The viola is bigger than the violin, and can play 5 steps lower in pitch. It has a more mellow sound than the violin, and tends to be the glue of the orchestra, often playing harmony parts that make the music sound full and lush. But make no mistake, increasingly violists are getting solo parts in the orchestra and viola is growing in popularity. For players who like violin but feel that they would like to play lower sounds, and want an instrument with a bigger feel, the viola is their instrument. Watch the videos below to see the viola play in different styles!