5 Lesser-known Facts About String Instruments

By Author: victor12johnson
Total Articles: 247
Comment this article

String musical instruments, also known as the chordophones, are celestial. The sound they produce when the player strikes the strings is utterly divine. No wonder strings are some of the most loved families of musical instruments. Do you play the violin or any other string? Did you know there is so much fascinating to learn about these gears?

In this blog, we will talk about some of the most interesting and lesser-known facts about stringed instruments. After going through it, you may have to consider your decision of buying String Instrument Insurance for sure. Have a musical read!

1. Where did the violin come from?

The roots of string musical instruments span back to the ancient Greek period. At that time, there were different types of string gears, including the lyre, harp, psaltery, and phorminx. Some of these instruments were played using the bow like today. However, the shapes of the gears were way more different from what we see these days. Moreover, when and how these gears transformed into the modern-day stringed instruments, ...
... this fact is somewhere lost in the pages of history.

Supposedly, the bowed musical gears we see today were basically the evolution of the European musical instrument-making organizations back in the 16th century. It was regarded as the Golden Era of Violin Making. The foundation of the noted Cremonese School, Italy, was the pioneer in this field. The Cremonese School of luthiers first came up with the Amati design. It became the source of the designs created by the great violin-makers, including Antonio Stradivari, Gaspar d’Salo, and Giuseppe Guarneri.

2. Did you know a good deal of wood goes into crafting a string musical instrument?

Irrespective of the musical instruments (whether it is a cello, bass, violin, or viola), instrument makers use around seventy pieces of wood for crafting a string. The neck, ribs, and back of the gear are made using maple wood. Maple wood is rigid. The top of the string is carved out of spruce wood. The spruce is softer than maple and helps create a much stronger tone than others. For fingerboard, chin rest, pegs, and tailpieces, rosewood and ebony are generally used. These woods add to the longevity of the strings.

For some people, especially newcomers, some parts of a string instrument may look just ornamental with an aesthetic appeal and not functional. However, the fact is that - every bit of wood that goes into making a gear plays a crucial role in the quality of sound produced by the instrument.

For example, you may consider the soundpost of a stringed instrument. At first look, you may think it is a simple dowel made up of spruce wood sitting between the back and top of the gear. However, did you know a string instrument without the soundpost is nothing? It is that part of a string that helps in sound production. In Spain, the soundpost is called the Alma (soul) of the gear.

3. What's in the finish?

The finish of a violin decides the quality of sound production. Earlier, when synthetic finishes, such as aniline dyes and polyurethanes, were not available, luthiers used the natural elements. Needless to mention, but the synthetic dyes are easy-to-apply, dry-fast, and durable. However, in the early days, varnishes were oils (thickened) with a couple of additives for color. Surprisingly, luthiers had to collaborate with pharmacists for the same. Yes, you read it right.

Quite often, luthiers took the help of the pharmacists to determine what components or minerals should be added to the dye to impart the expected color. These varnishes allowed the gear to vibrate and produce sound without any confinement. Till now, it remains the same, except for the synthetic versions. So, you are wise enough to understand the importance of the finish in violin making.

4. Why the purfling?

Do you know what purfling is, and is it so important? You will find purfling, a decorative border, on the sides of a stringed instrument etched on the top and sometimes on the backplate. This design may seem absolutely ornamental. However, the reality is something different. Purfling is done with many practical applications in mind. Take a look:

● Firstly, it binds the back and top of the gear.
● Secondly, it helps prevent cracks due to humidity and temperature changes.
● Thirdly, it supports the sides of the gear and guards them against damage due to minor dents and bumps.

Such an intricately designed instrument indeed needs String Instrument Insurance for better protection.

5. What role does graduation play?

Do you know what graduation is? It is a process in which the luthier thins the back and top of a stringed gear. Although it consumes a lot of time, it ensures quality sound production. Each slice of wood removed from the top and back of the musical gear changes the sound of the finished string. Probably, this is why musical instruments are called the amalgamation of physics and art.