As a violin player, it is very important to educate yourself about the anatomy of the violin. A knowledgeable violinist will be able to care for his/her instrument properly and to the fullest extent. This will allow for the maximum capability of the violin itself to be utilized and to shine through!
This article will help you familiarize yourself with each part of the violin and its function. Which parts can be removed and replaced? What are the best ways to maintain your instrument’s value? What should you do if a part of your violin is damaged? Your questions will be answered in this article.
Let’s Take a Look at the Body of the Instrument
Bouts
The body of your violin is shaped like an hourglass. The lower half are called the lower bouts. These lower bouts expand outward wider than the upper half which are called the upper bouts. The bouts expand outward to maximize your sound. The waist is the cutouts in the middle of the body on both sides between the upper and lower bouts to make room for the bow to move freely.
Ribs
The sides of the violin are called the ribs. These ribs hold the top and back of the violin apart creating a resonant chamber. The top and back of the violin resonate with the violin’s volume and tone.
Top & Back
The top and back are two large arched pieces of single wood. The age and quality of the wood used for the top and back of the violin affect the tone and resonance. The top of the violin is typically made from spruce and the back and ribs are made from maple. This wood is affected by its environment. Heat and humidity can do great damage to a violin. Care should be taken to keep your instrument in a temperature-controlled area with the relative humidity set between 40-60%.
The seams holding the top, back, and ribs together can open up in response to a poor environment. Or worse, the wood could crack. You will notice a significant deterioration in tone quality if any of these issues have taken place. There might be a buzzing when you play. Or, you may hear rattles in your sound. If this happens, take your violin immediately to an experienced violin maker for repairs.
F-Holes
The F-holes are carved into the top of the violin on the belly. They shape the violin’s sound and increase the strength of the violin’s tone by letting some sound from the inner resonant chamber flow out. The vibration of the top and back of the violin is where the violin’s tone comes from. The F-holes enable more freedom of movement between the top and back.
Purfling
The purfling is a decorative edge along the top and back that helps the violin from developing cracks there.
Scroll
The scroll is an ornate piece of artfully carved wood at the end of the violin above the pegbox. The most common scroll shape is the ‘volute’.
Pegbox
The pegbox is under the scroll. Inside the pegbox are four wooden tuning pegs, made from ebony, rosewood, or other aesthetically pleasing woods, for each string to be wound around and tuned. The pegbox and scroll are carved from a single piece of wood.
If you are a beginner violinist, be careful tuning with the pegs. Using the pegs requires strength and experience. Turning the pegs too fast and too far can lead to broken strings very easily. It is best to turn the pegs in small increments and push the peg into the pegbox while you are turning.
You will have much more success with the peg staying in place if you approach it this way. Temperature also affects the wooden pegs. In the heat, the wood expands and it can then be very difficult to move the peg. The peg can break. In the winter, in colder temperatures, the wood contracts so your pegs might slip and loosen easily. There are liquid drops and peg compound you can use on the pegs to help in these situations.
Fingerboard
The fingerboard is made mostly of ebony, (a black, very hardwood), for the string to be pressed down onto so notes can be played. The fingerboard is planed with the correct curve and scoop so the strings can vibrate freely without buzzing against the fingerboard.
Neck
The neck is made of maple and connects the body to the scroll and pegbox. It holds the strings and fingerboard.
Strings
There are four strings, from lowest to highest: G, D, A, E. The strings vibrate and resonate through the body. Strings used to be made from sheep’s gut but now they are made from synthetic core wound or steel core wound with various metals. Strings can be replaced.
You should definitely replace strings when they break or if they become false. False strings cannot be tuned any longer or they may have lost their resonance. The nut holds and directs the strings out of the pegbox down the fingerboard to the tailpiece. The nut is located at the top of the fingerboard and holds each string in place in a groove and at the correct height over the fingerboard.
Bridge
The bridge is made out of maple and is an ornamentally carved small piece. The bridge holds the strings up and transfers the vibration of the strings to the body. It is positioned between the F-holes.
The bridge has notches for each string’s properly distanced placement. The low G string should rest on the higher side of the bridge and the high E string should rest on the lowest side of the bridge.
The bridge is not permanently placed on the violin. It stands in position under the tension of the strings. It can fall down when the tension of the strings loosens. This is not a difficult thing to fix. The bridge should be standing straight. If your bridge is warped or leans, you should visit an experienced violin maker to have it replaced. The height of the bridge can be adjusted so the action of the strings is comfortable to the player.
Tailpiece
The tailpiece holds the strings to the body on the lower end of the violin. It can be made from several types of wood or composite. The tailpiece holds the fine-tuners for each string.
Tailgut
The tailgut holds the tailpiece to the end button. It is threaded at both ends and attaches with an adjustment screw to the tailpiece. The adjustment of the tailgut affects tone and sound quality.
The end button holds the tailgut and tailpiece in place on the bottom of the violin. The tailgut on the end of the tailpiece loops around the end button so it can securely hold the tailpiece in place.
Fine Tuners
There can be up to four fine tuners on your violin. Violins generally have either only one fine tuner for the E string or there can be four fine tuners, one for each string.
Fine tuners are used for more specific tuning of strings in small increments. The pegs are used for tuning in larger increments. Fine tuners can either be built into the tailpiece or they can be separate pieces that you can attach onto the tailpiece. If you are turning the fine tuner and the pitch is not changing, then it is broken and should be replaced.
Chinrest
The chinrest lets the violin balance between the player’s chin and shoulder. It can be made from either hardwood, or composite materials, or plastic. The chinrest is attached to the lower left side of the violin by brackets that clamp onto the ribs. The chinrest is a more comfortable piece for your chin to rest on.
Saddle
The saddle spreads the force of string tension toward the chinrest, away from the violin’s center. It is a small block of wood, rectangular and usually made from ebony. The saddle helps relieve pressure on the body by the force of the string tension. It is under or next to the chinrest.
Soundpost
The soundpost stands inside the violin between the top and back letting them vibrate together. It is a small dowel-shaped piece of wood made from spruce. The tip touches just below the right foot of the bridge.
The soundpost transfers the vibration from the top to the back and greatly increases the resonance and tone of the violin. The soundpost must be standing upright between the top and back of the violin. If it falls, there is a special tool that luthiers use to stand it upright again.
Bass Bar
The bass bar, made out of spruce, is hidden inside the violin. This affects the violin’s lower range. It stretches from almost one end of the violin body to the other and contributes to the violin’s more resonant, deep bass tone.
Bow
The bow is a stick made from fiberglass (for beginners), carbon fiber, Brazilwood, or fine Pernambuco.
Hair
The hair is horsehair or synthetic material.
Frog
The frog is the part where we hold the bow and the tip is the very delicate top of the bow. It is important to keep the bow hair well rosined so it will grip the string and produce a strong even tone with minimal effort.
Without rosin, the bow will slip and slide and be more difficult to draw out sound from the strings. A well-rosined bow will also allow the player to relax his/her right-hand bow grip and be able to execute advanced bowings.
Understanding the parts of the violin and how to care properly for them is crucial in maintaining the value of your instrument. Don’t hesitate to ask questions of your area professional luthier so you may have the optimal experience.
Jennifer Malanowski