The violin, viola, cello, and double bass (often simply called the bass) together form the backbone of the symphonic orchestra's string section. While they share a common heritage, these instruments differ in size, pitch range, and tonal character. The violin is the smallest member with the highest pitch range, while the double bass is the largest and produces the deepest tones.

In symphonic music, string instruments are typically played using a bow—a slightly curved wooden stick strung tightly with horsehair. However, musicians can also pluck the strings directly with their fingers. Among all orchestral families, string instruments offer the greatest dynamic range and expressive depth. They can sound bright and agile or slow and mournful, capable of shaping melodies with the delicacy of a human voice. Because of this versatility and how naturally their voices blend together, strings play a larger role in orchestral compositions than any other instrument group.

Anatomy and Mechanics: How String Instruments Work

Using the violin as a model for the entire family helps explain how these instruments generate sound:

• The Body and Strings: The hollow wooden body holds four strings made of gut, synthetic material, or steel. These strings stretch from the tailpiece, pass over a wooden bridge, and wrap around adjustable wooden tuning pegs at the scroll.

• The Bridge: The bridge holds the strings just above the fingerboard so they can vibrate freely. It also transmits those vibrations into the instrument's body, where the sound is amplified and resonated.

• Tuning: Each string is tuned to a specific pitch by tightening or loosening its peg (the higher the tension, the higher the pitch).

• Sound Production: Drawing the bow across a string with the right hand sets it in motion. Bow speed and pressure dictate volume (dynamics) and timbre. Meanwhile, the left hand controls pitch by pressing the strings against the fingerboard (fingering), changing the vibrating length of the string.

The Violin: The Heart of the Orchestra

The violin boasts the highest register in the string family, producing a warm, expressive tone that closely mirrors the human voice. Capable of incredible technical nuance, its four strings are tuned in perfect fifths: E, A, D, and G (from highest to lowest).

Historical master violin makers such as the Amati family, Antonio Stradivari, and Giuseppe Guarneri crafted instruments that remain legendary today. Played both with a bow and through plucking (pizzicato), the violin acts as the main core of the orchestra. Legendary composers and virtuosos like Niccolò Paganini, Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Tartini, Pablo de Sarasate, and Johann Strauss have showcased the immense capabilities of this instrument.

At Our Vancouver Music Academy: Whether you are picking up an instrument for the very first time or refining advanced technique, our tailored instruction guides you step-by-step through every milestone of your musical journey.

Essential Playing Techniques

While the viola, cello, and double bass are larger than the violin, they share similar construction and bowing mechanics. A string player's technique creates a vast array of expressive effects:

• Pizzicato (Plucking): Plucking the string with a finger rather than using the bow. In jazz, the double bass is played almost exclusively pizzicato.

• Double Stopping: Drawing the bow across two strings simultaneously to play two notes at once. Sweeping the bow rapidly across three or four strings generates arpeggiated chords.

• Vibrato: Oscillating the left-hand finger slightly on a stopped note to produce a warm, expressive pitch variation that enriches the tone.

• Mute (Con Sordino): Attaching a small clip-like mute to the bridge to dampen vibrations, creating a softer, veiled timbre.

• Tremolo: Moving the bow back and forth in rapid, short strokes. At louder dynamics, tremolo creates drama, tension, and suspense.

Plucked Strings: Guitar and Harp

While the violin family consists primarily of bowed instruments, other string instruments are played exclusively by plucking. The most prominent among these are the guitar and the harp. The harp holds a unique place as the only plucked string instrument widely incorporated into the modern symphony orchestra.