A musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings.
14
votes
6answers
884 views
How to prevent a string from breaking during a performance?
Especially for the guitar, but also for other relevant string instruments, I've had my string break while practicing. I feel like such things could happen at any moment, this made me wonder...
How to ...
7
votes
3answers
201 views
Is a violin's shape (particularly the f-holes) necessary or is it just for aesthetics?
Violins have a rather beautiful design.
... is such design necessary? Is a violin's natural sound only achieved when it has this specific shape?
I have a particular interest in the f-holes. Are they ...
7
votes
1answer
134 views
How do I use string gauge tables?
I have seen that string manufacturers publish tables of string gauges and tensions.
For example, this one.
How can I use these to choose a set of strings for my instrument?
6
votes
3answers
105 views
What should I consider when I see a loosen hair in a violin bow?
This drawing should do:
These are the hairs of a brand new bow. Straight, clean, etc.
I noticed this:
As you can see, it seems like a certain hair is a bit loose.
Is this wrong? (affects ...
6
votes
2answers
848 views
Tuning the Ouds
How many strings do various types of ouds (Arab, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Greek, Persia, etc.) have and how are they usually tuned (with pitch reference or not) to what absolute or relative pitches?
5
votes
2answers
169 views
Does the species of woods used play any role on the sound of a violin?
Whenever I check on violin-learning-related sites, they usually begin talking about the quality of a violin. The strings, the species of woods...
... the species of wood. Ebony? Maple? Rosewood? I ...
5
votes
2answers
117 views
What purpose does adjusting the violin bow tension serve?
A violin bow has a screw that allows you to adjust the hairs' tension. Like a tuning peg so to speak.
When I just got mine, I didn't pay attention to it. I worked with the tuning pegs because I knew ...
5
votes
4answers
130 views
What methods are there to determine when a violin string should be replaced?
I am very new to the violin. I have broken a string just once - and it was while attempting to tune it.
The string breaking was rather surprising and powerful - I'm glad my face was not too close.
...
4
votes
2answers
158 views
What do you call plucking the violin strings with the finger, rather than using the bow?
I was attempting to learn a bit about violin sheet music, and then I wondered if the act of producing sound with the finger or the fingernail had a written notation.
I had a hard time finding a video ...
4
votes
5answers
170 views
What am I doing wrong when tuning the violin using a web application?
I don't know anything about violins, and I won't have time for a tutor until much later.
When attempting to tune my violin, I was advised to get a digital violin tuner. Alright. But before I go get ...
4
votes
5answers
134 views
Is there a significant difference between playing one note or multiple ones per bow stroke?
So recently I realized that I tend to do just one note per bow stroke for everything I play.
I was taking a look at how violinists played, particularly with Fur Elise, which begins something like ...
4
votes
4answers
120 views
Does shifting vary on a fretted instrument?
As a beginning cellist, it struck me that non-fretted instruments seem to have a much greater focus on shifting mechanics than fretted. With fretted instruments, it seems to my novice eye that ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
Tuning new strings on an acoustic guitar
Okay, so a while back I broke one of my guitar strings, so I bought a new set. The problem is with my new strings my guitar sounds awful. Like it doesn't sound new awful it sounds like its completely ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Is there a set of guidelines to indicate where on the neck to play equivalent notes?
I have just started learning mandolin and I am working my way through St. Louis Blues. The music that I am using includes the tablature as well as the music.
The tab for one section shows:
...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
What is the recommended way to amplify a jarana?
I've seen some inexpensive guitar pickups to amplify any kind of acoustic guitar, but I don't know if there's something like that for a jarana, and how good the sound quality is.
Is there something ...
3
votes
1answer
241 views
Playing non-Western scales on the Oud
How does one learn to play various non-Western scales on the oud? Are there instructions with diagrams showing notes as positions on the neck of the instrument? Book, videos, etc.?
3
votes
1answer
33 views
Thicker or thinner gauge for frequently snapping harp strings?
I have a kora (West-African harp) on which the highest two strings only seem to last about a week before snapping.
The two strings are tuned to A (880Hz) and G (784Hz) respectively and are stretched ...
3
votes
1answer
188 views
Tuning the nyatiti
What is the standard tuning for an 8-string Nyatiti? I've tried searching in Google but haven't found anything. I wonder if there are different tunings in different regions.
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Piano Maintenance
What should be done to maintain an upright piano?
I am not asking about tuning it, but what can be done so it does not have to be tuned as often?
I heard someone once say about a particular piano ...
2
votes
4answers
77 views
Are there limits for the possible pieces for different violins?
I don't know anything about violins. No, actually, I don't know anything about music, so this is rather basic:
Despite it looking terribly hard, I decided to learn to play the violin nonetheless. I ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Is it better to have one large resonating chamber, or multiple sub-chambers? [closed]
Not sure if instrument design falls under the scope of the site. Let me know if you can think of a different SE that it might fit better on, but here goes.
If a person with too much time on their ...
1
vote
4answers
898 views
Is there a mandolin-like instrument with guitar-like tone and range?
I need to play low guitar accompaniment parts (simple bass-note-plus-chord style) but I prefer the narrow neck and short scale length of the mandolin.
Is there an instrument (acoustic, not electric) ...
-3
votes
3answers
97 views
Which Music Instrument Have The Widest Variety of Sounds and Effects? [closed]
Can anyone let me know which instrument can be used for large number of music effects and different varieties of sounds produced.
