Violin family

Others point out that correlation does not imply causation and say that these external similarities are either arbitrary or that they arose from causes other than a relationship to the viol family.

All string instruments share similar form, parts, construction and function, and the viols bear a particularly close resemblance to the violin family.

In contrast, the viol family instruments usually have five to six strings with a fretted fingerboard, are tuned in fourths and thirds, often have sloping shoulders, and do not necessarily have a sound post or bass bar.

The playing ranges of the instruments in the violin family overlap each other, but the tone quality and physical size of each distinguishes them from one another.

The double bass is played standing or sitting on a stool, with a range that typically reaches a minor sixth, an octave or a ninth below the cello's.

Similarly of a variable thickness, the back is most commonly crafted from maple (poplar and willow were used for some baroque instruments).

This similarity in the manner of sound production allows string quartets to blend their tone colour and timbre more easily than less homogeneous groups.