Introduction
If you want to do anything with a viola, such as use it to play anything other than classical orchestral music, good luck finding a luthier who has ANY clue about what you are talking about. There are a few of us, but not many. If you are a member of the growing sub-culture of alternatively-tuned viola players, or even standard violas used for playing Old-Time, Bluegrass, Celtic, Jazz or Rock, you know what I am talking about. Well, we are here to listen to your tales of woe, and even provide a helping hand.
We do alternative violas!
In my 50+ years as a fiddler, I have always had a special place in my heart for violas. At an earlier point in life, I actually did get a little bit of formal viola training, I found that I was just not that interested in using a viola to play typical viola parts. Early on, I started acquiring violas to more or less use as big fiddles. I found that tuning violas like octave violins (G2 D3 A3 E4) best served my musical adventures. I also became interested in octave violas, or “chin cellos” as they are often called. And, then, there are the 5-string violas, which are essentially brawnier versions of 5-string fiddles, and can be tuned all sorts of ways to suit your musical interests. Here are some tunings, all of which I have experimented with over the years.
- Like a 5-string fiddle (C3 G3 D4 A4 E5)
- Tenor tunings (G2 D3 A3 E4 B4 or G2 D3 A3 E4 A4 or G2 D3 A3 D4 A4]
- Like a 5-string cello (or violoncello da spalla) (C2 G2 D3 A3 E4)
Then there are the violoncellos da spalla, aka violas da spalla, of which I have made about 20 in the past 5 or so years. These days they are usually thought of as tiny 5-string cellos, but they can also be seen as really big 5-string octave violas (i.e. tuned like a 5-string cello).
Tuning a viola like a violin (or violas as big fiddles)?
This, of course, is unthinkable in the world of classical orchestral music. Fortunately, nobody outside of that world cares. I have met many fiddlers, especially those with unusually large hands, over the years who set up violas with appropriate strings for tuning like a regular fiddle. The result is usually a wonderfully dark and powerful sounding, and yes, big, fiddle.
Conclusion
So, if you are a free-thinking bowed string player who wants to explore what you can really do with a viola beyond the usual accompaniment of violinists, give us a call. You may want to take a look at our “standard” instrument offerings in the viola realm, see:
- Rickert Tenor Viola (15.5" or 16") (Tuned like Octave Violin)
- Custom 5-String Violas by Don Rickert
- Ranger IV Travel Viola by D. Rickert
Contact Info.
Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media.
Email: doctorfiddle@gmail.com
Phone (in US): 706-896-0909 or 706-400-1481 (mobile)
D Rickert Musical Instruments 
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