola has a lovely mellow tone and the E string on the fiddle can be a bit squeaky sometimes.

But I don't think the viola is 'better'. Horses for courses. I don't have the time to learn viola and anyway my passion is for traditional dance/ folk tunes. For these the fiddle is by far the best, since most of these tunes were composed for that instrument.

The cello has made a comeback as an accompanying/ harmonising instrument for fiddle in Scottish traditional music (think Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas), just as it was in the eighteenth century. The viola would sound absolutely fabulous in the same role. But I wouldn't want to abandon the joy of playing the melody in our local session!

I ain't young - I ain't chic.
It matters little,
Cos I can play my fiddle!

 

...(think Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas)...

Didn't know about these two until now... thanks so much. Just listened to a couple of their tunes on youtube. They are fantastic together. I'll take any chance I can get to hear a cello in just about any context.

 

Great to hear from some string players on this Forum! I think, after a lifetime as a performer, that you do not choose an instrument . . . an instrument chooses you. I started on guitar in the 60's since it was affordable and popular. However, at 14, I saw my first tenor sax in a pawn shop on State St. in Chicago and couldn't get it out of my head until my Mom bought me my first C Melody sax a year later from a retiring musician in the neighborhood. I was obsessed with it until my early 30's until I took a forced hiatus from Music. Ten years later after that painful withdrawal, I realized that saxophone was no longer practical in my life and retooled to my second love-- guitar and began the study/performance of Classical guitar. Over the last 35 years, I have come to love the guitar(Classical/Jazz) in a new way but when I was born, there was a Sax stamped on my soul. You don't choose an instrument . . . an instrument chooses you!
Cheers, Viajero

P.S. I love all members of the violin family!

 

P.S. I love all members of the violin family!

Sorry, but I couldn't resist...

 

there's another element to it, too, in the violin to viola crossover...supply and demand.

Making an orchestra, even a small local symphony isn't easy. Seats dont become available all the time and there are alot of people auditioning for the ones that do come up. If you have a choice of making an orchestra on viola or not making an orchestra on violin and ending up driving a delivery van, which would you choose?

This is at the heart of the viola jokes, really. The idea that the viola section are just washed out violinists.

but the instruments that get the most musician jokes made about them are the viola, soprano singers, guitar players, drummers, and banjo players

How do you get a guitar player to turn down?

..put a sheet of music in front of him

 

the instruments that get the most musician jokes made about them are the viola, soprano singers, guitar players, drummers, and banjo players.

Don’t forget the triangulist.