Which instrument serves as the tenor voice in chamber groups and is slightly larger than a violin?

• A. Violin
• B. Cello
• C. Double Bass
• D. Viola

Answer: (D)

In chamber groups, the viola carries the middle, tenor-like line, giving a warm, darker color that connects the bright violin parts with the deeper cello parts. It’s slightly larger than a violin, and this extra size helps produce that fuller, more centered sound the part needs. The viola’s tuning sits a fifth below the violin, placing its range squarely in the middle of the string family, which is why it naturally fills the tenor role. The violin would be the higher, brighter voice; the cello and double bass cover the lower end. So the instrument that fits both the size cue and the voice range is the viola.