Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Classic FM Breakfast with Tim Lihoreau 7am - 9am

    Classic FM Breakfast with Tim Lihoreau

    Now Playing

    Keyboard Concerto in F minor (2) Johann Sebastian Bach Download 'Keyboard Concerto in F minor (2)' on iTunes

    Keyboard Concerto in F minor (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Music Education
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • Lyrics
    • More Classic FM

    The 12 funniest viola jokes

    Facebook share

    Pity the poor viola. Butt of all the jokes in the classical music world and maligned by string players everywhere. But we just can't help laughing at these viola jokes. Here are 12 of the best.

    1. viola jokes

      1. Out of tune

      How can you tell if a violist is playing out of tune? You can see the bow moving.

    2. viola jokes

      2. Vacuum cleaner

      What's the difference between a viola and a vacuum cleaner? A vacuum cleaner has to be plugged in before it sucks.

    3. viola jokes

      3. Musicians

      What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians? A viola player.

    4. viola jokes

      4. Coffin

      What's the difference between a viola and a coffin? Coffins have dead people on the inside.

    5. viola jokes

      5. Pizza

      What's the difference between a pizza and a violist? A pizza can feed a family of four.

    6. viola jokes

      6. Violinists

      What's the only thing a violinist can do better than a violist? Play the viola.

    7. Hide and seek viola joke

      7. Hide and seek

      Why don't violists play hide and seek? Because no-one would look for them.

    8. Dog viola joke

      8. Dog

      What's the difference between a violist and a dog? A dog is able to stop scratching.

    9. viola jokes

      9. Stolen

      How do you keep your violin from being stolen? Put it in a viola case.

    10. viola jokes

      10. Lightning

      What's the similarity between lighting and a violist's fingers? They never strike the same place twice.

    11. Viola joke - bar

      11. Viola joke - bar

      What's the difference between the first and last desk of the viola section? About half a bar.

    12. viola jokes

      12. In Tune

      How do you get two violists to play in tune with each other? Ask one to leave.

    Facebook share

    Latest on Classic FM

    French cellist Gautier Capuçon plays while suspended from a zipline in the French Alps.

    Gautier Capuçon plays cello while suspended on a zipline in the French Alps

    Gautier Capuçon

    This keyboard kitten is a fan of classical music

    10 calming pieces of classical music for your pet

    Dan Walker and Charlotte Hawkins return to present Classic FM’s Pet Classics

    How to keep your pets safe this firework season, according to the RSPCA

    Ancient well hidden for centuries in Glasgow Cathedral crypt is being reawakened

    Ancient well hidden for centuries in Glasgow Cathedral crypt is being reawakened

    Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

    Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

    Research finds singing together can help reduce stress in dementia patients

    Research finds singing together can help reduce stress in dementia patients

    Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi wrote his famous ‘Totoro’ theme in 20 minutes

    Composer Joe Hisaishi: ‘I wrote the Totoro theme in 20 minutes!’

    Hisaishi

    The spookiest pieces of classical music for Halloween.

    The 20 scariest pieces of classical music for Halloween

    Who is Dave, and does he really play the harp?

    Who is Dave, and does he really play the harp?

    Trailer full of pianos is a write-off after spontaneously combusting in Oklahoma

    Trailer full of pianos is a write-off after spontaneously combusting in Oklahoma

    Latest instrument features

    Denise Bacon played her clarinet while undergoing four-hour brain surgery to help relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

    Parkinson’s patient plays clarinet during brain surgery, revealing miraculous instant results

    Camden Stewart, St Pancras station’s viral piano star who began life as a boy soprano

    Meet St Pancras station’s viral piano star who began as a boy soprano

    Violinist Maya Levy accuses Transavia airlines of ‘complete injustice’ for refusing to let her board with rare 1761 violin

    Violinist accuses airline of ‘complete injustice’ for refusing to let her board with rare 1761 violin

    Lise Cristiani (December 24, 1827 – October 24, 1853)

    Have you heard the story of the world’s first female cellist, also an intrepid explorer?

    Yumeka Nakagawa moved to tears playing the ‘Raindrop’ Prelude at 19th Chopin Competition

    Chopin piano competition contestant visibly moved to tears while playing the ‘Raindrop’ prelude

    Chopin

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

    More instruments

    See more More instruments

    Violin

    Piano

    Guitar

    Flute

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker
    • John Williams
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Quizzes
    • Leonard Bernstein
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Careers

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2025
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager