My Vertical Viola

The Instrument in my picture is an Alto Violin or more commonly called a Vertical Viola. I made this instrument by using a very small one 10th cello and converting it to a vertical viola with the appropriate strings. The vertical Viola is a member of the violin octet

The violin octet is a family of stringed instruments developed in the 20th century primarily under the direction of the American luthierCarleen Hutchins. Each instrument is based directly on the traditional violin and shares its acoustical properties, with the goal of a richer and more homogeneous sound. Unlike the standard modern stringed instruments, the main resonance of the body of the violin octet instrument is at a pitch near the two middle open strings, giving the instruments a more balanced, clearer sound.

The instruments of the violin octet are:

Instrument	Tuning	Notes
Treble Violin	G-D-A-E, tuned an octave above the violin
Soprano Violin	C-G-D-A, tuned a fourth above the violin	About the size of a three-quarter violin
Mezzo Violin	G-D-A-E, tuned the same as the violin	The body is an inch longer than a conventional violin but the strings are the same length
Alto Violin (Vertical viola)	C-G-D-A, tuned the same as the viola	Similar to a viola but larger, and is often played upright, like a cello
Tenor Violin	G-D-A-E, tuned an octave below a standard violin	The body is similar to a half-size cello but with thinner ribs and a longer neck
Baritone Violin	C-G-D-A, tuned the same as a cello	Larger than a conventional cello
Small Bass Violin	A-D-G-C, tuned a fourth above a double bass or G-D-A-E, tuned a fourth below a cello.1
Contrabass Violin	E-A-D-G, tuned the same as a double bass or C-G-D-A, tuned an octave below a cello.1	Larger than a conventional double bass

If you are interested in the Vertical Viola you may contact me for more information or you may go through Google and type in the words for Vertical Viola.

I enjoy playing the Vertical Viola because I may play it like a cello and enjoy a little of both worlds in plain my music.I do use the Viola play in pitch program for practicing my vertival viola.

This is just one of the many stringed instruments that there are to enjoy. So many instruments and so little time.

Tommy Dodge