The String Family
The Violin is bowed stringed instrument, the highest pitched member of the string family.The bow is a narrow, slightly incurved stick o about 75 cm (about 30 in) long, with a band of horsehair stretched from end to end of the bowstick. The violin has four strings tuned a fifth apart, to the notes g, d’, a’, e’’: On early violins the strings were of pure gut. Today they may be of gut, gut wound with aluminium or silver, steel, or perlon.
The Viola The picture below shows the violin (left) and the Viola. The Viola is larger and so, has a lower range than the Violin. In an ensemble (group), the Violin will play the higher notes and the Viola will usually play lower harmonies. However the Viola is a beautiful melody instrument in its own right.
The Viola has a mellow dark sounding timbre compared to the the Violin.
The Viola has a mellow dark sounding timbre compared to the the Violin.
The Cello • The cello looks like a violin - but bigger.
You couldn't hold this under your chin! Instead, it rests on a spike which sticks into the floor and is held between the players legs and played with a bow.
Because its body is bigger and its strings longer than the other instruments, the sound it makes is much deeper.Because its body is bigger and its strings longer than the other instruments, the sound it makes is much deeper.
You couldn't hold this under your chin! Instead, it rests on a spike which sticks into the floor and is held between the players legs and played with a bow.
Because its body is bigger and its strings longer than the other instruments, the sound it makes is much deeper.Because its body is bigger and its strings longer than the other instruments, the sound it makes is much deeper.
•The double bass
This is the biggest string instrument in the orchestra, and a great instrument to learn if you want to play jazz.
It is like a big violin however their sounds are quite different. The double bass have a deep sound
It got its name from the job it used to do. It used to 'double the bass' played by the harpsichord in 17th-century orchestras. Now it has its own music and even the occasional solo!
This is the biggest string instrument in the orchestra, and a great instrument to learn if you want to play jazz.
It is like a big violin however their sounds are quite different. The double bass have a deep sound
It got its name from the job it used to do. It used to 'double the bass' played by the harpsichord in 17th-century orchestras. Now it has its own music and even the occasional solo!