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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 a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound.
The normal range of the viola: Extreme high notes: Clefs and viola notation: Select dynamic: then click note to hear sound. (N.B. changes in dynamics may affect timbre as much as apparent volume level) (N.B. for string players, sharpened and flattened notes are often two different pitches, depending on musical context.
The viola has a range of C3 (the lowest open string) to around E6 (one of the highest notes that can be played on the A string). For reference, the violin note range is G3 to A7. The viola range is sometimes compared to the clarinet, which has a general range of D3 to C7.
Viola is the alto instrument in orchestral music, and its range is the closest to the human voice. Because of its specific range (C3-E6), the Alto clef is the most suited for average situations. The majority of the viola’s range can be easily read in this clef, using only a few ledger lines.
Let's break down the remarkable range of the viola into three sections and delve into the distinct sound and character of each.
The range of a viola is three and one third octaves. The range goes from one octave below middle C to the E note that is two and a half octaves above middle C. This range is considered a moderate one for a stringed instrument.
The Viola’s Range. The four-stringed viola is tuned in perfect fifths. Tuned at CGDA (its C being an octave lower than the middle C), it has a lower range than the violin (tuned at GDAE) and is an exact octave higher than the cello. The viola also uses its own clef, called the alto clef.