how hard is it to play viola as a violinist  

when the viola is mistaken as a violin: 💀

I play both, started with violin and picked up the viola many years afterward, but am now definitely team viola (if I had to choose). I still like the violin, but the richness and depth of the viola's lowest notes are unbeatable. Love the C string so much. ❤

When a violinist recognizes violas: *I must dreaming*

I love the sound of the viola, but the size of the violin is better for me.

I play a viola and this made me happy seeing u do this!

VIOLA!! Miss playing the Viola. Felt like the notes of the lower strings pierced my soul.

Viola for sure! I play it and it’s amazing and so beautiful!

I cannot express my happiness when I see violists coming together in a comment section 🥹

The technique is quite different. I ran into trouble two different times taking viola from teachers who "also played viola" but were trained as violinists. 😕 It is *not* the same!!!! I studied one year with each teacher, then while at orchestra camp each summer, I was continually corrected: Yes, that is how it is done with *violin*, but not viola. I will never make that mistake again! I found a teacher who is highly accomplished in playing viola, and also is maybe the best pedagogue I have ever encountered. So now I'm getting all the inside info!! Soooo happy!!!!!

I got a Viola yesterday. It’s surprisingly easy for me to play! The only hard bit is learning alto clef but I’ve made a couple cheat sheets and I’m getting there! I can now recognise open strings and first fingers. I can’t name notes on alto clef yet but that’ll come later. :)

My grandfather used to play in an orchestra. He mostly played viola if I recall correctly but also played violin. I still have both of them. I was little when he passed so I didn’t get to hear him play much, but loved the bond him and I shared over these beautiful instruments.

TEAM VIOLA 👇

When your name is Viola: 👁👄👁

Anyone else play viola ✨😊

I'm so glad you did this. I started playing the viola, and your videos are so helpful. pls make more viola videos.

Violaaaa all the way... But if there was a viola as light as a violin and is rich in sound as it is. IM IN LOVE 😍

Viola 100% this is my 3rd year playing and I love the sound

I love seeing a violinist actually acknowledging viola

Violin / viola skills are transferable. If you play the violin you can play the viola and vice versa. The initial challenge would be the weight, distance, finger positions and the reading alto clef instead of treble clef.

I played the viola as a young teen, and would absolutely love to pick it up again as an adult.

It feels like the viola is a better story teller.

I am team viola. I have played viola and violin my whole life but I feel like the viola makes richer sounds and is just so beautiful 🤩

I used to play the violin in my elementary school string orchestra. But when I went to audition for my middle school string orchestra, they dragged me to the viola because they said I was “capable” or something. I can play both now and they’re both amazing instruments

Team viola ✨✨✨

Violin I just love the sound ❤

I respect Violin and viola, because each have a different sound frequency and sound richness and texture, but i go to violin because i like high frequency sound. Violin 🎻💓 and viola 💓🎻

I am team violin, but I played some viola in the past too. Even auditioned viola for an orchestra just for fun. (didn't win, but learned a lot) I feel after playing the viola when switching back to the violin, the violin sounds much better and handles like the tiny thing it is. It is really beneficial for the sound to switch between both sometimes.! I like to play both, but I only have violins..

I play viola and love doing it I,v only played since 2022 more at the end tho

I play both regularly. I play in churches, and depending on who is available each week and what style the song is. Whenever I come back to the violin, I feel very nimble due to the spacing of the fingers and the size difference.

Team viola all the way, I’ve played viola for 6 years now, to me the violin always felt off in my hands where i was so used to playing a larger instrument

Viola.. I use it as crispy sounding ukulele instead. Bowing is hard 🤣 it keeps bouncing or hitting other strings after half of the bow..

Viola beginner here, after playing guitar for a while. Loving it, but of course it will take a while to get good :)

viola is my main, (i’ve been playing for 6 years, i started when i was 10 and i’m 16 now) but i’ve also picked up violin, but viola will always have my heart it’s so beautiful i wish it got more recognition

I was a concert violist all through high school and college. I switched to Viola in the 10th grade as my hands grew a little too large to be comfortable on the Violin anymore.

Violin is more of a exciting beautiful sounding instrument and the Viola is a sad, and intense instrument

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR SO LONG

Viola all the way 😍😍😍😍😍😍

As a violaist i love the sound of the deep. I ❤ viola!

Both, primarily viola but violin as needed currently a 5 string viola.

My first year of playing I played violin but now 5 years later I’m going strong with the viola

Never cared for strings until I heard a violist play solo. That instrument range is my jam

havent touched a viola in 4 years but Im still team viola til I die

Both, both of them just sound relaxing, these instruments are one of those instruments that has no haters

My wish is both ,but recovering from a bad day at the office thats taking 20 years. My grampa carved my fiddle with a jackknife when he was twelve . It is my passion to rebuild it again and play it again before im done ,but for now i have to play these old german and chechloslovocian violins and violas. Trying hard with a ruined shoulder and busted up arm but feel so blessed to play at all now.

I'm a violinist starting viola to help a student. I must say, I could see myself really loving the viola. I have big hands, so I always struggled with the small finger distances on the violin. And I love the deep sound. But the weight is definitely difficult.

I've been a violinist for 10 years. Just started learning both viola and cello this year. Reading the alto and bass clefs indeed are my biggest struggle of the whole transition 😂

I would recommend starting The Swan in 4th position with 4th finger on G then shifting down. You avoid the string change and it sounds more elegant.

Was always very curious about this as I love the deeper tones. Thanks for this!!!

That is one fine-sounding viola!

I picked the violin when I was in elementary school. The sound of the violin is beautiful. I do like the sound of the viola too.

I play both instruments and love 'em both, for their differences. Sometimes the violin is too high pitched and light-sounding and sometimes the viola sounds dreary. So i have a somewhat different bow technique for each. I lean in on the violin, for more overtones and I have a rule for my particular viola--no carbon fiber bows, as they tend to darken the sound.

I’m both, I play violin as my main string instrument, but I can also play viola. It’s actually pretty easy and super fun!

I played the viola in high school. Have thought about getting and learning to play a 5 string for fun.

Its just the pride

I'm a relatively new fiddler who bought a viola about 15 years ago.... Never played it much I'm gonna try to revive it.

I love ❤ both of the musical 🎼 instruments , they sound lovely.

Tune the viola as a violin it sounds nice 😊

Beautiful

viola sounds beautiful :)

She plays so beautifuly🤩,

Both - started violin but after 3 years switched to viola. 10 years ago picked up the violin again. I also have a 5 string viola (added E string) fir when the viola part goes up into the stratosphere.

I have a viola right now and people at my school keep saying *oh you have a violin?* and I’m like NO 😭

*TEAM VIOLIN!*

VIOLA!! (and bass which if you look at the strings are just big backwards violins)

I like both. They are so beautiful they could put me in a trance

i play viola but learned how to play viola by reading one piece of violin sheet music, im not so good at violin even though their slightly similar (im used to the viola weight, violins feel too light) and i sometimes forget that there is no C string but overall, both are awesome instruments and are amazing in their own ways

My son is 13 and is now learning to play the viola in the school orchestra. He has never played either before. I'm hoping he sticks with it and ends up being good at it. I've always been a big fan of both but never played either. Utterly love the sounds from both.

In childhood i learned Violin and now, 35 years later i give my 7/8 Violin away i used as a child to buy a Viola and start playing again. I realized that i Love the deeper range and the bigger Volume much much more than the high Tones of the violin❤ So now: Team Viola (without eber playing IT until now😂)

I’ve played viola for 5 years so I’m going team viola but I’ve never tried to play a violin

I feel its sometimes easy to tell when a violinist switches to viola just by paying attention to their vibrato. Violists tend to have a wider vibrato than violinists.

I play both, I like both. But I must admit that the deeper and melancholic sound of viola just matches my soul. So it's a little bit more preferred than violin. 🎻🎼

I play the viola and when I have violinists play my viola they always say “oh my gosh this is so big”

I play viola and it’s amazing to work with

Will you know do viola small lessons 😄 I’m team viola 🎻

I play brass instruments but i would choose Viola over Violin bc it sounds nice and my instrument is big as well (i play the euphonium (and trombone part-time))

Viola kingdom !!!

Team Viola:)

TEAM VIOLA BABY YEEHAW

I like the voice register of the viola & cello, high notes on violin can be like nails on a chalk board sometimes.

Oh my god you’re just so amazing 👏👏👏

The only problem I have with playing Viola is the alto clef.

Team Violin, i just picked it up a few weeks ago and after i learn it i may pick up a viola later down the road

I’m team Violin, It was just a random thought at first but then I mentioned it and my mom thought it was a great idea and got me lessons, in orchestra ( middle school orchestra ) My teacher teaches about Violas cellos and violins and I think violas are super cool

I can play every instrument in an orchestra but I'm best at violin and viola and in my opinion violin is more fun to play because you constant have the melody but viola is much easier to learn

Why did you stop. The viola is beautiful. For me, after a while the violin's higher pitch get's annoying where the viola remains so soothing and relaxing!!! MORE VIOLA PLEASE, MUCH MORE!!!🙏🌹💗👌

as a violist who plays mostly oboe and flute music but occasionally gets actually viola music, in my highschool band, gotta say going back and forth between clefs is definetly the hardest part also, yeah the size difference is pretty interesting. I didn't realize just how much bigger my viola is till I swaped instruments for a bit and played my friend's violin. it was so tiny!

Violin gang

I'm actually a trainee to be a violist in my college string ensemble and these are my journey. Edit 09/21/2023: It's a long 2 weeks so I'm gonna recap it very quickly day 4 of practice. I didn't came because I was handling an event as a member of the student council of my group. I really wanted to come to practice because we were finally practicing finger placement. BUT we do practice every Saturday also but only us in the ensemble and we just rehearse most of the time BUT this time I have no classes AND two people came who are very good, experience, and great mentors. One is violist but also play percussion, and the other one is a cellist. It was a blast practicing with them also little bit star truck. NOW we come to the day 5 of practice. We practice finger placement again and well... it wasn't great for me that is. I still suck at following the note, still struggle with the beat, and because I'm still a beginner doesn't know proper finger placement. So after class our violas were given tapes so we can train ourselves and our muscle to remember where we put our fingers. That's it for now. We still have Saturday rehearsals but I have class but I will still try to come. // Edit: Week later day 3 of practice. So we practice playing the half, quarter, and whole notes so that we can be better at reading notes and proper bow control. Yeah it's hard to follow on beat and remembering which note we are playing, actually the day after, me and one of the trainees practice and yep I need to practice going on beat and remembering where I am in the sheet. All in all, it's stressful but I enjoy it heck college isn’t even hard right now because mid term just started and school gets canceled because of the hurricane. I'm more stress in playing the Viola than school because I can't stop thinking I suck even with the other trainees that say they suck too. Now if you think about it I need to know if this a mental problem or something all musicians go through. Also wow my wrist hurts. Any tips on how to not make it hurt? // Day 2 actual practice, learned how to do the basics like bow control and the name of each cord for the viola, learned the different between viola with other instruments, and practice using Rubank Viola Method Vol.1 We weren't taught the finger placement yet since we can only meet once a week with the instructor, one hour lesson for viola, violin, and cello plus lesson for advance players. It's free so it's ok but since I don't have a viola I borrow one that the school have and practice at school after class since we aren't allowed to bring it home. I'm practicing bow control and memorizing the chords. I'm might update every week. As reminder of my journey. It's ok not to read it but I think it would be fun to see a person journey of improving one's passion. // Day 1 was intimidating since I was late and I know no one plus I didn't get to use any instruments just watch people who know how to use it and me an introvert that loves music especially the classics but doesn't really know how to play any instrument was very nervous and want to leave.

What is the name of the piece you played on the viola?

I recently learned how to play the violin (self-taught) and decided to learn the viola as well. I'd say they both have their pros and cons, but I may be team viola because of the pure rich deep sound it brings.

I love both

I play the violin and once in a while I play my sisters viola and I like both but violin is my favorite for sure

Team Violin 🎉🎉🎉🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻

Team viola every time: husband is a violist but it's not just loyalty: love that dark tone!

imagine joining the viola gang by choice

Both but I love viola more it’s my first instrument ❤

So I've been playing the viola for the past 4-5 years and i would say i would definitely stick with the viola and i don't regret picking it up

Team Viola 🎻✨

Sounds beautiful! I think the challenge would be getting used to the alto clef

Another very noticeable difference I find is bow weight. There is slightly more pressure needed for a nice rich sound on a viola. I’m a viola player and I always need to remind myself to put less pressure when playing violin. Intonation is definitely a challenge but the rules are a lot looser with fiddling, (which is what I play when using violin/fiddle)