Music is life, that can't be argued. Music is the soul that dances through ups and downs of people. Learning musical instruments is a glory for me.

A second-hand Viola was given by my sister as her graduation gift for me. ( I thank her, really). Though i don't know yet how to play (as a pro) but it is important to know it's basic parts. I would like to share what I know the viola basics. I took some photo of my viola.

*PS. dont mind the tapes on the fingerboard, it only serves as my indicator for chords. I'm just a beginner. Hahaha *

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIOLIN AND VIOLA

• **Violin is the sorprano of the stringed instruments while the viola is the alto and viola is bigger in size than the violin. **

THE BASIC PARTS OF THE VIOLA

• BODY

It is the wooden part of the viola.

• CHIN REST

It is usually brown or black, oval-shaped piece of wood or plastic near the bottom of the viola. It helps to aid in the positioning of the player's chin or jaw on the instrument.

• ** TAILPIECE**

It is the long skinny, brown or black piece of wood or plastic that is fat on top and skinny at the bottom connected to the chin rest. It anchors the strings so it must be strong enough to withstand the tension.

• FINE TUNERS

the 4 gold, silver or black colored circles on the tailpiece. Aside from the tuning pegs, you can also tune a bit using fine tuners for better use.

• F-HOLES

The elongated f-like holes in front of the viola. The sound must escape from the inside to amplify the sound.

Some of articles I read why it is f-holes is that it sounded like S for sonata or sonare or sonething like that that's why it looks like an elongated S. (It would be awkward to might call it S-holes right. hehe ). Though the old viols had C holes. According to the hills, the lower part of the C holes was reversed when violin was invented.

• **FOUR STRINGS **

the silver colored strings.

• BRIDGE

it is the light brown, wooden piece that holds up the strings near the bottom of the viola. It suspends the strings above the instrument in their proper playing position.

• ** UPPER BOUT**

it is the upper part of the viola where the wood kind of curves upward.

• FINGERBOARD

it is the long, brown or black wooden piece, few inches away from the bridge.

• **NECK **

it is the long, skinny wooden piece where you hold the instrument, attached to the body, near the top.

• SCROLL

it is the Curly, wooden piece at the top of the instrument.

• TUNING PEGS

The brown or black, oval-shaped wooden pieces sticking out near the scroll. It is used to hold a string and sometimes may function to tune the strings.

• NUT

it is where the 4 strings join together. It supports the strings at the end.

• **END PIN (END BUTTON) **

it is the small brown or black circle, near the chin rest, located on the side of the instrument at the bottom.

• SIDES

the sides of the viola.

BASIC PARTS OF THE BOW

• STICK

the long, various colored (brown, black, blue or red) stick on the bow.

• BOW HAIRS

it is the hairs of the bow.

• WINDING

The normally brown or black piece of rubbery plastic near the bottom of the bow.

• FROG

the brown or black rectangle with a chunk out of it near the bow hair.

• TENSION SCREW

The black and silver screw at the very bottom of the bow.

• TIP

The tip of the bow.

SO in my next blog, I will discuss how to hold the viola and bow.

Thank you for reading and embrace the soul of music 💕