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Ok, a twist to a "recent" thread. I started with violin many years ago in grade school. Left that well behind and when my daughter and wife decided to pick up violin I caught the bug again and decided to pick up the Viola. This worked great when my daughter switched over to Cello and we had our own home made trio. Sadly, the girls lost interest and I was left alone. Now I love Fiddle Music, and my instructor has provided some great pieces to start with, but I have been finding it very discouraging as I look for sheet music. I have already bought a number of Viola books both in Fiddle music and Gospel music tracts which are my two areas of interest, but find very few songs that: a, I enjoy; b, can play as most books are for intermediate to advanced players; c, have ever heard of before. I'm starting to wonder, after taking formal lessons for about a year now, if I should just make the switch and pick up the violin. I do play around with it (the 4/4 violin) here in the house from time to time, and frankly can't stand the shrill E string (although this could be the string itself or the instrument)…
So, what say you? be you advanced experts, an avid beginner like myself or somewhere in between…. Stick with to, dump it for the violin or try out a 5 string
thanks.
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There is nothing worse than a shrilling, cheap E string sound on a cheap or badly adjusted violin. It drives me nuts. It may just be the violin. Your violin might have a metallic whinny bright irritating sound. You may feel more comfortable with a dark mellow deep quality violin. 
If you love the viola, stick to it. You can play almost anything that you play on a fiddle on a viola as well. Another option is the 5-string fiddle I love the five string.
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Ive found I love them both and each has their place. I tried playing the Bach prelude on my violin after I got rid of my cheap Viola...yeah, just didnt sound right. And some fiddle tunes sound good on viola, but others just need to be played on a violin.
And I agree, a bad E on a cheap fiddle is a horrible thing...been there
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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@Ripton Ok, this might be whimping out. What aboutnusing a violin book, but playing it on viola as you would a violin?
What I am saying is, yhe fingering and strings would be the same, but plyed on a viola. I do that when I have a violin liece memorized, rather than look for the same music in viola form.
Bumping this thread up for new discussion or viewing. It might help others with the finding viola music issue. If you are a guest reading this, please feel free to join the forum and add your thoughts.
The Bumble Bee Flies
Learn Viola on Violaman and Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk
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I have accumulated a number of books in both Alto and Treble. My sight reading skills are poor, but gotta give it a try
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You will get it. It just takes getting used to. I still have issues switching back and forth.
Do you know the trick about finding C on the Alto staff line? I always have to fall back on that start from there.
For the bass, because I use the G on the D string a lot, I know where that os on the staff.
I also can almost identify where the open strings are on each staff. Almost have that pat on the bass staff.
The Bumble Bee Flies
Learn Viola on Violaman and Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk
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