String

What it means

The string is the actual sound generator of every bowed and plucked instrument: a stretched thread that is set vibrating and passes this vibration on to the body by way of the bridge. Its pitch depends on three quantities — on the vibrating length, on the tension, and on the mass per length. Shorter, tauter, or thinner means higher. As material, gut was formerly used, today mostly steel, synthetic cores with metal winding, or, still, gut for historical performance practice.

In the notation

Which string is to be used is only occasionally prescribed: by Roman numerals, with I meaning the highest string, or by indications such as sul G. A zero above the note calls for the open string. All other decisions about the choice of string are made by the player through the fingering.

Musical use

Every string has a character of its own, and composers reckon with this. The lowest string of the violin sounds dark and rough, the highest bright and cutting; the same note played on different strings differs audibly. From this follow instructions to play a melody deliberately on a single string, in order to unify its colour. Resonance also belongs here: sympathetically vibrating open strings give certain keys more brilliance.

Performance practice

Change strings in good time and not all at once shortly before a performance, for new strings need a day or two before they hold their tuning. When restringing, take care that the windings lie cleanly next to one another and that the string runs freely in the grooves of the nut and bridge; a little graphite in the groove eases tuning. Check the bridge position when you renew several strings in succession — it easily tilts forward. You recognize a worn-out string by the fact that it octaves impurely or sounds dull long before it breaks.

Bear in mind that the choice of strings belongs to the tonal decision: gut, synthetic core, and steel sound distinctly different, respond differently, and demand different bowing. For historically oriented performances, gut strings are common and considerably change the playing. Check whether the chosen tension fits the instrument, because too much tension strains the top and the bridge. Check the contact points at the nut and bridge, for most extraneous noises arise there, and always keep a set of spare strings ready.