Violin Forum/Message Board

[Stradsman]

Just how different is the technique on the viola? I understand that it's tuned CGAD and that it's a bit bigger. I'd like to buy a cheap viola and practice it alongside the viola, just to learn more about it and enjoy the sound.

For example, I play in octaves relatively fast and effectively on the violin. Is the same technique as easy on the viola?
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"No one should be allowed to play the violin until he has mastered it."
Jim Fiebig

[Lemuel]

Basically the same principles apply for technique - bearing in mind that the viola is larger and heavier, your arm will be extended further out. Your fingers will have to stretch a little further apart for notes, octaves, double stops,...etc.

Since our minds are very habitual by nature, you will have to recondition your mind to match your bowing to the notes you want to play (Example: You would play some notes on the 1st string on the viola that you would normally play on the second string on the violin).

[Stradsman]

Thank you! That's a great thing about playing a string instrument. You get an insight into a number of other instruments.
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"No one should be allowed to play the violin until he has mastered it."
Jim Fiebig

[gavin_rossdale]

One other small adjustment I make is that I hold the violin a little more in front and the viola a little more to the side which I think is just a natural tendency due to the size of the instruments.

[matveimediaarts]

A 14" viola is the same size as a violin, only with different tuning. You may want to start with one of those.
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