Which instrument is traditionally associated with the alto clef?

• A. Violin
• B. Viola
• C. Cello
• D. Bassoon

Answer: (B)

The alto clef is a C clef where the middle line of the staff represents middle C, placing notes in the viola’s comfortable range and reducing many ledger lines for typical viola music. Because the viola’s pitches sit well around the center of the staff, this clef became the standard way to notate its parts. In practice, violin music is usually in treble clef, while cello and bass parts stick to bass (with some tenor or treble usage in special cases). This is why the viola is traditionally associated with the alto clef.