viol familyViola de gamba familyPlease use <a href="/instrument/be34e4e5-6e77-46f5-ab56-c9641d3da213">Viola da Gamba</a> with credit "viol" for generic / unspecified viol credits, and not this one. Developed in the 15th century from vihuelists starting to play with bows, viols have frets, flat backs, sloped shoulders, c-holes and are tuned in fourths.