Standard violins, those small wooden four-stringed instruments played with a bow, have fascinated musicians since their emergence in the 16th century. While they retain their classic shape, they’ve evolved with variations such as baroque violins, different sizes, and various setups like string tunings and bridge heights.
If you’re curious about different violin types, this article’s for you. I’ll guide you through key features and main types, and also cover alternative sizes and orchestral roles.
Key Takeaways: Understanding Violins
- Historical Development: The violin dates back to the 16th century with roots in Italy, primarily attributed to Andrea Amati.
- Variety of Models: Violins come in types such as Baroque, electric, fiddles, five-string, Hardanger, and the unique Stroh violin.
- Different Sizes: Violins are available in nine different sizes, accommodating players from young children to adults.
- Orchestral Roles: First and second violins in orchestras play distinct parts, with first violins often handling melodies and higher registers.
- Construction and Playability: Modern violins retain traditional features but include variations like electric pickups and different string tunings for diverse musical genres.
What is a violin?
The violin, the smallest and highest-pitched string instrument, offers impressive versatility. Its broad range fits nicely with various musical genres, making it a crucial part of any classical orchestra.
Origin of the violin
The violin originated from the “viole da braccio” (“viols for the arm”) family of instruments in 16th century Italy. This name set them apart from the “viola da gamba” (“viols for the leg”) family, played in an upright position similar to the modern ‘cello.
Andrea Amati, the founder of the renowned Cremona school of violin making, is often credited with inventing the violin. However, its exact origins remain unclear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX36h_dQdXkViolin family members
The modern violin family includes the violin, viola, cello (or violoncello), and occasionally the double bass. These instrument names come from the Medieval Latin root “vitula,” which evolved into “viola,” meaning “stringed instrument.” Hence, the violin is a “little viola.”
Physical description of a violin
A violin is a hollow, hourglass-shaped wooden instrument with four strings, tuned in perfect fifths as G3, D4, A4, and E5. Violin construction requires years to master. Usually, it’s played with a bow, but players can also pluck the strings (pizzicato) or strike them with the bow’s wood (col legno).
Variations of this typical violin model include a five-string violin and electric violins made from different shapes and materials.
What are the main types of violin?
While we can talk about a “typical” violin, not all violins are identical. There are several ways to arrange violins by type. For simplicity, I will consider the following divisions and models in this article:
- baroque vs modern
- electric vs acoustic
- fiddle vs classical
- five string vs four string
- Hardanger fiddle
- Stroh violin vs standard violin
- different sizes of violin
- orchestral violins
Note: Some instruments may fit into multiple categories or a mix of them (e.g., an electro-acoustic violin).
Baroque violins
What is a baroque violin?
Violins from the 16th to 18th centuries are known as baroque violins. Many prized violins were made during this period by famous makers like Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri.
While they appear similar to modern violins at first glance, instruments from the baroque era are a distinct type.
What are the differences between a baroque and modern violin?
Differences between modern and baroque violins can be subtle and vary by instrument. Here are some general characteristics of baroque violins:
- Neck: the neck may be longer and angled differently.
- Fingerboard: the fingerboard is longer to facilitate playing in higher positions.
- Bridge: the bridge is higher and thinner.
- Strings: Until the 20th century metal strings were prohibitively expensive and gut strings were the norm for violins and other instruments.
- Bow: baroque bows tended to be shorter, and held by players in a slightly different position.
- Wood: ebony may be used for the fingerboard rather than maple, to better handle the higher string tension and neck angle.
- Chin-rest and shoulder-rest: Chin-rests and shoulder-rests were not a feature of early violins, which may have been held in a slightly different position to modern violins.
These physical differences make a baroque violin’s sound softer yet more resonant. Players often use a “historical manner” technique, aiming to closely mimic true baroque performance.
The modern violin’s shape and sound evolved over time to match different musical styles and performances. Using a historical instrument, or a recent replica with traditional shape and dimensions, lets you experience how music from its era might have sounded.
Electric violins
After electric amplification emerged in the early 1900s, makers and engineers started creating electric versions of instruments. The electric violin likely appeared around 1920, and hit the commercial market during the 1930s and 40s.
Like electric guitars, electric violins have solid bodies and pickups that send string vibrations to an amplifier, broadcasting the sound.
A traditional wooden violin can have removable pickups, turning it into a semi-electric or electro-acoustic violin. This gives players an amplified sound with more acoustic tone compared to a regular electric violin.
The fiddle
Fiddles are much like standard violins but have setup differences that create a unique sound. They often use all-steel strings, fine-tuners on each string, and a flatter bridge.
Fiddlers often prefer alternate string tunings over the standard GDAE, especially in traditional American folk music. Popular options include AEAE, FCGD, and DDAD.
Five-string violins
Classical violins usually have four strings tuned to G, D, A, and E. However, a five-string violin adds a C string. The body of a five-string violin is generally larger for more resonance. It’s often used in improvisational genres like jazz, bluegrass, or rock due to its broader range.
The Hardanger fiddle / Hardingfele
The Hardanger fiddle is a traditional Norwegian stringed instrument and a close cousin of the standard violin. Originating in the 16th century, it combines elements of the old Norse “fiðla” with early violin relatives.
The Hardanger fiddle features no interior linings. Its nearly flat fingerboard and bridge make it easier to play multiple strings. The bass bar is carved into the soundboard instead of being glued.
Uniquely, this fiddle has eight strings, though only four are bowed while the other four vibrate sympathetically. You can choose different tunings, including the classical violin GDAE, with sympathetic strings tuned DEGA.
The Stroh violin
The Stroh violin, created by German engineer John Stroh in 1899, is a unique instrument. It looks like a mix of a violin and a trumpet. Its string vibrations pass through a metal chamber and horn, producing the volume of a trumpet.
I found the Stroh violin especially useful during the early years of recording. Its loud sound directed well to microphones through the horn.
Violin sizes
Standard classical violins come in nine sizes: 4/4 (full size), 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and 1/32. The size corresponds to the body length, excluding the scroll and neck, with a full-size violin being 14 inches long.
Full-size violins fit most teenagers and adults. Smaller violins are ideal for children, even as young as 1-3 years old.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/32 |
| Full-size Length | 14 inches |
| Fit for | Teenagers & adults |
| Smaller Violins | Ideal for children, 1-3 years old |
Orchestral violins
Symphony orchestras have “first violins” and “second violins,” though they use the same instruments. First violins usually play melodies and higher notes, while second violins handle harmonies, textures, and lower notes. Learn more about symphony orchestras.