Hi I'm new to the viola I play other instruments such as the guitar, accordian, piano, bass guitar. This is my first experience with a classical stringed instrument and let me say it is a very frustrating experience.

I got my viola and I attempted to tune it. I put the bridge in and everything and the strings would not stay tuned. I was pushing the pegs into the holes but time after time they would just become untuned. I eventually ended up breaking the G string and gave up on the whole thing. This is frustrating to me because guitars are so incredibly easy to restring and tune and violas seem to be just a nightmare!

My viola is cheap so could this be the problem? or am I just an idiot? I do not have a teacher or anything and I do not wish to pay for the help of one. Is the viola practically impossible to learn on your own?

First of all, it was a HUGE mistake going out and buying a cheap viola. Who does that?! Were you even sure that you were going to like it? Look where you are now. You should have rather rented a viola that sounded good and did'nt need to be stringed (which you should have had done by a professional). Furthermore, if you want to play the viola well, it is STRONGLY recommended that you get a teacher. If your not going to, quit now. Itll save time before you get depressed about how badly you will play. Classical stringed instruments are very difficult to keep up with (Maintenance wise) without someone who knows the in's and out's of it (once again, a teacher). Proper bow hold (and knowing hw tight your bow should be) and posture are also key elements to playing the viola well. So, return that viola, rent one and get a teacher that knows what theyre doing. I wish you all the luck in learning how to play.

Push the pegs further in to the holes, that should solve the immediate problem.

As for impossible to learn on your own, - well, in a word, yes.

Liz

This may be the only time I post on this forum, but I just had to comment.

I recently started a rapidly lengthening thread at the Delcamp classical guitar forum lamenting the abundance of classical guitarists who think they can learn their art without lessons, technical exercises, etc. I was wondering why the guitar is so uniquely plagued by people who expect to play well without paying some dues. It's a relief to see that even the viola has this problem.

I love the viola, as a listener. It has a beautiful sound and (I think) an ideal range. But it seems to serve primarily as accompaniment in classical pieces for multiple instruments. I would think you'd have to be either a serious musician or a fourth grader to start into it. You shouldn't have the "I wanna be Eric Clapton--NOW" phenomenon.

The need for lessons should be obvious. As technically challenging as classical guitar can be, I was able to make a reasonably pleasing note on mine the first time I plucked a string. The one time I tried to play a violin (no one's ever let me try their viola), I could only elicit a faint, raspy, horrible croak. Having read Arnold Steinhardt's "Violin Dreams," it's my impression that you'd have a hard time doing much better than that without a teacher.

So, if you really want to learn the viola, even as someone who's never touched the instrument, I BEG you to reconsider your decision not to take lessons. Otherwise, I think you can expect to be nothing BUT "Frustrated."

Well it sounds like your pegs were sliping and you need peg compound