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Most violins are made from approximately 70 different pieces of spruce or maple.
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The violin parts include the scroll, tuning pegs, peg box, neck, fingerboard, F-holes, strings, bridge, tailpiece, and chin rest. The bow includes the stick, hair, and screw.
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A violin bow is usually made with between 150 and 200 hairs. These bows can be made with horse hair, nylon, and a variety of other materials.
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Violins are available in different sizes. Beginners usually begin with smaller instruments and eventually move to full size violins.
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When playing the violin the musician rests the violin under the chin and uses their left hand's fingers to press strings on the neck while bowing or plucking the string at the bridge.
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When playing the violin the bow is drawn at right angles across the strings, with the right hand, to make sound.
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Giuseppe Guarneri crafted the most expensive violin in existence in 1741. It has been appraised at $18 million.
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Originally the violin's strings were made from sheep gut. Other materials commonly used have included metals, synthetic materials, stranded steel, and solid steel.
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Violins are a primary instrument in orchestras and in classical performances.
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The violin is the smallest instrument in the violin family. It also has the highest pitch of the four types of instruments.
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The viola is a member of the violin family and is a bit larger than the violin and has a lower pitch.
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The cello is a member of the violin family and is larger than the viola. It rests on a metal spike that touches the ground while playing.
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The double bass is the largest instrument in the violin family. It also rests on the floor and the musician stands to play. It has a much lower pitch than the violin.
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Violins are traditionally used in symphony orchestras, concertos, chamber ensembles, and string quartets.
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Despite being a popular classical instrument, the violin has also been used in more mainstream music such as rock, pop, jazz, and folk music.
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The folk music version of the violin is the fiddle.
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The fastest violinist in the world is Ben Lee, who played 15 notes per second in 2010, beating David Garrett's record of 13 notes per second in 2008.
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One of Andrea Amati's original violins is on display at the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) in New York City.
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