who thinks violas are better than violins? :-P?

Answer 1

I prefer cellos.

Answer 2

For what, firewood? :-)

Seriously, I'm a violinist who's fooled around with violas but never made the switch. The guy that I always point to that did, though, is Lawrence Dutton, the violist with the Emerson String Quartet. When I knew Larry he was a violinist who also played viola. I believe it was his first or second year of college that he actually made the switch, and turned to the dark side. And you can take that any way you want. Dutton is famous for his "beautiful, dark tone." He did have the good taste to marry a violinist, though.

On the other hand is Mark Wood. Known as the first heavy metal violinist, Mark played viola growing up. He attended Juilliard and dropped out when his teacher wouldn't teach him to play like Jimi Hendrix. He took up violin after that.

But what Mark plays now is a 7-string violin called a Viper. This allows him to play all the notes available to the violin, the viola and the cello. http://www.woodviolins.com.

The violin, just by its nature has a brilliance of tone that most violas will never achieve. But the viola has a depth and fullness that most violists drool over (in spite of the fact that they claim to regard violists with disdain).

The only thing that I will say that causes me trouble with the viola is the fact that the larger size can cause arm and shoulder problems. One luthier addressing this is David Rivinus. See his instruments at http://www.rivinus-instruments.com/Welcome.htm . I still shake my head when I see them, but I really think they're cool!

Violas better than violins? Violins better than violas? If I were to start all over again, I may actually have chosen the viola, but I'm pretty happy with what I've got. My next instrument will probably be an electric--maybe even a 5-string so that I can play all those lovely, deep viola parts. If I don't get the 5-string, a viola will come after that. Then maybe a pochette (see http://www.violinstudent.com/owenmorsebrown.html)

Answer 3

me! i used to play the viola, it was a lot of fun! it also made a pretty sound than the violins

Answer 4

Not me.

Answer 5

not me =)
but they're ok

Answer 6

i do, it just might