The Violin and Its History

The violin is the most popular stringed instrument in orchestras all over the world. The smallest stringed instrument in size, the violin has the highest pitch. A violin's range is from G3 up to C8. The violin's four strings are tuned a fifth apart. Typically played with a bow, strings may also be plucked to produce sound. The violin box is constructed of wood and quality construction is considered an art form.

• The Violin: Violin images along with details about sound and construction.
• The Violin: Brief overview and pictures.

Violin Family
The violin family includes the cello, viola, and double bass. The viola is somewhat larger than a violin and is tuned a fifth lower. The cello, tuned an octave below the viola, is the next largest violin family member. To play, the cellist is seated, supporting the cello between the calves. The cello rests on the floor on its endpin. The double bass, often called the bass violin, is the largest and lowest pitched instrument in the violin family. A double bassist either sits or stands while playing.

• Additional Notes on String Instruments: Discusses the violin, viola, cello and bass.
• The Viola and Violists: Information about the viola and the musicians who play it.
• Correct Cello Posture: Proper and improper posture when playing the cello. 

String Family
The string family of instruments includes those in the violin family as well as the guitar, banjo, and harp. The harp is one of the oldest stringed instruments still in use today. Slaves in America invented the banjo based on stringed instruments used in their native Africa. Acoustic and electric guitars evolved from ancient stringed instruments.

• The Instruments of the String Family: Photos and descriptions of several members of the string family.
• The Harp: Its history and description along with photos and a sound file.
• Five-String Fretless Banjo: 1846 banjo that resides in the Smithsonian.
• The History of the Guitar: Describes the guitar's roots in ancient history.
• String Instruments: An overview with pictures.
• Banjo: Photo of father and sons playing banjos, circa 1937.

Evolution of the Violin
Early violinmakers appear to have based the violin on three stringed instruments in use at the time: the lira, the rebab from Arab culture, and the Renaissance fiddle. The rebab is thought have been in use as early as the 8^th century and is still played today. The pinnacle of violin making was the late 1500s to the late 1600s when the Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivarius violins were made. Basic violin construction remains the same, but variations in body shape, depth, wood type, string, and bows are all factors in the resonance and quality of the sound an individual instrument produces.

• Rebab: A description of the rebab and illustration.
• Sixteenth Century Lira de Braccio: Photograph and description.
• Structural Influence in the Art of Violin Making: The history of violin making and recent innovations.
• Famous Violin Makers: Photos and biographies of famous violin makes from Andrea Amati in the late 1500s to Antonio Stradivari in the late 1600s.
• Violin by Andrea Amati: Photos and description of violin made around 1560.
• The Guarneri Family of Violin Makers: Biographies of various member of the famous Guarneri family.

Conclusion
Today, violins are manufactured in different sizes for different musicians. Children just learning to play may use a fractional size violin. Small-framed adults may use what is called a lady's violin, which is a bit shorter than the typical instrument.

• Instrument sizing: Different sizes of violins and violas.

Violins have played an important role in music throughout history. Violins are used in the country, jazz, baroque, rock, classical, folk (where it is sometimes called a fiddle), and orchestral genres. The beauty of the instrument, its magnificent sound, and its rich history make the violin the predominant string instrument in orchestras today.