Viol - Versions

Versions

Gamba (as the name is often abbreviated for convenience) comes in six sizes: "pardessus de viole" (which is relatively rare and did not exist before the 18th century), treble, alto, tenor, bass, and contrabass (also known as a violone). The treble is about the size of a violin, but with a deeper body; the standard bass is a bit smaller than a cello. The English made smaller basses known as division viols, and the still-smaller Lyra viol. German consort basses were larger than the French instruments designed for continuo. Two closely related instruments include the baryton and the viola d'amore, although the latter is played under the chin, viola-fashion.