| Viola de arame | |
| Names: | Viola da Madeira |
| Background: | string |
| Classification: | String instrument |
| Hornbostel Sachs Desc: | Composite chordophone |
| Developed: | Madeira |
| Related: | Viola caipira, Viola beiroa, Viola braguesa, Viola campanica, Viola da terra, Viola sertaneja, Viola terceira, Viola toeira, Viola amarantina. |
The Viola de arame is a stringed musical instrument from the Portuguese island of Madeira.[1] It has 9 (sometimes 10) strings in 5 courses. The strings are made of steel.
It is tuned G3 G2, D3 D2, G3 G3, B3 (B3), D3 D3 so "Open G Major".
The two lowest courses are tuned in octaves. The three higher ones are tuned in unison. However, the 2nd highest course is a single string instead of a pair like the rest (there are also 10 string Versions w/ 5 pairs of strings).
The scale length is about 560mm.