A member of the chordophone family of instruments, the violin is a stringed instrument whose sound is generated by plucking a set of strings. The strings are plucked with a violin bow, producing vibrations which are amplified via a resonating body to create sound.
A common question that many people have is, “just what are violins made of? How does this popular string instrument come together?” Let's dive in and take a closer look at these.
The Body
To understand why certain materials are chosen for these instrument parts, it helps to know the role that each one plays.
On that note, the body is the biggest portion of the violin. It’s responsible for amplifying the sound produced through the strings’ vibrations.
When it comes to construction, manufacturers use varying materials for the different sections of the violin body.
Top
For the top, the most popular choice of material is spruce, and rightly so. Not only is it denser than other woods but it’s also super easy to shave into the luthier’s preferred thickness.
Most violin manufacturers prefer to use the Alpine spruce, which is often grown in cold regions. This results in a sturdy wood, which also has the right amount of flexibility. To be a little more specific, spruce is strong along the grain but flexible across the grain.
Its sturdiness allows it to withstand pressure from the bow and strings. On the other hand, its flexibility enables it to resonate openly once the bow comes into contact with the strings.
Bottom and Ribs/Sides
The bottom and ribs - which create the sides - are the parts that give a violin its depth. For this reason, they’re made using the same material, specifically maple.
There are two main reasons why violin luthiers prefer maple. The first is the fact that it’s aesthetically-pleasing to look at. The second and more important reason is the sound resonance that this material provides.
Since it’s almost as dense as spruce wood, it’s able to carry the strings’ vibrations that start with a violinist’s bow and end at a listener’s ears.
The Parts of the Violin
Let's now take a look at each of the parts of the violin and what they are typically made from.
Neck and Fingerboard
It’s very hard to miss this part, considering it’s the long piece that extends from the violin’s body. The fingerboard is typically attached to the top of this neck, and it provides a platform where you can press down on the strings to produce sound.
Oftentimes, the neck is made of maple. But when it comes to the fingerboard, the choice of material differs amongst manufacturers.
Some prefer to use ebony for two main reasons. First off, it’s extremely dense, allowing it to withstand immense pressure from your fingers pressing down on it.
Secondly, this hardwood is naturally black. This eliminates the need to protect or add an extra varnish. This also means that it can’t show any marks left by your fingers.
While beneficial, ebony is a tad pricey. This is why other luthiers use cheaper materials like rosewood or maple.
String Nut
One part that’s often forgotten is the string nut. This is not too surprising considering how tiny it is.
So just where is it located? Well, it’s found at the top of the fingerboard, right next to the pegbox. It’s incorporated so as to keep the violin strings in their rightful positions.
It allows the strings to maintain an optimal height from the fingerboard; hence, improving the instrument’s tone and playability. To achieve this, the nut ought to be sturdy; which is why it’s made of ebony.
Bass Bar
The bass bar is a brace that extends from the foot of the neck to a point underneath the bridge. It determines the shape taken by the strings’ vibrations. This, in turn, influences the depth and resonance of tones.
Most bass bars are made of spruce.
Bridge
Although it’s often underrated, this is another crucial component of the violin. It’s a tiny part that’s equipped with feet, allowing it to sit steadily on top of your instrument.
It’s placed just a few inches from where the fingerboard ends. In terms of functionality, it’s the part that holds the strings above the fingerboard, then guides them all the way to the tailpiece. As such, it’s directly responsible for transmitting the strings’ vibrations.
In most cases, the violin bridge is made of maple, and it’s easy to see why. It has a soft texture, allowing the luthier to shape it in a way that fits your violin. It’s first sanded down, and then its shape is customized to conform to the violin’s belly.
It’s important for manufacturers to get the build and fit of the bridge right because the only thing that holds it in place is the tension of the strings.
Strings
You’ll also want to pay attention to the material used to make a violin’s strings. This is because they have a large impact on the type of sound produced.
On that note, these strings are made from one of three materials: gut core, synthetic core, steel core. Here’s a brief breakdown of each one:
Gut core violin strings
These were the first strings to be incorporated into violins and other stringed instruments. Such strings are made from a sheep’s intestines before being wound with a metallic material.
That said, gut violin strings have their fair share of merits and demerits. When it comes to advantages, they offer unparalleled tonal depth. They facilitate the production of a very complex sound, which is rich in overtones.
Another reason why gut core strings are preferred is because of their ease to generate full volume.
Unfortunately, their low tension and winding technique presents a number of challenges. For one, these strings have a slower response. Players often have to exert a significant amount of pressure to depress them.
Another disadvantage is that they’re vulnerable to changes in humidity and temperature. Due to this, you’re forced to re-tune them every other minute. This can take away from your violin playing experience.
Steel core strings
Before the discovery of synthetic core strings, steel core strings were the only substitute available for gut core varieties.
The biggest selling point of these strings is their bright and complex sound, which makes them perfectly suited for jazz, country and bluegrass music.
Moreover, they have a decent pitch stability and they’re not vulnerable to atmospheric conditions as the gut core strings. This in turn, minimizes the frequency of tuning, which leaves you ample time to play.
On the downside, these strings lack the warm, rich tones of their gut counterparts. For this reason, they’re not suitable for playing classical music.
Synthetic core strings
The last, and probably the most popular material for violin strings is synthetic core. These strings are typically made of perlon or nylon.
Thanks to technological advancements, the synthetic core models offer the best features from gut and steel core strings. You get the warm, rich overtones of gut core strings as well as the durability and responsiveness of the steel core strings.
Given these characteristics, it is no wonder that synthetic strings are preferred by professionals and novice players alike. This is why you'll find these strings used on some of the best professional violins as well as violins for beginners. It also doesn’t hurt that they have such low price tags.
Soundpost
If you’re new to string instruments, there’s a good chance that you don’t know what a soundpost is. This is not surprising as it’s not easily noticeable and it’s rarely talked about.
So just what is it? Well, a soundpost is a small wooden dowel, which is found inside the violin a few inches from the bridge.
Its purpose is to carry sound from the top of the violin all the way to the back, where it’s amplified. It also supports the top plate; hence, preventing the bridge from cracking under pressure.
Since it plays a supportive role, it’s crucial for the soundpost to be made of sturdy material. This is why most luthiers prefer to use spruce.
A member of the pine tree family, spruce is typically grown in cold climates. This results in a wood that has a nice-looking and dense grain. It’s also able to carry sound relatively well.
Tailpiece
It’s a no-brainer that the tailpiece connects the strings to the other end of your violin. However, this is not its only function.
Unknown to many, it has a significant impact on the instrument’s sound and playability too. Specifically, the material used in its construction can alter sound considerably.
On that note, most violin tailpieces are made of ebony, rosewood or boxwood. But in recent times, some luthiers have also been using pernambuco. Here’s a quick look at what each of these materials offer:
- Ebony - if you have a violin that produces intense or hard-edged sound, adding an ebony tailpiece can make a huge difference. Essentially, the tailpiece can warm up the sound.
- Pernambuco - if your violin tends to produce overly dark, muddy tones, pernambuco is the perfect material for your tailpiece. This is because it makes the sound brighter and more focused.
- Rosewood & Boxwood - for luthiers trying to keep the weight of the instrument to a minimum, then rosewood or boxwood are the ideal materials. They’re light but they don’t compromise sound quality.
End button
This part is located at the very bottom of your instrument. Its key role is to hold the tail gut and tailpiece in position. Since it needs to be robust to hold everything in place, it’s usually made using hardwood like rosewood or ebony.
Chinrest
This part is exactly what it sounds like. It makes it easier to support the violin with your chin.
The best violin chinrests fall under two main categories, depending on the material used in their construction, that is, plastic or wooden.
- Plastic - this chinrest offers a couple of perks. For one, it’s light; hence, it doesn’t add too much weight to the violin.
It’s also super easy to clean and more affordable than the wooden variety. But a key factor that makes plastic chinrests desirable is that they don’t cause any skin irritations. The catch? They can become pretty slippery and cause skin breakouts due to sweat build-up.
- Wooden - the most predominant choices of wood are boxwood, ebony, and rosewood.
What we love about these chinrests is that they complement the other wooden parts of the violin beautifully. Plus, they’re able to absorb sweat so you don’t have to worry about any skin breakouts.
The downside to these is that they can cause skin irritations, especially for players who are allergic to any of the woods mentioned. They’re also pricey, which can be a disadvantage if you’re working with a limited budget.
Tuning Pegs
Pegs offer violinists an easy way to tune their instruments. They hold the strings tightly, creating a tension that allows them to vibrate at the right frequency.
For instance, if you want to produce higher notes, you would do that by turning the pegs clockwise so as to tighten the strings. Similarly, lower notes are created by turning the pegs anti-clockwise so as to loosen the strings a bit.
In the vast majority of violins, the tuning pegs are made of wood. Most luthiers prefer ebony, rosewood or boxwood.
Choosing between these types of wood boils down to the player’s tastes and preferences. For instance, if you have a violin that’s mostly made of ebony, then you’re inclined to choose ebony pegs.
However, if you have a low budget, then you may prefer boxwood or rosewood pegs as they’re more affordable.
Recently though, some manufacturers are resorting to composite materials instead of wooden pegs; and for good reasons.
Composite pegs are stronger and have a lower risk of slippage. Better yet, they aren’t susceptible to shrinking or swelling- problems that occur because of the sporadic changes in humidity and temperature.
Conclusion
Before you spend a large chunk of money on a brand new violin, you should familiarize yourself with its parts. Learn the role played by each one and the most suitable material for its construction.
Remember that the sound quality doesn’t depend solely on your ability to play. It also depends on the materials used to make specific parts of your instrument. This is why it's important to understand what violins are made of throughout.
