Many instruments are used in the production of music. These instruments are divided into sub-groups according to their components and parts. Some of these groups are bass, horn and string instruments. String instruments basically have strings as their component and it is through these strings that they create sound. The violin is a member of this group of instruments.

The violin is the soprano member of the string family. It is made up of bow, strings, and the fingerboard and a body. Violin has a colorful history. It is said that the string musical instrument with bows originated from Europe in the ninth century. The first bowed instrument was lira from the Byzantine Empire. Ibn Khurradadhbih cited lira as equivalent to the Islamic Empires rabab. The lira proliferated during the 11th and 12th century and European writers interchangeably used fiddle and lira when they referred to instruments with bow. The Islamic instrument rabab was introduced through the Iberian Peninsula in Western Europe and spread to different European areas. The lira and the rabab gave birth to bowed instruments.

The first violin came from Northern Italy in the 16th century.  The first violins only have three strings and it is possible that the first luthiers borrowed the violin concept from the rabab. It was precisely described in the book Epitome Musical in 1556 by Jambe de Fer.

Violin was considered as a lowly instrument but in the 18th century, well-known composers used the violin and it gained popularity and respectability. It gained more popularity and prestige in the Baroque period. The violin’s earliest form is different from the violin’s form today. The early forms of violin had a shorter neck, thicker and had fewer angles. The fingerboard was shorter, the strings were from gut and the bridge was flatter.

Throughout the centuries, European countries have two prominent kinds of bowed instruments; lira de braccio, lira de gambe. Lira de braccio is a square shaped instrument that is held in the arms while lira de gamba is held within the knees. The gambas were popular during the Renaissance period but they were replaced by the braccios and the violin as years rolled on.

The famous luthier, Andrea Amati made the first real violin in the 16th century. Amati made the violin because the Medici Family ordered an instrument that can be used by musicians who roamed the streets. The Medici required the instrument to be of equal quality as the lute which is considered to be the noblest instrument at that time. Amati used the method of applying a mould to accurately build the instrument. He also made the body of the instrument slightly arched.

The oldest surviving violin is the “Charles IX” by Andrea Amati. It was made in Cremone in 1564.  “Le Messie” is possibly the most popular and perfect violin which was made by Antonio Stradivari and was never used.

The violin has changed throughout the years. It has risen from the lowly status to an instrument which is highly regarded today. It is a very important part of the orchestra instruments. Throughout the years, there have been many changes in the specifications and parts of the violin have been made. These changes have changed the aesthetics of violin.

There have also been advances in the making of violin and modern kinds of violin have proliferated.

This article will educate you on how to go about with violin bowing. Read on to find out the fundamentals of playing this musical instrument.

Developing Your Potential

You must not think that your being a left-handed person will be a hindrance for the efficient playing of the violin. You need to learn the right thing to do as if you are one kind of right-handed person. In the beginning, you will surely find it hard to do. But take things easy. You will soon find out the technique to perfectly execute it. Being left-handed will actually give you an advantage. That is, fingering and doing the vibrato will be easier and more precise for you. More so, after some time of practicing, you will then find out that you have turned into an ambidextrous. Meaning to say, you can use both of your hands.

They say that practice makes perfect. Thus, you can count on the master violinists’ expertise in automatically moving their hands. Your constant practice will likewise develop your mastery and concentration which is nevertheless going to be driven by habit.

Getting to Know the Bow

The violin is made up of different parts. Each part has a name of course. Technically, the “bow” is the wooden stick wherein the hairs are connected. The “grip” is the one that wraps around one of the ends of the stick. The “frog” adjoins the hairs and the bow.

The bow is then composed of a big screw at the tip. It is used either to relax or to tighten the hairs. It is important to check the tightness of the hairs before you start practicing. Its being too tight may cause the hairs to break. On the other hand, the hairs may not produce the right sound when they are too relaxed. See to it that the hairs are aligned and the tightness is just enough so as not to sacrifice the quality of sound to be produced.

The violin bow is a stick that is essentially lithe and semi-elastic. It is stretched from one end to the other. In playing this musical instrument, the bow should be driven and pulled across those strings. The vibration then results to the production of the sounds.

The Kinds of Violin Bows

There are various types of violin bows. They are the following:

Tropical hardwood. The bows are made out of brazilwood. These are cheaper and always available so they are just perfect to use by the neophyte players.

Carbon fiber. These bows are the ones which are heavy duty. These are also bonded with the use of resin and are high-grade. This material features almost the same quality as the pernambuco so it counts as a cheaper alternative.

Pernambuco. These bows are more durable and heavier. They are also elastic, dense, and responsive. They boast of a soft feel so they are generally comfortable to be used. Pernambuco violin bows are not only expensive but rare as well.

Fiberglass. These bows are nonetheless durable. They last for a longer time and easily bought anywhere. Being inexpensive, they are best to use by those who have just begun learning how to play the violin.

When buying your violin bow, you should consider its durability and price. Also take note of the frequency that you are going to use it. More so, choose one that will give you all the comfort when playing.