Chanterelle

What it means

Chanterelle (French, from chanter, “to sing”) denotes the highest, thinnest string of a string instrument. On the violin this is the E string, on the guitar the high E string, and on the lute usually the topmost course. The name refers to the fact that this string frequently carries the “singing,” leading melodic line.

Musical use

Because the chanterelle is the thinnest and highest-tuned string, it sounds brighter, richer in overtones, and more penetrating than the instrument's lower strings. Melodic lines that call for brilliance or the ability to project are therefore preferably played on it, while accompanying figures and bass lines sit on the lower strings.

The chanterelle should be distinguished from a drone string: while the chanterelle is actively fingered and used melodically, a drone string usually sounds open and unfingered, ringing as a constant fundamental. From the instrument's other stopped strings, the chanterelle differs only in its position as the highest string, not in how it is played.

Performance practice

When playing on the chanterelle, pay particular attention to clean intonation, since deviations stand out more on this high, clear string than on the lower ones. Use its bright, penetrating sound deliberately for melodic high points, and switch to it purposefully when you want to bring out a passage tonally.