Ever wonder what are the parts of a violin? Well, I bet you wouldn’t only until you get interested to this instrument or maybe you love to listen to the tune of it. So, today let’s dig deeper and learn about this instrument.
Of course, it’ll be a little help knowing the background of this instrument. A violin is a wooden instrument that is played by drawing a bow across the strings but you may also use your fingers to pluck it. That would be a little harder though, I guess. Better use a bow. Some may call it a fiddle and has the highest pitch and is the smallest among the violin family. It was known back in Italy during the 16th century.
The violin parts are usually made from different kinds of wood. Though there are electronic violins,definitely those are not made of wood. Violins are strung either by a gut, synthetic, perlon or other steel strings. Did you know that repairing the violin and a bow are called 2 different person? The one who repairs or make the violins is a luthier or in an easier terminology is called violinmaker. The person who repairs or make the bow is an archetier and in simple term of course they are called bowmaker. Isn’t that cool? Now, let’s move on the parts of the violin one by one. Let’s start from the top to the bottom of it.
Contents
The Violin Scroll
Everyone knows what a scroll means, right? This part of the violin is located on the very top and is carved right above the neck. In fact, this part of the violin does not really contribute to the making of sound but instead a decorative figure only. Based on history, the first carvings are actually like head horses.
The Violin Peg Box
It is the open space just below the scroll and is above the nut that sinks back making a small chamber. This peg box keeps the strings in place and attached to it while pegs are used on each side of it. Wedging the strings in tune makes it easier.
The Violin Pegs
Situated below the scroll where the strings are thread into is an ebony pointed pin called pegs. It holds the strings and is actually the one that helps in tuning the strings. Basically it makes adjustment of the tune easier.
The Violin Strings
The one that produces the sound either by bowing or plucking is the strings. The vibrations are actually what makes the sound. It is the strand that runs the length of a violin. It could be made of wound metal, a synthetic material or gut.
The Violin Nut
It is a small piece of wood below the peg box and is right above the fingerboard. It allows the breaking and stopping of the strings. It makes the strings unobstructed running through the bridge. That makes the the string vibrates between the bridge and the nut that produce the scale and sound of the violin.
The Violin FingerBoard
A fingerboard is a piece of ebony or is some quality instruments it may not be ebony. It is located just on top of the neck wood. From the word itself, this is where you place your finger to stop the vibration of the strings and make changes on the pitch.
The Neck of the Violin
It is normally made of maple and is at the bottom of the fingerboard. This is where your thumb is located to do the shifting.
The Upper Bout of the Violin
The upper part of the body is called the upper bout of the violin. This where the neck is connected to. It serves as the resonating cavern of the instrument.
The Center Bout of the Violin
The curves inward that you see on the violin is what we call the center bout. It is also called “the waist”. This violin part has been made to bow the outside strings much easier. These strings are the ”E” and “G”.
The F-Holes of the Violin
Anyone can think that it is just a simple hole in the violin but it plays a very important part on its body. The F-Holes are the one that helps in frequency production and circulation of air from the exterior and interior of the violin. It resonates the frequency better.
The Violin Bridge
The mysterious part of the violin is the bridge. It holds the strings and is a stopping point for the vibration. It is made from maple. It could be simple or fancy. The main role of the bridge is to manipulate vibration and resonance. It is the frequency producer of the violin.
The Violin TailPiece
A tailpiece is normally made of boxwood, rosewood or ebony. Situated just under the bridge and is below the chin rest. It can affect the sound and playability of a violin because the strings are attached to the tailpiece and it holds everything in place.
The Fine Tuners on the Violin
Fine tuners are commonly built in to the tailpiece or sometimes could be just an addition. This helps in making little tuning adjustments on the strings. It is also a substitute if the larger tuning pegs cannot get the pitch well. When a violinist get skilled they would usually take off the D, G and A fine tuners.
The Lower Bout of the Violin
Where the chin rest is situated and tailpiece is located is the lower bout. It is the opposite side of the upper bout.
The Violin Button
A cone shaped piece of ebony that is situated at the very bottom of the violin is what we call the button. Some may call it endpin. It is the one that holds the loop attached to the tailpiece. It simply means then that the button could affect the tuning of the whole system of a violin.
The Violin Chin Rest
Just by the name itself, it is where violinist rest their chins. Aside from that they would put a little pressure on it which helps them holding the violin while their hands are freely bowing the violin.
The Back of the Violin
Generally just the back part of the violin and nothing else.
The Violin Sound Post
Considered as the interior part of the violin is called a sound post. Most of the time is made of spruce that is light and strong. It helps the E string and balances the frequencies made by the violin and louder.
The Violin Bass Board
Located in the interior part of the violin just under the the G string is a bass board. Normally made of spruce and it evens out low frequencies, producing louder sound and clarifies the low frequency.
That’s it for today.
