10 most important facts about violin playing

Originally, with the word “violin“ also other stringed instruments were named such as the viola or the cello. So Mozart speaks about that it would not be fair to name the violin as fiddle. The violin has four strings (G D A E string). Adult violinists usually play on a 4/4 violin. For children there are also smaller violins in the sizes 3/4 or 1/2.

Strings

For the violin different strings are offered such as gut strings, steel strings, plastic strings and synthetic strings. The selection of the strings is very essential so that the strings are suitable for the instrument and thus the personal sound ideas can be realized.

Gut strings:

When the bow strikes across the gut strings their unmistakable warm sound is very similar to the human voice. The plain gut string today is mostly used for baroque instruments. The covered gut string has a powerful and noble sound. However, the strings are very sensitive against moisture and temperature fluctuations.

Steel strings:

The violin is often strung with steel strings. Significant are the insensitivity to the changes in the weather, the long life and a brilliant sound. The spectrum ranges from the student strings to the steel string for soloists.

Plastic strings:

The soft, homogeneous and harmonically rich sound of the plastic strings is similar to that of gut strings. But synthetic strings keep better in tune.

Synthetic strings:

The brilliant sound and powerful sound volume characterize these strings. Together with their great tuning stability they are also often used by professional musicians.

Violin strings are available from many vendors, e.g. from Pirastro, Thomastik, Corelli, D´Addario, Dlugolecki, Hill, Jargar, Larsen Lenzner, Pyramid, Westminster, Prim and others.

Bow

A bow, with a stick made of wood, is called a wooden bow. If the stick is made of the modern material Carbon, this is a carbon bow. With the bow the strings of the violin are striked. The bowhair, usually made of horsehair, are treated with rosin beforeplaying the violin, so that the friction between bow and string is increased and a beautiful tone can be generated.

Rosin

Rosin is made from a natural resin from spruce, pine or fir trees. Its color is brownish to golden. Before playing, each violin bow should be rubbed with rosin, so that the static friction between the bow and the string is increased. Only in this way the bow can elicit a beautiful tonefrom the strings. After practicing or concert you can use a soft cloth to remove the dust of the rosin.

Rosin treatment

Before rubbing the bow with rosin, the bowhair strained. Then you take the bow in one hand. With the other hand, the rosin is spread multiple times from the tip to the frog and backwards. The rosin is caught on the little barbs of the bow hair. Every musician needs to find out individually which rosin suits them. Every two years, you should buy a new rosin, so it is always available in the best quality.

Violin tuning

A violin has to be tuned everytime before playing. If the sound of a string is too deep, the string has to be streched even more by turning the peg. If the sound of the string is too high, the tension in the string must be relaxed. For tuning the violin is taken to the chin and then you play the strings with the bow. Thereby you can rotate the pegs with the left hand. Some violins do not have fine tuners on the strings. With the fine tuner the last fine adjustments can be performed.

Clean and care for violin

For cleaning and maintaining the violin and strings, you need a soft microfiber cloth and a good cleaning- and polishing agents. The cloth can remove normal dust and the dust of rosin. Thus the paint is not attacked. The strings can be rubbed off with the cloth. Every now and then you can maintain the strings with a special string cleaner. With the help of care and polishing agents you can not only clean the sensitive paint of the violin, but also maintain it so that the wood is protected from moisture and acids.

Bridge

The bridge transmits the vibrations of the string to the body of the violin. The bridge should stand straight on the table between the sound-holes. The correct setting of the bridge should be carried out by a professional, such as the luthier or violin teacher. If the bridge is bent, it must be replaced by a new one. In this case, the strings of the violin have to be untightened before.

Shoulder rest

The shoulder rest should be stuck tightly on the instrument and cling to the body of the violinist. In order to install the shoulder rest correctly on the violin, it can be adjusted in height and width. Ideally, one reaches a horizontal posture of the instrument and a relaxed position at the same time relaxed attitude. The horizontal position of the violin is supported by the chinrest.

Case

The violin case is supposed to protect the violin during transport and storage. Generally, different cases such as oblong cases, shaped cases and double cases are available. The carbon cases are especially light and very stable at the same time. The violin case often has two fixations for one violin bow and a small compartment for rosin, the shoulder rest and strings.

Violin sheet music

For violin sheet music today a great range of sheet music is offered such as violin methods, studies for violin, student concerts, film music, Rock & Pop, Jazz & Clezmer, violin with piano accompaniment, violin concerts, chamber music, Christmas music, strings ensemble and others. For all these categories Paganino offers a wide selection of sheet music.

At Paganino there is all for violin, viola, cello and double bass