Taylor Made Music

A Guide to Violin Strings

07
Jul

The type of strings used on a violin has a great effect on the sound of the instrument. Different kinds of strings can have different tones and sound quality. Also, strings made of some materials stay in tune longer and often last longer than others. The three most common types of violin strings are all metal strings, synthetic core strings, and gut strings.

All metal, or steel core strings are known for their volume and their pure, clear tone. They have great pitch stability and stay in tune even after they are first put on the violin. Many country, bluegrass, and jazz players prefer to use steel core violin strings because their simple and direct sound does not have the complex overtones found on some other sets of strings. Steel core strings are the easiest to play and are popular among beginning and intermediate level players. One criticism of steel core violin strings is that they can have a slightly thin or metallic sound that is not well suited to classical music.

Synthetic core strings are usually made of a type of nylon called perlon. They have a thick, rich sound that is subtler than steel core strings. New synthetic core strings have less pitch stability than steel core strings and take a day or two to properly stretch out and stay in tune. Once they have stabilized, they do not need to be tuned often and have a good, consistent tone.

Gut core strings are known for having the warmest, most complex sound of any violin strings. Most classical players and soloists prefer gut core strings for their rich overtones. Gut core strings are not recommended for beginners or intermediate players because they are much harder to keep in tune and can have an instable pitch.

Each type of violin string has its own advantages and disadvantages. On kind of string is not necessarily better than the others, people who play different types of music on the violin prefer different strings.

Violins Info provides detailed information about antique and electric violins, violin music, sheet music, strings, and shops; violin makers and repair; and explanations of how to play the violin and a short history of the violin. Violins Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

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Handmade Violins

28
Jun

Handmade violin is an affordable alternative to a more expensive older violin. It has become so affordable that anyone who wants a hand-made violin can easily afford it.

A wide range of handmade violins are available in the market to cater to the needs of beginners as well as professional players. Handmade violins are available in a variety of sizes to suit the age of the player. Compared to factory-made violins, handmade violins have excellent tonal properties.

Handmade violins made using traditional construction methods are more favored by soloist, violinist, and professionals. Most of the handmade violins offer good value in tone quality, durability, and workmanship. Moreover, they require little maintenance. Handmade violins are labeled and signed by the name of its maker.

Making of a handmade violin requires great skill. The price of a handmade violin depends on workmanship and the quality of material used. The monetary value of a violin also depends on the reputation of its maker. A handmade violin with excellent sound quality can cost up to $10,000. Certain manufacturers offer cash discounts on handmade violins at the time of purchase.

Handmade violins are available in a wide range of qualities and prices. They can be purchased from a skilled violin maker, a mass manufacturer or from a violin shop. New as well as antique handmade violins are available in the market. Handmade violins with superb sound quality can be purchased online. Ebay.com, shop.com, and amazon.com are some of the popular websites where you can find handmade violins at a reasonable price.

Custom designed handmade violins that are personalized to suit your taste and style are also available. They are built to your specifications regarding woods and finish. Specifications can also be made in terms of size and shape of violin. Better wood selection and hand work are the key factors that improve the quality of custom designed handmade violin.

Violins provides detailed information on Violins, Electric Violins, Violin Music, How to Play the Violin and more. Violins is affiliated with Soprano Saxophones.

Tags: Electric Violins, , , , How to Play the Violin, Violin Music, Violins

A Brief History of the Violin

16
Jun

Musical instruments have existed in one form or another for many thousands of years. There were several stringed instruments made before violins, but some of them are so ancient that modern scholars hardly know anything about them, having only seen them depicted in artwork or written record. The violin has existed in its current form since the 16-th century. The first Violin makers were Italians who were probably influenced by other ancient stringed instruments from around the world.

Some of the violin’s precursors date back several thousand years. The ravanstron, rebec, and rabab are ancient stringed instruments that were used thousands of years ago. By the 11-th century, the rote and vielle had been invented. These instruments looked somewhat similar to modern violins in that they fingerboards that containing strings which players could press in order to produce different tones. The vielle was probably the instrument most similar to the modern violin, different models had between two and five strings that could be plucked or bowed.

The history of the violin itself goes back to 16-th century Italy. The Medici family commissioned a famous lute builder named Andrea Amati to make a stringed instrument that was small enough for street musicians to use but had a sound quality similar to that of a lyre. His first violins were very successful and he was soon commissioned to build an entire orchestra by King Charles IX of France. The earliest known violin still in existence, dated 1564, was from this orchestra.

The Amati family — along with fellow Italian families like the Guarneris and the Stradivaris — continued to refine and develop the violin’s design until the 18-th century, when Antonio Stradivari built a violin that formed the basis for all future models.

Acoustic violins have not changed much since the 18-th century; the designs proved they could with stand the test of time. Some innovations, such as the advent of the electric violin have been made in recent years, but the basic design remains unchanged.

Violins Info provides detailed information about antique and electric violins, violin music, sheet music, strings, and shops; violin makers and repair; and explanations of how to play the violin and a short history of the violin. Violins Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Tags: Electric Violins, , , Violin Music, Violins

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