Comparing the timbre of a viola and a violin?

Answer 1

The Viola has a much more melancholy sound than the Violin due in part to the size and the way they are played.

Answer 2

Well, I just looked on the internet and found out that timbre means the quality of the sound! So yay, I can answer your question..

I play the violin and I'm in an orchestra so I am actually able to answer it... just incase you were wondering if I'm LYING or not.


They both have beautiful sounds. But, the viola have a deeper, more full sounding, sound. It's also a slightly larger instrument. It's a good instrument for people who have larger fingers.
A violin is more high pitched. It's smaller, too, so it's best if you are a smaller person. But someone who is bigger can still do well with a violin.

I will add, though, that if you don't know how to play the instruments, it will sound horrible! You have to know how to play the violin or the viola before you try to, or else you may not like either instrument.

So, just to sum it up...
Violin-- higher sound.
Viola-- lower sound.

Answer 3

The viola has a fuller, lower, richer timbre as compared to a violin. The larger the instrument the deeper the resononance.

Answer 4

The viola has a lower, deeper sound, a little richer. The violin has a brighter, higher sound, and projects a little better. Both are very beautiful, but the violin is much more popular because of it's broad range; the violin can go almost as low as the viola, but can also play the flashy high notes.

Answer 5

Viola is a bit darker and not as penetrating in tone as the violin. That is because it is a perfect fifth lower in pitch than the fiddle, but the viola's size is not scaled to its pitch. It's a bit of a compromise in order to fit it in the arms. Therefore the viola has a bit of a challenge with projection compared to the 'cello or violin.

Answer 6

I believe the viola has a more mellow sound, and can sometimes sound like someone is painfully crying.

The violin has a brighter and flashier sound.

If you look at the repetiore for the viola, you might find that the music is sadder than that of the violin. The violin's music will usually have the melody, more cadenzas, etc. They don't call the first violinist the concertmaster for nothing!

Answer 7

A viola is like a cello, I.E. the same set of strings, but it is held under the chin like a violin. The pitch it hits is rich and deep like a cello rather than sometimes high and squeaky like a violin. Therefore it is somewhere between a violin and a cello.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

the viola is better then a violin and the viola is deper in pitch and the violin is higher in pitch and the viola is fuller and the violin isnt as full

Answer 9

See the mp3 files at the bottom of the page:

http://beststudentviolins.com/SoundFiles.html

under "timbre."