How to Start Playing the Viola

Not only is the viola, with its rich tone, fun to play, but when you learn it, you will be in high demand by string ensembles.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find a well-lit, private area with a straight-back chair and a music stand.

2. Place the base of the viola on your lap and determine if the strings are properly strung and if the bridge is standing upright at a vertical angle.

3. Tune the strings by adjusting the tension and plucking the strings to match the piano pitch of C - G - D - A.

4. Locate the top string, A pitch, by playing the piano on the second space, treble clef A.

5. Locate the neighbor D string pitch by playing the piano note just below the bottom line E on the treble clef.

6. Do the same for the G string pitch located on the top space of the bass clef.

7. Repeat for the C string pitch located on the second space from the bottom of the bass clef.

8. NORM: I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THIS TITLE TO "TUNE THE VIOLA" - WE ALSO NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN HOW TO MATCH THE G STRING WITH THE G ON THE PIANO - WHICH PIANO KEY DO WE STRIKE? AND THE SAME WITH THE C STRING AND PIANO NOTE

9. THEN I SAY WE NEED TO ADD HOW TO DO THIS WITH A PITCH PIPE? WHAT SAY YOU?

Tips & Warnings

• The viola is the alto voice of the string quartet. Its "C" string is five notes lower than the low G string of the violin, and its music is written on a staff called the "C" clef that spans the center of the piano bass and treble clef.
• A well-placed bridge spreads the string pressure evenly and affects tone production and the top of the viola as well.
• Place one foot of the bridge above the "tone post" dowel. It can be visually located by "peering" through one of the two "f" holes on the top of the instrument.

on 12/8/2005 The viola is actually not the alto voice of the string quartet - it is the tenor. Violin II is the alto voice. Viola, however, is the alto voice of the string family - the difference is that the entire string family includes the contrabass, making the cello the tenor voice.