A Complete Guide to Violas

The viola, an often-misunderstood yet profoundly beautiful member of the string family of instruments, occupies a unique sound space between the violin's soaring brilliance and the cello's resonant depth.

Larger than a violin but smaller than a cello, its rich, mellow, and often melancholic timbre lends a distinctive warmth to orchestral, chamber, and solo repertoire. Historically relegated to an accompanying role, the viola has, in recent centuries, emerged as an expressive solo instrument, appreciated for its dark complexity and vocal quality. 

This comprehensive guide, developed by Joondalup Music Centre in Perth,  delves into the intricate world of violas, offering invaluable insights into their construction materials, exploring popular brands and models suitable for musicians at every stage, dissecting the nuances of their sound quality, outlining essential maintenance practices, and detailing the associated costs for beginner, intermediate, and professional players. 

Construction Materials

The selection and preparation of materials are paramount in crafting a viola that produces exceptional sound and offers lasting durability. Each component contributes significantly to the instrument's overall character.

• Wood: The heart of the viola's construction lies in its carefully chosen tonewoods.
  • Spruce (Picea abies): Primarily used for the belly (top plate) of the instrument. Spruce is chosen for its excellent resonance, light weight, and ability to transmit vibrations efficiently, contributing to the viola's projection and clarity. High-quality spruce often displays a tight, even grain.
  • Maple (Acer): The preferred wood for the back, ribs (sides), and neck. Maple is valued for its density, strength, and beautiful flame or fiddleback figure. It contributes to the instrument's structural integrity, tonal focus, and overtone richness. Aged maple is particularly sought after.
  • Ebony (Diospyros spp.): An extremely dense and durable hardwood, ebony is exclusively used for the fingerboard, and often for the fittings (pegs, tailpiece, chinrest, endpin). Its hardness allows it to withstand constant friction from the strings and fingers without wearing down, while its smooth surface facilitates precise fingering.
• Varnish: Beyond aesthetic appeal, the varnish plays a crucial role in protecting the wood and influencing the viola's sound. Traditional oil varnishes, often made from natural resins and oils, are applied in multiple thin layers. They allow the wood to resonate freely, contributing to the instrument's tonal warmth and depth, as well as providing a lustrous finish. Spirit varnishes, while drying faster, can sometimes create a harder, less resonant coating.
• Strings: Modern viola strings are typically made from synthetic cores (e.g., perlon, composite materials) wound with various metals like aluminium, silver, or tungsten. Gut core strings, while traditional, are less common today due to stability issues. Synthetic core strings offer excellent tuning stability, a warm tone, and good projection, blending the best qualities of gut and steel.
• Fittings: These are the components that allow the strings to be tuned and the instrument to be held comfortably.
  • Pegs: Traditionally made from ebony, rosewood, or boxwood, pegs are used to tune the strings. High-quality, well-fitted pegs are essential for smooth and stable tuning.
  • Tailpiece: Connects the strings to the endpin. Materials vary from ebony, rosewood, or boxwood to lightweight composites or metals, often with integrated fine tuners for precise pitch adjustment.
  • Chinrest: Provides a comfortable resting place for the player's chin. Available in various shapes and materials (ebony, rosewood, boxwood, composite) to suit individual preferences.
  • Endpin: Secures the tailpiece to the instrument body.
• Bridge: Typically made from seasoned maple, the bridge transmits the string vibrations from the strings to the soundboard. Its precise cut and fit are critical for optimal sound production.
• Sound Post: A small dowel of spruce, precisely fitted inside the viola, connecting the top and back plates. It transfers vibrations and supports the tension of the strings, significantly influencing the instrument's tone and projection.

Popular Brands & Models

The viola market, while smaller than that for violins, offers a range of instruments catering to different skill levels and budgets.

Beginner Level:

• Stentor Student I & II: Widely recommended for beginners due to their affordability, durability, and reliable playability. Often made in China, they provide a solid foundation for learning.
• Primavera 200 & 200 Antiqued: Similar to Stentor, Primavera offers entry-level violas that are well-suited for students. Their antiqued finish models provide a more traditional aesthetic.
• Gliga Genial 1 & 2: Hand-finished in Romania, these violas offer a step up in terms of wood quality and craftsmanship compared to mass-produced Chinese models, providing a richer tone for aspiring students.

Intermediate Level:

• Gliga Gama & Maestro: These Romanian-made violas feature better quality aged tonewoods (often flamed maple), superior craftsmanship, and more resonant varnishes. They offer a significant improvement in tone, responsiveness, and projection, suitable for progressing students and amateur players.
• Eastman Strings (Andreas Eastman Series): From China but with excellent quality control, Eastman offers solid intermediate violas known for their consistency, good playability, and warm tone.
• Schoenbach / Cremona SV Series (Advanced Student): Often European-designed or produced, these brands offer reliable intermediate options that provide a balanced sound and good projection.

Professional Level:

• Handmade Luthier Instruments: The pinnacle of viola craftsmanship. These are unique instruments made by individual master luthiers, often commanding significant prices. They are known for their exceptional tonal depth, projection, and individuality. Many professional players prefer violas from renowned European makers (e.g., German, French, or Italian) from past centuries.
• Higher-End Eastman Strings (e.g., Master Series, Concert Series): While still relatively modern, some of Eastman's top-tier violas offer professional-grade sound and playability, often copying classic designs.
• Jay Haide (á l'ancienne series): These violas, made in China but meticulously antiqued and set up by expert luthiers, are highly regarded for their rich, mature tone and aesthetic appeal, often rivalling older European instruments.
• Specific European Workshops (e.g., Contemporary German, French, or Italian Makers): Modern luthiers continuing the rich tradition of European string instrument making, offering new violas with professional characteristics.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of a viola is its most captivating attribute, determined by a complex interplay of materials, design, craftsmanship, and proper setup.

• Timbre/Tone Colour: A fine viola should possess a rich, warm, and dark timbre, often described as mellow or mournful. It should have a broad spectrum of overtones, allowing for expressive nuance.
• Resonance and Sustain: The ability of the instrument's wood to vibrate freely, resulting in a sustained and resonant tone that fills a room.
• Projection: The capacity of the sound to carry clearly and powerfully across an orchestra or concert hall without being forced or harsh.
• Evenness Across Strings: A consistent tonal quality and response across all four strings (C, G, D, A), avoiding any "wolf tones" or dead spots.
• Responsiveness: The ease with which the instrument speaks and responds to the bow, allowing for quick articulation, dynamic control, and subtle tonal shifts.
• Playability: How comfortable and easy the instrument is to handle and elicit sound from, including factors like string height, bridge curvature, and neck shape.
• "C" String Depth: A hallmark of a good viola is a powerful, rich, and clear low C string, which is crucial for its unique voice.

Maintenance

Proper maintenance is paramount for preserving a viola's sound quality, playability, and longevity. Consistent care prevents costly repairs and ensures the instrument performs optimally.

• Daily Care:
  • Wipe Down: After each playing session, use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently wipe down the entire instrument, strings, and fingerboard to remove rosin dust, perspiration, and fingerprints. Rosin dust left on the varnish can corrode it over time.
  • Bow Care: Loosen the bow hair immediately after playing to prevent the stick from warping and to prolong hair life. Wipe the stick clean.
• String Cleaning: Regularly wipe down the strings with a dedicated string cleaner or a soft, dry cloth to remove built-up rosin, which can dampen their vibration.
• Humidity Control: This is critical for wooden instruments. Maintain a stable humidity level (ideally between 40-60%) to prevent the wood from swelling, shrinking, or cracking. Use a humidifier in dry climates/seasons and a dehumidifier in humid ones. Keep the viola in its case when not in use.
• Regular String Changes: Strings should be changed every 3-6 months for regular players, or sooner if they sound dull, fray, or lose their tuning stability. Always change one string at a time to maintain tension on the bridge and sound post.
• Bow Rehairing: Bow hair typically needs rehairing every 6-12 months, depending on usage, as it loses its ability to grip the strings effectively.
• Case Care: Ensure your viola case is clean, dry, and provides adequate protection. Avoid leaving it in direct sunlight, extreme heat/cold, or damp environments.
• Professional Checks: Have your viola professionally inspected by a luthier at least once a year. They can check the bridge and sound post placement, inspect for cracks, address open seams, and make adjustments to optimise the instrument's sound and playability.

Costs

Viola costs vary significantly based on the musician's level, the instrument's craftsmanship, materials, age, and whether it's new or used.

Beginner Level:

• New: $300 - $800 - These instruments are typically factory-made from student-grade woods, often with composite fittings. They come as outfits including a basic bow, case, and rosin. Brands like Stentor and Primavera fall into this range.
• Used: $150 - $500. A well-maintained used student model can be an excellent value. Always have a teacher or luthier assess a used instrument before purchase.

Intermediate Level:

• New: $800 - $3,000 - Intermediate violas feature better quality aged tonewoods, improved craftsmanship, and often higher-quality fittings. They offer a richer tone and better responsiveness. Brands like Gliga (Gama/Maestro) and mid-range Eastman models are typical here.
• Used: $400 - $1,500 - A used intermediate viola can offer significant savings. Some older European (e.g., German) student-grade violas can also be found in this range.

Professional Level:

• New: $3,000 - $20,000+ - This range encompasses high-end workshop violas and new instruments from individual professional luthiers. Prices vary wildly depending on the luthier's reputation, materials, and complexity of work.
• Used: $2,000 - $50,000+ - The market for used professional violas is vast. This includes antique European instruments (e.g., French, German, and occasionally less famous Italian makers) and high-end contemporary luthier instruments. Master violas by historically renowned makers can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds. Purchasing a professional-level used viola requires expert evaluation by a reputable luthier or dealer.

Additional costs include quality strings ($30-$60 per set), a good bow ($100-$500+ for student/intermediate, thousands for professional), a sturdy case ($50-$300+), and regular maintenance (tunings, rehairing, luthier adjustments).

Key Features of a Viola

1. Size (Body Length): Violas are not standardised in size like violins. They typically range from 15 inches (38 cm) to over 17 inches (43 cm) in body length. The choice of size is crucial for comfort and tone, influencing the instrument's depth and projection.
2. String Tension & Scale Length: Due to its larger size and lower tuning (C-G-D-A, a fifth below a violin), the viola has a longer scale length and requires thicker, higher-tension strings, which contribute to its characteristic darker sound.
3. Bridge Placement & Fit: A custom-fitted, properly positioned maple bridge is critical for transmitting string vibrations effectively to the soundboard, directly impacting the viola's volume, tone, and responsiveness.
4. Sound Post: A small, internal spruce dowel precisely positioned to connect the top and back plates. Its exact placement is paramount for the viola's resonance, sustain, and tonal balance.
5. F-Holes: The two 'f'-shaped openings on the top plate. Beyond their aesthetic purpose, they allow the sound to project out of the instrument and influence its resonance and tonal characteristics.
6. Varnish: The type and application of varnish not only protect the wood but also significantly influence the instrument's resonance, playing feel, and tonal warmth, allowing the wood to vibrate optimally.

FAQ Section

Q: What is the main difference between a violin and a viola?

A: The main differences are size and tuning. Violas are larger and produce a lower, darker, and mellower sound, tuned to C-G-D-A (a fifth below the violin). Violins are smaller and higher-pitched, tuned to G-D-A-E. The viola also uses a different clef (alto clef) for most of its music.

Q: Is it harder to learn the viola than the violin?

A: Learning any string instrument requires dedication. While the viola has wider finger spacing due to its larger size, requiring a broader hand stretch, its larger physical presence can sometimes be more comfortable for adults. The bowing technique and foundational musical principles are similar to the violin, but the alto clef can be a challenge initially. Neither is inherently "harder," just different.

Q: How do I choose the correct size viola?

A: Viola size is typically chosen based on the player's arm length and comfort. When holding the viola in playing position, the scroll should reach comfortably to the middle of the palm of the extended left hand, with the fingers able to curve around naturally. It's best to consult with a string teacher or luthier for proper sizing.

Q: How often should I change my viola strings?

A: For regular players, it's generally recommended to change viola strings every 3 to 6 months. Even if they don't break, strings lose their vibrancy, responsiveness, and tuning stability over time due to dirt, oil, and metal fatigue. Professional players might change them more frequently.

Q: Can a viola be repaired if it cracks or gets damaged?

A: Yes, many types of damage, including cracks, open seams, and broken necks, can be expertly repaired by a skilled luthier. However, the cost of repair can vary significantly depending on the severity of the damage and the type of instrument. Regular maintenance helps prevent serious damage.