There Are Four Strings on the Violin

The Anatomy of the Violin

The strings on a Violin moving from the thickest to thinnest, the four strings are; G, D, A & E. Once your strings are brought to pitch, by tightening the pegs / fine tuners your instrument is in tune. Originally the Violin would have been string with Gut strings but modern strings made of synthetic material with different types of core (the centre of the string).

Different Parts of the Violin

The Violin is made up of a number of different parts. From top to bottom, you have the following parts.

• Scroll, on this you will find the pegs

• Neck, normally topped with Ebony

• On the main body;

  The Bridge

  Chin Rest

  Tail Piece (With Finetuners)

  F Holes

• Internally you will also find the sound post.

A violin's neck is carved from a single piece of wood, ending in a winding structure called the 'scroll’. The strings attach to tuning pegs, inserted into narrowly carved holes, and secured by friction. There is no other holding mechanism (with Guitar there is small cogs), often times when your violin is “slipping” it’s tuning the Pegs are normally the issue.

Depending on the Violin manufacture there will be “Fine Tuners” which are on the tail piece. By highering/lowering these tuners you can adjust the pitch of the strings. Most modern violin’s come with Four Fine Tuners (older Violin’s just had one for E).

Internally, between the two plates (top & bottom of the violin) is the sound post. This sound post is located at the side of the bridge (near A/E). The post brings out a fuller tone in the instrument. Most of the time, you won’t notice it or even see it but it’s there, helping you along!

What Are the “F” Holes For?

The “F” Holes in the Violin are basically to allow the sound to project further, it also acts to allow freer vibration of the top of the instrument.

What Woods Are Used in Violins?

Violins, for the most are now made of Spruce,

Maple & Ebony. With cheaper products the violins can be made from Basswood and other cheaper materials. Don’t let this put you off these instruments though, some of the cheap starter Violin’s don’t sound half bad! If you want to learn they are great for getting you started with Violin Lessons.