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This is the viola poll, I answered yes, I believe it would be easier for me. I say this because of the size of the instrument. I feel it would be easier for me to hold and to finger.
I would like to know your feelings on this since I have never held a viola or tried to play one.
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It might be easier in that way Kevin, but the stretches are much greater. Can you extend your fourth finger even more?
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I've heard from people that have played both that the viola was easier. I've never played a viola long enough to decide if it's easier than violin myself, though. Two of my friends play viola and I tried each of their violas, and they were both lighter than my violin. I don't understand it... violas are bigger, shouldn't they be heavier? Maybe my violin is just really heavy. xD
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I think some people think that playing a viola is easier only because they look at viola music. Violins get all the hard parts to play and violas get the easier parts.
People think that viola parts are made easy bcause the violists cant play the harder stuff and I hate that. I kinda hate the jokes too.
I only think that viola might be easier to play if you have big hands, because the notes are farther apart.
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Yes Mustang. Viola's are actually heavier. You either have a heavy violin or your friends had light viola's. Also, there are different sizes. Maybe they had the smaller size viola's. The sound is better with bigger ones.
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I think the question might have hit a sore spot with Scarecrow... 
While I can certainly see why you would feel the way you do (and agree that they are probably quite true), I don't think anyone here is implying any of your concerns.
I certainly don't think the viola is any easier than violin, musical parts notwhithstanding.
I have more trouble with fourth-finger placement by far on the Viola than with Son #2's violin, which feels miniature by comparison. In this regard, I find the Viola more challenging. I can't imagine what smaller hands on my 16" Viola would be like...
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I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers here. I was only going with my thoughts on size and not musically challenging. I can see now that it has been pointed out about how far the forth finger must stretch.
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The way I see it, it doesn't really matter which instrument is harder. What matters is to what extent you take it. In other words, if playing the viola is easier because of the parts that are written for it, then playing the viola may be easier to achieve in an orchestra.
However, achieving difficult goals of virtuosity is just as hard on any instrument. The extent of virtuosity is greater on violin meaning that viola must be more difficult to play. <------- in my arrogant opinion .....
It's heavier, bigger stretches, slower action with the longer looser strings.....
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Initially, it is very hard to learn any instrument. You stick with it for atleast 6 months. Once past that stage, when you try to master it, that is when playing that instrument becomes easier and lovelier. Violin or viola - to me both are same.
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I play both, and personally I find intonation easier to nail on the viola. However, I also find the viola a much more physically demanding instrument overall, with trickier bowing (at least for faster pieces) and a further stretch to catch the 4th-finger notes in first position. (FWIW, my hands are fairly proportional to my 5'6" height, and I play a 16" viola.)
All that having been said, and with the caveat that I won't even contemplate ditching the violin, I definitely prefer the viola's voice. That's what makes all the effort--and sitting through the occasional horrible joke--worth it IMHO.
To put this another way: I love the violin and the viola both--albeit for very different reasons--but when it's time to seek an American luthier-made instrument it'll be the viola that I make that commitment for.
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As a player of the fiddle for only 11 months and a player of the viola for about 1month I would say that when it comes to intonation, the viola is easier.
Why? Well the short answer is that, on the viola, there is more room for my left fingers on the viola 
Bite off more than you can chew..... Then chew like MAD
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After playing viola for a little over a year or so, I find it difficult and cramped to play on one of the violins we have at the house. The viola just fits me better.
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my 2 cents... I dont think its easier or harder than violin. Its different, it takes a different technique. bowing may be the hardest adjustment for cross overs. Violinists tend to play it like a big violin. Ive read some of Primroses stuff and he states unlike the violin, the sound must be drawn from the Viola.
Bach : As the greatest expert and judge of harmony, he liked best to play the viola, with appropriate loudness and softness
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I agree. Every instrument is hard to "PERFECT". Maybe drums are a little easier than other instruments. LOL
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Violaman said
...Maybe drums are a little easier than other instruments. LOL
Ouch!
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Triangles and cymbals are easy instruments to play, and you do not need to worry much about tuning them or being able to read one two or three different clefs. It also eliminates a lot of hassles over key signatures and nudging neighbours with elbows.
I wonder how much more difficult playing a (7 14 string) viola d´amore would be ?
Maybe one day I will try it, I hope so. But they are few and far between. I believe a viola d´amore is a relatively uncommon (and not mass produced ?) instrument.
My principal problem with playing a viola is playing it in tune (I think I still need to wash my ears more, and/or my hearing is getting senile.)
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