Violin and viola?

If I learn to play the violin will I be able to play the viola without lessons? I got a hold of a free violin and its in good condition but i want to learn the viola but i don't have the money to buy or rent one. :( Can i learn the violin and then when i can i could switch?

Violin and viola?
Going from violin to viola is pretty basic. All you really have to do is read a different clef, know the different string, and stretch your hand a bit. If you can play a violin with any decency, you can switch to viola pretty easily with just a little retraining.





That said, if you REALLY want to play viola, not violin, you could string the violin with viola strings and use it as a viola. It won't have the same deep, rich tone that violas have, but in a pinch, it's something you can learn on. The violin is a few inches smaller than a viola, and not as thick, so it won't resonate as much and the tone will be more of a violin, even if the notes you are playing are of the viola. The only catch with doing this is that when you do have the money to switch to a real viola(which you should really consider doing if you wish to go very far in music), you are going to have to readjust your left hand to the bigger instrument.





Overall, switching from a violin to a viola is pretty easy, but if you do decide to learn violin first, you are going to have to get that technique down before you can switch. If you have your heart set on learning viola, string your violin with viola strings and learn to play on that until you have the money to get an actual viola.
Reply:violin is harder than viola.


if you learn violin then switching to viola should be fairly easy.


except you have to switch cleff(treble to alto)
Reply:But you should find a teacher, at least for the violin. If you master the violin, you can probably teach yourself viola to some extent.
Reply:I would restring the violin as a viola for now until you can afford a viola.


You will only need to buy a C string ; you can use the G D A string from the violin.





Violin is G D A E ; viola is C G D A





Move the G D A string over and put on your new C string. Change one string at a time !





You will need lessons to play violin or viola.
Reply:Ehh. It's rather difficult.





The viola has different notes and techniques then the violin. Also, because of size differences, it often must be held differently.





Therefore, I'd recommend that you simply get a viola. If your violin was free, chances are it's not worth much -- you could get a cheap viola of similar quality for a pretty cheap price.








However, if you can afford violin lessons, I doubt you'd be unable to afford a viola.





Good luck =)

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