Modern ergonomic viola with cut-away upper bout. Using original 17th century geometry of a viola by Gennaro, I have redesigned the upper treble bout to accommodate the player’s left hand in upper positions. I am grateful to Francois Denis for sharing this geometry in his book Traite de Lutherie. The viola has a 16 inch body length, but feels like a 15 1/2 inch instrument. I have also designed a low profile tailpiece and chinrest to make increase comfort under the chin. The fingerboard is ebony veneer over a spruce core, which results in a light but strong fingerboard, reducing fatigue and increasing sound production.