Which is your favourite bowed instrument?

Well I play the violin, so I should really say that, but I do love the cello so that got my vote in the end...

I'm going to vote for cello!

I miss viola d'amore and viola da gamba options

?

What are they?

Littlelady87, here some quick links for an easy explanation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_d'amore

Bit of a traitor I know, but has to be cello...

Me too. [typing very quietly so my viola can't hear]

Has to my 'cello. But I like my fiddle too when its having a good day, but technically, fiddle wasnt on the list, so cello!

Hardanger Fiddle wasn't on the list so had to vote for violin

well of course the violin is technically more challenging so you would technically not vote for it.

but I still like it a lot, so I'll vote for it.

Hehe... I wonder who voted for double bass...

Well, I can be honestly 'faithful' to my instrument and say that I like viola best. Having said that, I love 'cello too and wouldn't mind a chance to learn, but I think that's a long way and a larger home away!!

If everyone seems to love the 'cello so, why is the violin winning?!

I voted 'cello too...

Maybe those who voted for their own instrument didn't feel the need to justify not having done so, if you get what I mean!!!!!!

I can't choose! Though I play violin (and love) and viola, I also love cello and double bass too and want to learn them someday...

Did jojo vote for double bass??

Viola - Its transportable and sounds lovely....

Don't play strings, so not tied by any loyalties.
But couldn't vote, because none of the viols are on there, nor the viola d'amore, nor the violone .

The small violone is on there

Violin is too squeaky/high for me.
Cello Very low, the bass instrument
Double Bass The extreme low instrument
Viola Just right >_>

I never heard a good viol player, so...yeah until then I love viola.

Viola of course!!!!!

Violin, by a long way! Although viols are wonderful.
N

I wanted to vote for the Hardanger Fiddle too.

Here's one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m75Pw0ZdHZQ

It has to be violin, but the Hardanger fiddle comes close. So does my own 5-string!

VIOLIN!!!!

I've always loved the cello and for over 20 years had hankered after playing it but finally had the 'shot' of a violin last summer and fell in love!

BUT, I've been listening to VIOLA music recently and it's a BEAUTIFUL instrument!!! Such a glorious sound!
My violin teacher has just had a viola made for herself and will soon master it and I've tried it and my fingers are definitely too small. Oh well.

So violin it is then, I think, but the viola and cello come close equal second

Definitely cello - no contest! Why isn't there an emoticon for cello?

What size viola? You can get rather nice, manageable ones that are not that much bigger than a full-size fiddle....

Your violin is a beauty, no wonder you love it!


Yeah, I was thinking that! My teacher has pretty small hands and she plays viola just fine. You just need to get one the right size.

Can you also get mini cellos? EVENTUALLY (in a few years) I would love to learn the cello. But I have always been concerned that my hands are too small and that my body is too short....

You can get cellos that small children can play, so, yes!

I'm pretty certain you can get decent ones in the 3/4, 7/8 sizes.

Hooray- I guess that was the obvious answer, seeing as you can get small size violins etc. I've just never seen a small cello.

How do you find learning the cello compares to the violin? Obviously they are different, but how much of the technique is transferable?

Fingering is quite different - different hand shape and different fingering patterns. Bowing also has a different bowhold and feels quite different. Open strings are on lines not in spaces - really confused me for ages! - and of course you're in a different clef, and, say, 4th finger doesn't produce the note of the string above but only what as a violinist you would expect to be made by the 3rd finger...

That said - to be honest I think if you can make sure someone is coaxing you out of violin-y habits, it's a huge plus to have a string background. Aurally it helps immensely, and I think even just having some idea of how to draw a reasonable sound out of a string instrument helps with the bowing even if it feels very different, and although it's weird going 1-2-4 and 1-3-4 with the fingers, it's quite logical in a way if you've been used to the fingering patterns on the violin as it's just a more stretched version!

Disclaimer: I don't have a cello at the moment and I've only done grade 1 so I am no authority. But yes, I'm 100% sure my violin/viola background helped me immensely.