How does the viola work?

The viola produces sound through the vibrations of its strings, which are made to resonate by the musician drawing a bow across them. These vibrations are then transmitted through the bridge and into the body of the instrument, which acts as a resonator to amplify the sound.

The viola has four strings, tuned to the notes A, D, G, and C, which are played with a bow. The strings are stretched between the instrument's bridge and tailpiece, and are held in place by the pegs on the scroll. The bow is drawn across the strings, causing them to vibrate and produce sound.

The viola's body is made of wood (typically, maple for the back and sides, and spruce for the top) and is hollow, which amplifies the sound produced by the strings. The body is shaped in a way that creates a resonant cavity, which helps to produce the viola's characteristic rich and mellow tone.

The viola's strings are held in place by the pegs on the scroll. The scroll is the carved head of the instrument, and is often decorated with intricate designs. The neck of the viola is attached to the scroll, and is made of wood (typically, maple).

The viola is a member of the string family of instruments, which also includes the violin, cello, and double bass. Violas are larger than violins, but smaller than cellos. The viola is tuned an octave lower than the violin, and a fifth higher than the cello.