Differences Between Violin and Viola

After a while playing this instrument (viola), I came across this kind of conversation quite a lot.

"Wow, is that a violin?"
"No, well it's actually a viola. It's different from the violin although they may look alike"
"Viola? You mean, violin?"
"..."

P/s, some people dont even know that viola even exist!

So, let's get started!

The violin and viola are both members of the string instrument family. The violin and viola look alike, and they have the same structure, color and are both played with a bow. However, there are some major differences between violin and viola. Major differences!

[Violin and viola. Image source : Google]

Andrea Amati and Gasparo da Salòwas were the first well-known maker of both violins and violas in the early 16th century. The two instruments are close cousins. Violas have a deeper and mellower sound than the violin. Both the instruments are orchestral string instruments and they originated in Italy. Viola was called the ‘alto-tenor’ violin at first. The term ‘viola’ was given to any Western stringed instrument that was bowed.

[Gasparo da Salòwas. Image source : Google]

The body frame

Both the viola and the violin are made up of hardwood. They are both polished to perfection. The body of the viola is slightly larger than the violin.

Clef

One of the greatest differences between the violin and the viola is the clef. The viola is a mid-range alto-voiced instrument and is the only string instrument to use the Alto Clef for notation. Alto clef uses the C clef.
Violins are played in the Treble Clef. It is the highest ranged stringed instrument in the string family. Violins are known to be the “soprano” voice of the orchestra.

Size

The viola is larger than the violin; you can figure that out if you place both the instruments side by side. The average length of a violin’s body is around fourteen inches, while the length of the viola’s body ranges from fifteen to eighteen inches. Violas are wider than the violin. Violins come in nine different sizes and violas come in four sizes. Most beginners use twelve-inch violas then move to the larger ones. Violas were larger in the 16th, 17th and early 18th century. The reason for this is because the viola’s music was very simple.

Strings

[Image source: Google]

The viola and the violin are both stringed instruments that use four strings to be played. However, electric violins and viola use six strings. The viola strings are tuned to C3, G3, D4 and A4 and violin strings are usually tuned toG3, D4, A4 and E5. Violas are tuned exactly one-fifth below the violins. This lower range usually attracts musicians and fans to the violas.

Note Range

The viola notes range from C to the A, way up on the A string. The violin notes, on the other hand, range from G to the B, way up on the E string. Both the viola and violin can be played within a 4-octave range. They can even be played as fingered harmonics.

The viola can sound notes that are about four steps lower than the lowest note on the violin. This range of sound puts it between the range of the violins and the cellos. It is one of the main reasons that the Viola is used as a harmonic type of instruments rather than a solo type of instruments. Violins on the other hand mostly play the melody line in orchestral music. The violins can go up higher up in note ranges than violas. They have the E string which gives them the ability to play notes in the upper ranges. This very fact qualifies it for a more solo type of instrument.

Techniques for playing

The violas require a different technique to play which includes a different kind of fingering. It is because violas are slightly larger than the violins. They also have heavier strings and a heavier bow. Violins, on the other hand, are played with the left side of the jaw resting on the chin rest. The body of the violin is supported on the left shoulder. The right hand is used to pluck or bow the strings, and the left hand is used to produce the pitch by pressing the string. The techniques are important to generate great viola and violin music.

Sound

Violas sound deeper and mellower compared to the violin. It is due to the C string it possesses and the notes that can be played with it. They are second highest pitched instrument in the string family. The viola has a slower sound than the violin. It is due to thicker strings. The notes on the G, D, and A strings are shared by both the violin and the viola. But, when these notes are played on the viola they sound different and carry a more sombre tone than the violin. Violas are used in symphonies and orchestras to give a more harmonic and rhythmic elements. On the other hand, violins often carry the melodic and lyrical lines into the music. In an orchestra, there are usually more violins than violas. The orchestras have two sections of violins but only one section for violas.

Check out this video to hear the difference between violin and viola sound. (credit to Paul Dateh youtube channel)

And last but not least,
Use in music

Some classical and baroque pieces were written specifically for a solo viola. Violas play a significant role in chamber music; one example would be string quintets. These days few folk musicians and contemporary pop groups specifically compose parts for the viola. Violins are used in both classical and popular modern day music. Violins are an attractive instrument to musicians of various genres. They are usually used to play melody lines in a piece of music. The violin in some cases can be compared to the lead guitar. They are one of the most important instruments in indie music, jazz music and pop music.

These unique elements of the violin and the viola can be used to identify them easily.
Some of the greatest viola compositions include Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, Beethoven’s Serenade, and Kegelstatt Trio. The violins are usually accompanied by symphonic horns, double basses, cellos and the violas.

Some the famous examples of violists are William Primrose, Lillian Fuchs, Emanuel Vardi, Walter Trampler, and Lionel Tertis. There are countless talented violinists in classical and modern music.

[William Primrose. Image source: Google}

If you guys wish to learn more (or learn by video/visually), check out this video from Philharmonia Orchestra (London, UK) youtube channel.

I hope this is informative; if not for everyone, at least for some people who wish to know about stringed instruments. Thank you for your precious time. Have a nice day.
God bless

References :
https://tarisio.com/cozio-archive/cozio-carteggio/william-primrose-and-his-instruments/
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Viola_vs_Violin
https://thevault.musicarts.com/what-are-the-differences-between-a-violin-and-a-viola/
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2307/3345581