by Diane Houser, professional violinist/violist and private teacher,
& Andy Fein, luthier at Fein Violins
There are so many strings on the market and each type of string has its own characteristics, which can dramatically alter your instrument's responsiveness, volume, playability and overall tone quality. Since every instrument is unique and will respond differently to different strings, experimentation is key, but how do you choose? Where do you start?
Your playing style can make a difference, as strings that are suitable for a bluegrass fiddler may not be suitable for a classical violinist.
There is a lot of confusion about strings, since there are no universal gauge or tension standards for manufacturers to follow, so let's clear up some of the mystery and take the fear out of experimenting with strings by explaining some basic terms. Hopefully this will allow you to make confident and informed string choices which will improve the sound of your instrument.
& Andy Fein, luthier at Fein Violins
There are so many strings on the market and each type of string has its own characteristics, which can dramatically alter your instrument's responsiveness, volume, playability and overall tone quality. Since every instrument is unique and will respond differently to different strings, experimentation is key, but how do you choose? Where do you start?
Your playing style can make a difference, as strings that are suitable for a bluegrass fiddler may not be suitable for a classical violinist.
There is a lot of confusion about strings, since there are no universal gauge or tension standards for manufacturers to follow, so let's clear up some of the mystery and take the fear out of experimenting with strings by explaining some basic terms. Hopefully this will allow you to make confident and informed string choices which will improve the sound of your instrument.
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| A 'Dominant' Violin D String under the microscope. |
