The viola (/ viˈoʊlə / vee-OH-lə, [1] (ⓘ) Italian: [ˈvjɔːla, viˈɔːla]) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower sound.

Viola, stringed musical instrument, the tenor of the violin family. It is built in proportions similar to those of the violin but has a body length of 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 inches), about 5 cm (2 inches) longer …

The viola is probably the oldest of today's main stringed orchestral instruments, predating the cello, violin and string bass. However, it is easily the least familiar of the group.

Sep 30, 2025 · We are an organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting the viola and those who love it.

The viola is a plucked string instrument belonging to the string family; it is similar in size to the violin (slightly larger) but has a deeper tone. Its history is long and fascinating, dating back to the Middle …

In this series you'll learn about violas, bows, strings, and many other related topics. The idea behind this series is to give you a good synopsis of what you need to know about the viola, from what to look for …

Review the basics of how to play the viola, including how to hold the viola, tune your viola, viola fingering, viola care, viola bowing, and how to read viola music.

You play the viola by tucking it between your chin and shoulder, just like the violin. Your left hand presses down on the strings to change the pitch, and your right hand moves the bow or plucks the …

Known as the "big fiddle," the viola serves as the middle voice because of its mid-range in the stringed instrument family, between the upper lines played by the violin and the lower lines played by the cello …

The viola is a stringed instrument of the violin family, known for its rich, deep sound, which is lower than that of the violin but higher than the cello. Over the course of history, the viola evolved from primitive …