The bass has the lowest pitch of these instruments, followed by the 'cello and then the viola.
no The cello can, however, achieve many notes in the viola range. The viola can only go down so far in pitch on the lowest open string.
ViolinViolaCelloBass
A cello can play in the range of a violin (much of it), if that's what you mean, but a violin's highest note is much higher than a cello's highest note.
Cello is lower in pitch by one octave. It is also much bigger.
A viola is in the key of C, and is tuned in fifths. The lowest string is tuned an octave below middle C, then G, D, and A. Each string is an octave higher then a cello. A viola is in the key of C, and is tuned in fifths. The lowest string is tuned an octave below middle C, then G, D, and A. Each string is an octave higher then a cello.
no The cello can, however, achieve many notes in the viola range. The viola can only go down so far in pitch on the lowest open string.
ViolinViolaCelloBass
A cello can play in the range of a violin (much of it), if that's what you mean, but a violin's highest note is much higher than a cello's highest note.
Cello is lower in pitch by one octave. It is also much bigger.
A viola is in the key of C, and is tuned in fifths. The lowest string is tuned an octave below middle C, then G, D, and A. Each string is an octave higher then a cello. A viola is in the key of C, and is tuned in fifths. The lowest string is tuned an octave below middle C, then G, D, and A. Each string is an octave higher then a cello.
A standard string quartet is made of two violins, a viola, and a cello. The cello is the lowest.
Pitch
Because it's strings are thicker than those on the violin or viola. The bass is the lowest, however, because it's strings are the thickest.
In the violin family, the next in pitch above the cello is the viola. The cello is the bass of the violin family. The violin itself is the soprano, and the alto is the viola. There have been tenors made of this family from time to time, but they are not in any way standard instruments and are usually called by the name tenor violin.
Violin, Viola, Cello then Double Bass
The Viola can play higher. Pitches of String Instruments from highest to lowest are: Violin Viola Cello Double Bass
The order of bowed string instruments from highest to lowest range is: Violin Viola Cello Double Bass