The Viola Profonda is a bowed string instrument with four strings, which is bigger than a Viola and its standard way of playing is resting on the shoulder (as a Violin and Viola). | It fills the complete tenor-range with its own sound colour, reforming the usual classical string quartet and completing the idea of classical music theory of having four separate voices with their own timbre each in every instrument-category as known in the choir, the woodwinds and the brass family: |
| Voice | Classical string quartet | Natural string quartet |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | First Violin | Violin |
| Alto | Second violin | Viola |
| Tenor | Viola | Viola Profonda |
| Bass | Violoncello | Violoncello |
Its pitch is one octave below the violin and the strings are pitched as follows:
G-d-a-e' or F-c-g-d'
The notation is either in G-clef (sounds one octave lower than written) or in C-clef (sounds one fourth lower than written).
(From left: Viola Profonda, Viola, Violin)