| Strings were initially played in Italy in the mid 16th | | | | In reality, the sounding board of the instrument |
| century. The most famous application of these | | | | provides a bigger surface area to generate sound |
| instruments was the orchestra, which is centered on | | | | waves compared to that of the strings, and the |
| melodies and music pieces that are based on stringed | | | | same amount of energy is simply communicated |
| instruments with maple bodies and wooden bows.The | | | | across a larger surface. As this larger vibrating |
| length of string determines the pitch, and they are | | | | surface moves more air, it allows for a louder sound |
| inversely proportional to each other. | | | | to be created. While this process seems very simple, |
| String Music Basics: What Counts as a Stringed | | | | it is actually difficult to achieve perfectly precise |
| Instrument | | | | control over the exact sound that will result. |
| A stringed instrument produces sound by means of | | | | To help ensure a consistent and pleasing tone, most |
| vibrating strings. In the scheme of musical instrument | | | | string instruments use very high quality wood such as |
| classification these are called "chordophones." The | | | | spruce, which is very light, strong and flexible; maple |
| most famous and common string instruments in the | | | | is often used as well because of its hardness. Spruce |
| string family are guitar, viola, violin, cello, double bass, | | | | is particularly popular for many instruments, ranging |
| banjo, mandolin, and harp. String instruments can be | | | | from the violin to the piano. Keyboard instruments |
| divided into three groups; these are Lutes, Harps, and | | | | follow similar rules, since the key set is usually |
| Zithers. Lutes' strings are supported by a neck; harps' | | | | attached to a string instrument hidden within the |
| strings are contained within a frame, and zithers' | | | | instrument housing; for example, pianos are string |
| strings are mounted on a body. | | | | instruments that use a hammer to strike strings, |
| All string instruments create sound from one or more | | | | producing vibration and tone. Clavichord, another |
| vibrating strings, which transmit their vibration to the | | | | string keyboard instrument, strikes the strings by |
| air transferred to the air as the instrument's body | | | | "tangents," while harpsichords pluck strings using a |
| amplifies and deepens that vibration. They various | | | | small device called a plectra. |
| types of string instruments are categorized by the | | | | Sometimes with these keyboard instruments, the |
| method used to make the strings tremble. The three | | | | strings are plucked or bowed by hand indirectly, by |
| most common and famous techniques are plucking, | | | | means of a complex mechanism, but in most cases |
| bowing and striking. The length of string from nut to | | | | string instruments are managed by hand, and are |
| bridge of bowed or plucked instruments determines | | | | small enough to be held by the musician. Examples |
| the distance of different notes on the instruments. | | | | include: the plucked autoharp, the bowed nickel harp, |
| For example, while low range double bass needs a | | | | and the hurdy, which is played by cranking a rosined |
| length of 42 inches, a violin scale is only about 13 | | | | wheel. |
| inches. In both cases, the sound of the string is | | | | Stringed instruments' immense range in construction, |
| amplified by the sounding board, but the initial and | | | | design, and resulting sounds give us an incredibly |
| final sounds are different, and the degree of | | | | broad number of options to create emotions. Both |
| amplification is different as well. | | | | the listener and the player can enjoy their depth and |
| How Stringed Instruments Work | | | | variation, and appreciate the skill and precision that |
| Technically, when the sound is "amplified," energy | | | | are required to transform these complex vibrations |
| amplification is not really happening, as all the energy | | | | into harmonies and rhythms that can create a feeling |
| still comes from the vibrating string to produce sound. | | | | of tension or serenity out of thin air. |