A viola closely resembles the looks of a violin while being somewhat larger. One core difference between violins/fiddles and violas is in the sound itself. Violas tend to have deeper and lower sounds than violins or even fiddles, making them a more favorable option for playing contemporary pop music.

Violas are larger than violins and have a deeper, mellower sound. They are both orchestral string instruments that originated in Italy and are played with a bow. The violin is also called a fiddle when used to play folk music.

The Fiddle and violin have a smaller frame size than the viola in both width and length. The standard fiddle differs from the violin with an arched angle near the waist that makes it have a larger diameter. Most agree that telling the difference this way is not reliable, because fiddle and violin sizes differ depend on manufacturer.