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A lot of posts have been related to my post but I could find one that fits so I thought I would start this.
I have a full size violin, the back measures 14.25 inches (I don't know for sure if it's really a violin). I switched to 7/8 violin so this violin has been sitting around. This past weekend I had an idea - string it into a viola. When I started to look around for strings, I decided to just get a C strings and keep the rest of them. It turned out that only D string was a little short, so I added a fine tuner. They work fine so far.
I have the strings on on Wednesday night and have played violin tunes on it and love the sound. However, I wonder if anyone have any input about how the difference of strings pressure would harm the violin? Thank you!
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personally Id just invest in a set of short scale pro arte viola strings so you have a matching set. the viola strings have less tension then the violin strings, so no danger there
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
Barry, Thanks!
I didn't know if I would like it or not, that's why I decided to keep the violin G D & A strings and only bought a C string. My violin strings was a set of Pro-arte so I got a Pro-arte C string to match. I know a violin E string could put 80 pound pressure on the violin, would A string do the same? I thought the thicker the string the lesser the pressure, so putting A string on E slot should have less pressure on the violin top, right? correct me if I am wrong.
I felt the C string is so loose! It vibrates a lot when I draw my bow on it. I felt like I have to use a lot more strength on my bow arm to play on the "viola." Would a viola bow better?
I can't read alto clef easily yet so I basically just play all the violin songs on different scale, e.g., playing a song that was written in A major scale in D major 
I do like the sound a lot, so I probably will keep it as a viola.
He he he, and I am going to surprise my violin teacher (hopefully she is not on this forum:))
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Yes, the C string will "feel" loose to what youre used to. I play my 16.5 Viola with a carbon fiber fiddlerman violin bow. The couple more grams of a viola bow will help draw the tone, but if you adjust a little pressure the violin bow will do alright.
Ive have been transposing and making my own backing tracks with my guitar to play along with.
That C is a lot of fun,isnt it ?
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
Yes, very deep voice! It sounds calm and sounds like a cello. My daughter and I played together last night, she played the songs in right keys and I played them perfect fifth below, they don't sound harmony to me. I guessed I could try to play an octave below and see how they sound together.
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try some simple tunes together at first, like french folk song.. you will both start on the D note on the A string..it sounds great with violin and viola. Add a little vibrato and feeling and it comes alive. Best wishes, enjoy the dark side
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
We just played twinkle together in same key; she played the harmony I played the tune and it sounded great together. I wish we could do more like that but we have to find some tunes first.
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oh boy.. oh boy.. sounds like fun.. I am soooooo going to do this..
I haven't have time to get it together but I have wanted to try it. I love the low tones.. Cello-ish sounds in my house again...
Then again.. i could sneak a viola in to the house..
Kim.. I got your pm... I will send you pics.. lots of them!!
Cheers. Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Toni,
Thanks for the pictures in advance!
and yes, it's lots of fun! It's also another motivation for my practice! I mostly just play violin tunes on my "viola" in lower keys. I could only play one song in alto clef (I already knew the tune, so I figured out the first note and followed the note patterns and played -- cheater LOL)
I think I will ask my teacher how to play the viola with my daughter in harmony. May be I will get Suzuki viola book and see if that would work.
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Cool cool....keep me posted.. I have four violins.. I know one of them wants a "string-change operation" ha ha ha ha 
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Aloha @coolpinkone,
If your finances are agreeable, you could just get a 5-string violin. That would include the low C, but you would be buying yet another violin 
I would love to try a five-string violin, but I probably will bump into strings a lot as I already do with four-string violin.
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A 5 string in the electric silent variety are very reasonably obtainable. I'm into mine for the whole of $130 but you have to play thru an amp. It's crazy fun to play.
I'm very happy and find myself playing only the 5 string and neglecting the other 5 acoustic ones. The bridge is the same as used on a 4 string but the spacing of the strings is slightly different. The highest 4 strings are right at 8.7-8.9mm apart, the C string to G string is just over 10 so the radius of the top of the bridge is slightly more curved than the standard 42mm radius.
It makes it easy to bow and I find it easier than the standard 4 string violin. Maybe I'm just getting used to it.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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Very cool Dennis. Congratulations!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
hmmm, more curve than 4-string violin, with my small hand and short fingers, it will probably even more difficult for me to play on C string.
My question is: can I fix a 4-string violin into a 5-string violin? I mean the body, say I have a violin kit so I could get a scroll for 5-string violin and fit the bridge for it, would that work?
@denny, what kind of strings do you use on your electrical? Thanks.
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We have actually had that done pky. Considered having them done in great quantities in China for the Fiddlerman 5 string. Provided you have enough space on the nut and do not thin out the top too much, you should be good.
The added pressure of just the one string doesn't seem to cause any problems.
Long term - Who knows!!!
One tip I have is to set up the 4 normal strings exactly the way a regular violin is set up and to add the C string peg way up on the left above the D string peg.
This way you can purchase normal violin strings and one viola C string to match. Realist does it this way and I like it. You need to give some thought as to which string you are tuning at first but you quickly get used to it.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Thanks Fiddlerman.
I have my eye on a five-string violin, white, and I could varnish it with oil varnish. but I am worrying about the length of the violin, the thickness of the neck, and the width of the bouts. With my short arms and fingers, I already have trouble reaching for G string when I play F major two octaves, so I have concern about reaching for C string. My teacher suggested to just get a viola, which I kind of did by stringing my Stainer copy into a viola. I do like the sound a lot but I still would like to try a 5-string violin. In the worse case, I could always past it to my daughter when she is big enough:)
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I was fortunate enough to have a loan of a 5-string ( electric ) for a few weeks - nice.
I have also restrung an old fiddle to viola CGDA tuning - ( it is a 4/4 violin ). Initially, I fitted a viola C (borrowed from a friend) and found it "difficult" to play - tension was much lower and I had to actively "dig in to the string" but I liked the sound....
I then replaced the viola C with a Thomastik Vision violin C string (intended and designed for a 5-string e-violin although this was fitted on an acoustic) - and it is much less "floppy" and does not need so much "digging in to" with the violin bow, and (for me, where I am in my ability) I find it much more "playable"
Just a thought ...
Bill
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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pky said
Thanks Fiddlerman.I have my eye on a five-string violin, white, and I could varnish it with oil varnish. but I am worrying about the length of the violin, the thickness of the neck, and the width of the bouts. With my short arms and fingers, I already have trouble reaching for G string when I play F major two octaves, so I have concern about reaching for C string. My teacher suggested to just get a viola, which I kind of did by stringing my Stainer copy into a viola. I do like the sound a lot but I still would like to try a 5-string violin. In the worse case, I could always past it to my daughter when she is big enough:)
Some 5 string violin have wider necks but not all of them. I like your idea of a 5 string better than your teachers. To reach the lower strings try bringing your left arm more under the instrument when playing on them.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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