A viola is a stringed musical instrument that is similar in shape to a violin but is slightly larger and has a lower and deeper sound. It is the middle or alto voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello. The viola has four strings that are typically tuned to C3, G3, D4, and A4. It is primarily an orchestral and chamber music instrument, but it is also heard in jazz, folk, rock, and pop music as well. The violas tone is darker, weightier, and warmer than that of the violin. A person who plays the viola is called a violist or a viola player. The technique required for playing a viola has certain differences compared with that of a violin, partly because of its larger size. The violas less responsive strings and the heavier bow warrant a somewhat different bowing technique, and a violist has to lean more intensely on the strings.