Anyone here played one before?

I haven't (though I would like to) but I think some of the folks who went on the Early Music Course had a go... *goes to try and find relevant posts.....*

Yes. When I played cello in a previous life I used to play the bass viol often. My father was an amateur stringed instrument maker and made two so I used to play on one of those. The other was given to my cello teacher. I also played in an ensemble with a lute player and a violinist turned bass viol player , ( I played recorders) and we used to swap instruments sometimes for fun. NEVER played in public though. I was far from that standard.

I tried to do a search but it kept dying on me - sorry. If you search for "early music course" + "viol" then I am sure something would come up.

How similar to playing a cello is it, Petra?

I have played bass, tenor and treble viols at an early music workshop. I also had a go on a rebec, various crumhorns and several other strange instruments. I loved playing the bass viol.

It needs a far, far lighter bow than a cello. You have to stroke the bow over the strings rather than use much pressure. Also it has frets like a guitar, except that they are usuaally made from gut, or nylon, and can be moved a little to fit in with different temperaments. I think that it was Playford who said that these should be removed after a while but few players do. I used to find it very hard to refrain from using vibrato too. It sounds to me like a cello with a heavy cold, but a lovely thing to play nevertheless.

Sounds lovely - I'd like to try one one day.