which is better? Cello or violin ditto viola? Check this one out.?

Question

In sound, quality of tone, difficulty (your opinion), uniqueness and individuality.

Answer 1

Interesting quetsion, especially in terms of sound, quality of tone, difficulty, uniquiness and individuality.

First you ask about Sound and Quality of Tone: On one hand, this is a largely subjective question. Within the realm of stringed instruments, there are always different qualities of sound/tone which are more or less desired by different people. Some people prefer a bold, harsh tone. Some people like a sweet, focused tone. Other tend to go for a closed, metalic tone. While others still go for brilliant, piercing sound. Differences in these areas are (to a degree) subjective and are dependent on the performance style of the individual, the style of music to be played and the personal preference of the individual. (And well, of course, the price).

In terms of the acoustical engeering aspects of the instruments (violin, viola and cello), there are certain aspects of sound or tone quality which can be measured. Without going into a long dissertation on the subject (trust me, people can spend their entire careers studying this stuff), it is pretty well recognized that the violin has the potential to be the most acoustically effecient of the three instruments. Basically, for the range of the sound (judging by the physical range of frequencies of the strings), the violin's size and shape are best suited for its strings. The cello is the next most efficient with regards to its tonal range. However, for a cello to be more efficient, it would need to be a good deal larger. Finally, the viola is by far the least acoustically efficient of the three instruments, which is why even the best viola is still (typically) going to be a goo deal "quieter" than the best violins.

When it comes to quality of tone (the focus, the range, whether an instrument is tonally even from top to bottom, the volume, the response, etc.), that all really depends on the individual quality of the instrument. There are always good violins, violas and cellos, as long as you've got the cash.

In terms of difficulty, they are all difficult! However, in terms of prolificacy, the violin has unarguably the largest and most diverse canon of repertoire. Therefore, an argument could be made that it is the most difficult. However, if you want to be the best, they're all as hard as you want to make them.

Finally, in terms of uniqueness and individuality, this is another subjective question. The viola is the least common and therefore technically the most unique. However, when it comes to individuality, you can make that out of virtually anything. If you just sit around playing Bach Partitas all day long, then the violin is far from unique. However, if you listen to the recordings of Jean Luc Ponty, you'll see that there is a whole world of possibilities out there.

They are all incredibly versatile instruments, and you can make of them what you want.

For me, I like the violin. My primary violin has a very loud and by some accounts harsh tone. However, it's got an incredibly responsive low end that you won't find in most violins and it has a very focused high end. (Though it's often hard to tame). It's not as even as one would want for strictly classical performance, but it's got some serious tonal gonads that you usually don't find.

Answer 2

Each definitely has its own unique qualities and disadvantages. I'll begin by analyzing some for you.

Cello:
Most people who choose to play cello love its deep, mellow sound. If you are an accomplished cellist, the quality of sound is incredibly beautiful--very deep and rich. Of course all strings are difficult, cello would probably not be the hardest. There is a lot of shifting, especially towards higher notes but it can sound really good. If you are a physically large person (and have longer fingers/hands) then cello would really be perfect. It is a bit hard to lug around and turning the pegs can sometimes be a pain. Especially, when shifting, the strings are hard to push down and you can get really painful calluses on your finger and thum (when using a shifting technique). Another good aspect about cello is that not (that) many people play it , opposed to violin. If you were going to audition in a local orchestra or something, you would have a greater chance to get in and get a higher seat because it is not that technically advanced as opposed to first section violin's concertmaster. There are less professional cellist in the world compared to violinists so at least it is something different.

Violin:
A proficient violinist can make any violin sound great. The high notes are really pretty when played right and the repetoire is really vast. There are much more violin teachers than anything and the small size is convenient for small individuals. Difficulty? I would say it is easy to learn violin but takes a lifetime to master. Whatever level you are at, there will always be more room to be better. As for the size, the is much easier to get up onto the fingerbroad and takes less energy to hold up during practicing/rehearsals with orchestras. However, I would have to say that the violin is not unique at all. There are much too many people who play it and is extremely difficult to be considered good. You would have to work so much harder to even be noticed and whenever somebody says 'string instrument', everyone immediately thinks of violin. A little too common, in my opinion.

Viola:
Viola should not be confused with violin. They do look somewhat the same but they ARE different instruments, with different technique and all the other stuff. Viola should be played for its sound--mellow, rich, alto-ish in between violin and cello, and sometimes has an eerie tone. For orchestras, sometimes viola sides with violin and sometimes with cello, so you get a taste of melody/higher strings and harmony/lower strings. Because you have to hold the viola up the same way as violin, viola itself physically is harder than violin. It is heavier and even a few ounces will really seem like a lot after hours of practice. The repetoire for viola is not that much as violin, but it does have its share. Viola is a very unique and individualistic instrument that is oftentimes shadowed by violin.

I hope this answers your question--I spent a long time typing it! :-)

Answer 3

They're all very difficult to play. I was classically trained in violin and so I speak from experience. The viola and cello are lovely for a deeper tone but the violin holds the highest register and there's a better choice of works to play. I've defected to the flute now though, much easier and I play for my own amusement.

Answer 4

I think all of them are great. I love the deep, resonant sound of the cello. And the violin is so liliting and happy, plus I have a bit of an emotional attachment to it because I've been playing since I was five. And then the viola's cool because it has it's own induvidual clef.

Answer 5

First choice...violin...since I've been playing it for the longest. :-)

Second choice...viola. I love the mellowness of the sound and the deepness it can go. I know ppl put the viola down a lot in jokes and stuff, but it is a wonderful instrument and has a great solo repetiore! :-)

Answer 6

I play violin and I think it sounds better...but cello would've been my second choice.

Answer 7

My daughter plays the cello. I like it better

Answer 8

the violin.