The Violin: An Overview
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The violin is a very popular instrument that has been played by people from all walks of life for centuries. The violin is from the string family, so called because they have strings. Other instruments in the string family include the viola, the cello and the double bass.
A violin has four strings which when played openly (with no fingers on the fingerboard) sound the notes, G, D, A and E. Each string, starting from G, is a perfect 5th up from the one before.
Tuning is achieved via the pegs in the scroll of the violin. By turning the pegs the strings can be tuned sharp or flat. Some violinists keep tuning forks in their cases to remind them of what is called a ‘concert A’ – an A that the whole orchestra tunes to. The violin can be tuned from the A string once it is in perfect pitch. Tuning forks are used to give the violinist that perfect A so that they can tune to it.
To play the violin you need a bow. The bow is made from wood and horse hair, or from a similar nylon material. The bow has to be lubricated with a material known as rosin. This is a plant extract which is obtained mostly from pine trees. It is compressed into a ‘cake’ and rubbed along the hair of the bow so that the bow will have better grip. Light coloured rosins are used for violins and darker rosins are used for lower pitched instruments like cellos and double bases.
The strings on a violin run along the fingerboard and are kept into position by the bridge. They then run over the bridge and are anchored in the tailpiece at the base of the violin. The tailpiece also has tuners on it but these are for fine tuning and turn on average about a tone in or out of the note.
Miscellaneous Violin Facts
• Statistics show that the violin is the most popular instrument to be chosen by children.
• Playing the violin with a fair amount of force burns up 170 calories an hour.
• A modern Violin contains 72 separate pieces of wood.
• A violin is not made from the same type of wood.
• Before the name ‘Violin’ was thought of, Italians used to call the violin ‘kit’.
• The violin is the highest pitched instrument of the string family