Editing Violin octet (section)

==Instruments==

The instruments of the violin octet are:
{| class="wikitable"
! width="20%" | Instrument
!Range
! width="40%" | [[Musical tuning#Basic tuning (open strings)|Tuning]]
! width="40%" | Notes
|-
| Treble violin
|[[File:Treblerange.gif|thumb]]
| G<sub>4</sub>–D<sub>5</sub>–A<sub>5</sub>–E<sub>6</sub>, tuned an [[octave]] above the [[violin]], like the [[Kit violin]] or pochette<ref>which were however three string instruments</ref> or the two "kleine Poschen" of the [[Syntagma Musicum]] of [[Michael Praetorius]]<ref>two types are shown both having three strings: see [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Syntagma12.png Syntagma Musicum, vol. 2, page XXI]</ref>
| About the size of a {{1/4}} violin
|-
| Soprano violin
|[[File:Soprrange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>4</sub>–G<sub>4</sub>–D<sub>5</sub>–A<sub>5</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] above the [[violin]], like the [[violino piccolo]]
| About the size of a {{3/4}} violin
|-
| Mezzo violin
|[[File:Mezzo_violin's_range.png|thumb]]
| G<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>5</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as the [[violin]]
| The body is slightly longer ({{cvt|368|-|381|mm|disp=semicolon}}) than a conventional violin ({{cvt|355|mm|disp=semicolon}}) but the strings are about the same length ({{cvt|328|-|338|mm|disp=semicolon}})
|-
| [[Vertical viola|Alto violin]]
|[[File:Altorange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>3</sub>–G<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as the [[viola]]
| Similar to a viola but larger, and is often played upright, like a cello
|-
| [[Tenor violin]]
|[[File:Tenorrange.gif|thumb]]
| G<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub>–A<sub>3</sub>–E<sub>4</sub>, tuned an  [[octave]] below a standard [[violin]], like the historical [[tenor violin]]
| The body is similar to a {{1/2}} cello but with thinner ribs and a longer neck
|-
| [[Baritone violin]]
|[[File:Barirange.gif|thumb]]
| C<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>–D<sub>3</sub>–A<sub>3</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as a [[cello]]
| Larger than a conventional cello
|-
| Small [[bass violin]]
|[[File:Smbassrange.gif|thumb]]
| A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>–C<sub>3</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] above a [[double bass]] ''or'' G<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–A<sub>2</sub>–E<sub>3</sub>, tuned a [[perfect fourth|fourth]] below a cello.<ref>The existence of two basses, a smaller one and a larger one, was also a feature of the [[viol]] family, which had two types of [[violone]] tuned one fourth apart</ref>
| About the size of a {{frac|5|8}} double bass; played like a double-bass or sitting down (like a cello)
|-
| Contrabass violin
|[[File:Cbassrange.gif|thumb]]
| E<sub>1</sub>–A<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>, tuned the [[unison|same]] as a [[double bass]] ''or'' C<sub>1</sub>–G<sub>1</sub>–D<sub>2</sub>–A<sub>2</sub>, tuned an [[octave]] below a cello.
| Larger than a conventional double bass; played like a double bass
|}

Note: While the ''Small Bass'' and ''Contrabass'' violins were designed and originally meant to be tuned in fifths, most bassists find the required extra shifting impractical. The former<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hutchins Consort - History|url=https://www.hutchinsconsort.org/nvfa}}</ref> [http://www.nvfa.org/ New Violin Family Association] listed tunings for these instruments in fourths, while the Hutchins Quartet retains the original fifths tuning.