The viola’s range in notes and hertz
The bottom is the open C string and does not move. The top is a fingerboard and a player rather than a fixed note: orchestral parts sit well below D7, which is the whole compass rather than everyday writing.
Written and sounding pitch
The viola reads at concert pitch in alto clef: a written note sounds as written, so the range above is both the sound and the page.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the viola’s:
- Piano · A0–C8 51 notes shared
- Marimba · C2–C7 49 notes shared
- Cello · C2–A6 46 notes shared
- Harp · C2–A6 46 notes shared
- Violin · G3–E7 44 notes shared
- Mandolin · G3–D7 44 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Viola tuner — tune by microphone, with the viola’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a viola?
The viola’s full range runs from C3 to D7 — 130.81 to 2349.3 Hz, about 4.2 octaves.
What is the lowest note on a viola?
C3 (130.81 Hz).
What is the highest note on a viola?
D7 (2349.3 Hz).