Kontra

For the album by the Basque metal band Eraso!, see Kontra (album).

A kontra is a Hungarian (Hungarian: háromhúros brácsa, ‘three-stringed viola’), Romanian, Slovak and Romani instrument common in Transylvania.

Construction

The kontra is constructed much like the classical viola, with two major differences. First, there are only three strings instead of four. Second, the bridge is flattened, allowing a musician to play all three strings at once.

Tuning

The kontra is tuned like a viola, though lacking its low C string: G-D-A.

Technique

Due to the flattened bridge, a kontra is not as capable of playing melody lines as a viola. Rather, the standard method of play is to play double stops and three-note chords and let the fiddle play melody lines.

Ensemble Playing

The kontra has a defined role within dance band music. Its range lies between that of the fiddle or Vioara cu goarnă on the high-end and the double bass on the low-end. Many Romanian and Hungarian bands also feature the cimbalom or citera, clarinet, accordion, and Ütőgardon or cello.

See also

• Viola
• Vioara cu goarnă
• Music of Hungary
• Music of Romania
• Music of Slovakia