How do you play a viola?

I play the violin, and want to play the viola! Anyone know how?

How do you play a viola?
I know how to play the viola...
Reply:Well, as a cellist and friend of violinists turned violists I feel partially qualified to answer this. What I do know is that approaching a viola as a violinist, one must be careful. The viola is truly its own instrument. It has this unique voice that is hard to draw from the instrument. Not only does one have to overcome the size obstacle (extending the fingers further, learning the evilness of 2nd/3rd position; learning how to press deeper into the string and draw forth the sound) but one has to understand the instrument independent of the violin. The best thing to do is to listen to famous violists play and take lessons. You really need to treat it as its own instrument. Its unfortunate that it gets grouped together with the violin so often.





I have cracked many a viola joke in my day as a cellist but because I've worked with some brilliant people, I've really learned to appreciate the benefits of a good violist. (I'm primarily a chamber musician...a good violist is ESSENTIAL).





Good luck





~Lisa
Reply:Playing the viola is not that much different than playing the violin. It takes a little more drawing power in the bow and the fingerings can be a little different. Mostly the main difference is the clef sign; viola is written in alto clef.
Reply:Usually poorly.





:-(





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A violist...
Reply:Most of the techniques are the same but the extra size of the viola can be difficult for some people to manage.


I would love to play the viola but I find the larger size gives me a lot of back and shoulder problems so I have to stick with the violin.





Obviously, the big difference is the viola uses the alto clef so you will have to learn to read that.





Here is a good website for all things concerning the viola :





http://www.viola-in-music.com/index.html





"The viola is a violin with a college education".....William Primrose.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b5Ex2CgS...
Reply:violas are quite similar to violins in shape, except a little bigger. They don’t have an e-string, but have a low c-string instead. It’s held and played like a violin, except you have to press a little harder with your bow to get a good rich sound. also, violas are unique because they use alto clef.





the viola is a beautiful instrument and im glad you’ve decided to pick it up. it shouldn’t take you too long to play it well, since you already play violin. good luck with it!

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