Violins anatomy
shows you parts of violins. Brief explanations below
help you learn violins anatomy.
Body :
The body is two arched plates (Belly and Back) fastened
to a garland of ribs with animal hide glue. The
body length (not including the neck) of a 'full-size'
or 4/4 violin is about 14 inches (or smaller in
some models of the 17th century). A 3/4 violin is
13 inches, and a 1/2 size is 12 inches. Rarely,
one finds a size referred to as 7/8 which is approximately
13.5 inches, sometimes called a "ladies' fiddle".
Children
learning the violin often use fractional sized violins,
3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, and 1/16. Occasionally,
even a 1/32 sized instrument is used.
Bridge
:
The bridge has several purposes: its top curve holds
the strings at the proper height from the fingerboard
in an arrangement permitting each to be touched
separately by the bow. It also transmits the vibrations
of the strings directly to the top, and through
the sound post to the back. The mass distribution
and flex of the bridge, acting as a mechanical acoustic
filter, have a prominent effect on the sound. The
sound post, or "soul post", fits precisely
between the back and top, just to the tailward side
of the treble bridge foot, and may be moved slightly
when adjusting the tone of the instrument.
Chin
Rest :
Violins maybe have a chinrest.
The chinrest may attach directly over the tailpiece
or it may be to the left of it.
F-Hole
:
Fholes are also referred to as "sound holes",
the first referring to shape, the other to their
acoustical function. The
purpose of sound holes is to help acoustic instruments
project their sound more efficiently and
are usually made in pairs placed symmetrically on
both sides of the strings.
Fingerboard
:
The fingerboard is glued to the neck of the violin.
It extends from a point just below the nut (a block
of ebony right below the pegbox that holds the strings
in place and keeps them from rubbing against the
fingerboard), to a point about a third of the way
down the body of the violin and slightly above it.
it does not actually touch the body of the violin,
but passes above the belly of the instrument.
Neck :
It carries the fingerboard. It alone is not strong
enough to support the tension of the strings without
distorting, relying for that strength on its lamination
with the fingerboard. For this reason, if a fingerboard
comes loose (it happens) it is vital to slacken
the strings immediately. The shape of the neck and
fingerboard affect how easily the violin may be
played. Its dimensions and shape are of critical
importance.
Peg
:
We use the pegs to tune the violin. The four pegs,
one for each string, are located between the scroll
and the nut. They are inserted into the violin so
that they extend through the peg box and just barely
come out the other side. Each
peg has a peg hole. A string is inserted through
the hole, runs through the nut, over the fingerboard,
across the bridge and is attached to the tailpiece.
Rib
:
The ribs are what is commonly seen as the "sides"
of the box. The
ribs are glued to the blocks, six pieces of wood
which have been temporarily glued to the form and
carved into the desired shapes. The blocks provide
structural support for the corners, and for the
endpin and neck.
Scroll
:
Except when used to hang up the instrument, the
function of the scroll is entirely decorative.
String
:
Strings directly influence the performance of your
instrument. Violins have four strings (they differ
in thickness) tuned a perfect fifth apart (G D A
E). They must "adhere" and vibrate well
- be tough and very responsive and they must match
each other, so that when passing from one string
to another, no difference should be noted in string
tension and tone.
Tailpiece
:
A piece of metal
or wood at the lower end of a stringed instrument
to which the strings are attached.
Tuner
:
We
also use the tuners to tune the violin. Pegs are
also used for tuning when the string is at least
a half note out of tune but the tuners are used
when the string is less than a half note out of
tune. For more experienced players, you will find
that their violins are not equipped with fine tuners
on A, D or G strings; only E string is equipped
with a fine tuner. This is because E string is the
most fragile and requires the most care during tuning.
Bow :
The bow consists of a stick with a ribbon of horsehair
strung between the tip and frog (or nut, or heel)
at opposite ends.
The length of a bow is 73 cm. It may weigh between
55 amd 65 g, the normal weight currently being 60
g.
Pictures below show you violins anatomy well :
