Stringing a violin as a viola is a complex process, but it can be done with some patience. Can a violin be strung as a viola, yes-it is possible. It does require a certain level of expertise in order to do it properly, so it’s not something that can be done by an amateur. If you need to string your violin as a viola, here are the basics: String the Violin as a Viola: Step-by-Step. Loosen the strings by holding them at the top and bottom of the fingerboard with one hand. With your other hand, loosen all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards. Slip all four strings over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go. Starting with the G string, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of.
Related Article: Can a Violin be played like a Guitar
Violins and violas are different instruments and it is not possible to string a violin as a viola. Violin strings are thicker and require a violin bridge and the fingerboard is set lower down to accommodate shorter strings. Violins also have a curved neck and violas have a straight neck. Violin strings also use ball-end strings, while viola strings use loop-end strings. It is possible, however, to string a violin as a viola if you use the appropriate stringing pattern and bridges.
Stringing a violin as a viola
A violin is a string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths, with one string per note. This means that the C string is tuned to the same note as the G string, the D string is tuned to the same note as the A string, and the E string is tuned to the same note as the D string.
A viola is a string instrument with four strings also tuned in perfect fifths, but with two strings per note. This means that the A string is tuned to the same note as the D string, the E string is tuned to the same note as the G string, and the C string is tuned to the same note as the B string.
A viola can be strung as a violin by loosening all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards. The strings can then be slipped over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go. Starting with the G string, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of its original height. Repeat these steps for each of the four strings.
Strings are the backbone of any instrument, and how well they are maintained plays a huge role in the sound quality of the instrument. Violin strings are made of metal wire wound in a spiral around a silk core, which gives them their distinctive tone. When they are not being played, these strings are typically tuned to A440, which is the standard pitch. For viola strings, the pitch is slightly lower at A420.
Luckily, stringing a violin as a viola is much easier than stringing the violin as a viola. The process is quite simple and only takes about an hour. If you have any questions about stringing your instrument or need any help, please contact us at 1-800-4-STRINGS.
Stringing Violin as Viola Step-by-Step
1) Loosen the strings by holding them at the top and bottom of the fingerboard with one hand.
2) With your other hand, loosen all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards.
3) Slip all four strings over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go.
4) Starting with the G string, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of.
Loosen the strings by holding them at the top and bottom of the fingerboard with one hand
With your other hand, loosen all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards.
Slip all four strings over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go.
Starting with the G string, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of.
With your other hand, loosen all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards.
With your other hand, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of.
Repeat this process for all four strings until they are tightened enough to not move when plucked.
Use your left hand to twist the strings in opposite directions.
Finish by holding each string at its top with your right hand and pulling it taut, then releasing it gradually.
Slip all four strings over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go
While holding the string at its tail end, use your fingers to push the string over onto the fingerboard so that it sits in the grove.
Repeat this process with all four strings.
Once you have them securely in place, make sure they are tight against the fingerboard and then tighten them by pulling on their ends.
Finally, re-tighten the strings from their bridges.
Starting with the G string
Hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half.
Tighten the string by pulling on it and pushing it down with your fingers or a piece of wood.
Repeat steps 4-5 for each string.
After you have tightened all four strings, cut off the excess from the ends of the strings and from around the bridges.
Using a tapered end violin mute, tighten the bridge screws with a screwdriver.
Adjust any loose strings by tightening them up at their tail end and make sure they are tight everywhere else as well.
Hold down each string to see if it is still in tune, if not, loosen it up again and try again until it is in tune.
Repeat the steps
Repeat this process with the other strings, from the highest to the lowest.
To tighten a string, hold it at its tail end and pull upwards until you reach one-half of its original length.
Again, repeat this process with each string from high to low.
You can then use a wire or a rubber band to tie all of the strings together.
Tighten them as much as you can so everything is held securely.
Can a violin be strung as a viola FAQS
It takes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on how experienced you are. It’s important to make sure that the strings are tight enough so that they don’t slip off or loosen during use.
It is best for this process to be done by two people. One person should hold down the violin while the other person threads the new strings onto their correct bridges.
You will need a string winder, which you can purchase at any music store. You will also need some wire cutters, which can be bought at most hardware stores. The wire cutters are used to trim excess strings and tail ends of the violin so that they don’t fray and interfere with playing.
Yes, it can. However, the process of stringing a violin as a viola is complex and best left to those who know what they’re doing.
Conclusion
Stringing your violin as a viola is an easy process. The only difference is the bridge placement. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for stringing any violin as a viola.
1) Loosen the strings by holding them at the top and bottom of the fingerboard with one hand.
2) With your other hand, loosen all four strings from their bridges by holding onto their tail ends and pulling downwards.
3) Slip all four strings over the fingerboard on either side of where they used to go.
4) Starting with the G string, hold down the string at its tail end and use your fingers or a piece of wood to push it downwards towards the fingerboard until you reach one-half of.
5) Repeat these.
6) The tail end of the D string should now be positioned over the D string bridge, and half of the length of the G string should be positioned over the G string bridge.
7) The tail end of the A string should now be positioned over the A string bridge, and half of the length of the D string should be positioned over the D string bridge.
8) The tail end of the E string should positioned.
