- Smaller in size
- Higher in pitch
- Has strings that are thinner and higher in tension
- Produces a brighter, more piercing sound
Viola
- Larger in size
- Lower in pitch
- Has strings that are thicker and lower in tension
- Produces a darker, more mellow sound
Other Differences
- The viola is held differently from the violin, with the chin resting on the scroll instead of the shoulder
- The viola is tuned in fifths, like the cello, while the violin is tuned in fourths
- The viola has a wider range of notes than the violin, from C3 to A6, while the violin has a range from G3 to E7
- The viola is often used in orchestral and chamber music, while the violin is used in a wider variety of genres, including classical, jazz, and folk