Hi. I've been playing the clarinet for quite a while now and was thinking about taking up a second instrument in the strings section. I was wondering between viola and violin and wondering which you thought was nicer. And it's not like I would need to learn any new clefs because I can already them all.

Do you prefer playing the lower notes or the higher notes on the clarinet? If you like the chalumeau register, then you might prefer the viola as it's a bit lower than the violin.

I personally prefer the viola (and I love the chalumeau register on the clarinet!) - I used to play the violin years ago, but switched to the viola in later life as I prefer the more mellow tone.

Violin is more comfortable (smaller and lighter), has a huge repertoire and you can produce a brilliant flashy sound on it.

However, bulky, uncomfortable and unrepresented as the viola is, I have voted viola as being "nicer", as the tone is much more groovy!!

If you are a fan of Mozart string quintets, as I am, you envy the viola players who are invited to join regular quartets.

Paul Silverthorne fights back:

Q) Why are viola jokes so short?

A) So that violinists can understand them.