Parts of a Violin

Here are some descriptions of the Parts of a Violin. The violin is the soprano instrument of the bowed string family. If you ever listen to an orchestra play the violin makes up a large part of the sound. The violin works well in an orchestra, as a solo instrument and with any intrument.

Have you ever wondered what the difference between the violin and the fiddle is? I've once heard that attitude is the difference :) Actually there is no difference.

Most people who are referring to the instrument that is played in an orchestra would call it a violin and if it were playing in a Celtic band it would be referred to as a fiddle!

Parts of a Violin

Violin Scroll

The Scroll is the head piece that holds the tuning pegs in place. It is made out of beautiful wood. I've seen some old violins that had carved heads instead of the standard scroll you see below.

The scroll is an ornamental piece of wood.

Violin Tuning Pegs

There are 4 tuning pegs for each of the 4 strings of the violin. There is a hole at the end which is where the string is slipped through so that the extra string can be wound around the peg.

Tuning Keys can be tightened or loosened for tuning a violin.

Violin Strings

On a Violin there are 4 strings. They are tuned to perfect fifths, G-D-A-E, with G being the lowest and E the highest. Each sound is made by the bow being drawn over the strings.

When the violinist places his fingers on the violin, it shortens the vibrating part of the strings. If the strings are short the pitch is higher and if the strings are long then the pitch is lower. This is called stopping the string. If 2 or more notes are being played simultaneously it's called double stopping!

The violin is tuned to "G-D-A-E"

Violin Fingerboard

The violin fingerboard is the black piece of wood that is under the strings. When a violinist plays he puts his fingers on the strings pressing down against the fingerboard.

It's very important where the violinist places his fingers. If they are too close or too far away from the bridge it will change the pitch and no one likes listening to a musician that is out of tune ;)

Student violinists put tape on the correct places for them to place their fingers on the fingerboard.

F-Hole

There is an f-hole on both sides of the bridge to let sound out of the violin.

The f holes let sound out of the instrument.

Violin Bridge

The bridge is the wooden piece that stands up off the violin. It holds the strings up off of the instrument. As you can see in the picture below, the top of the bridge is slightly rounded making it easier for the violinist to play one note without playing the other strings at the same time.

The Violin bridge lifts the strings away from the violin.

Fine Tuners

The fine tuners are the little knobs that you see on the tailpiece. They are used once you have the string almost tuned but just needs a little fine tuning to get it perfect. Not all violins have them for all of the strings.

The fine tuners are used once you have the violin almost to the correct pitch.

Violin Tailpiece

The tailpiece is the black plastic part near the chin rest that holds the strings in place and is also where the strings are attatched to the fine tuners.

Parts of a Violin

Violin Chin Rest

The chin rest makes it easier for the violinist to keep the violin in place.

Violin Bowing

The bow is made out of a wooden stick and horse hair. Down at the end is the frog which has a screw that tightens or loosens the hairs. The tighter it is the louder you can play and whenever it is put into its case it's always loosened so as not to stretch out the hairs.

The sound can change depending on how slowly or quickly the bow is being moved and on many other variables like changing the pressure against the strings.

There are basic violin bowing strokes: Up-bow and down-bow.

• Up-bow - place the bow on the strings near the tip and move the bow upwards.
• Down-bow - place the bow on the strings near the frog and pull the bow down.

Did You Know?...

• There are about 70 different parts of a violin! Who would have thought there are so many pieces in such a relatively small intrument.

Violin Back

Violin and Bow in Case