Rope

String Instruments

String instruments, also called chordophones, are characterized by generating sound through the vibration of their multiple strings, thanks to the musician's interaction with them and, generally, using a soundbox as a sound amplifier. The strings are held in tension between two points of the instrument, and the way or technique to make them sound can be different: plucking, bowing, or striking them (hence the most common classification types are distinguished).

Context and some history

String instruments are known to have accompanied us for many centuries before Christ. They are undoubtedly the most beautiful and possibly the oldest group of instruments of all. Generally, and following their historical tradition, wood, animal guts, and horsehair are used in their composition. Currently, we can find synthetic materials, steel, and nylon to make them (in addition to wood and other elements).

It is suspected that bow-type string instruments may have originated from hunting instruments such as bows and arrows. In fact, the appearance of the first harps and lyres is chronologically located almost 3 millennia before Christ.

How string instruments work

As we have already said, string instruments can be made to sound in different ways. One option is to use your fingers or an accessory like a pick to make them sound. Another option is instruments whose strings are not struck directly, but rather by means of a key that activates a hammer that plucks the string (like the piano) or, finally, by friction (like violins, for example).

The technical resources of the string family are very broad. From bowed instruments that use the "pizzicato" technique to "arpeggios" or "plucking" on a guitar, among many other frequently used interaction techniques with the strings.

In this entire process of musical sound production, the soundbox (hollow structure) will play a decisive role. Thanks to the hollow box (or, in its absence, the electronic amplifier that acts as a soundbox), we will be able to achieve adequate sound quality and amplification.

Types of string instruments

According to the technique or way of playing string instruments, we can make a specific classification grouped into three main types of string instruments:

1. Bowed string instruments

Bowed string instruments are easily distinguished by using a bow-shaped rod to make the instrument sound through friction. However, sometimes techniques can be performed directly with the fingers, which do not require this element (but it is not common).

Another very distinctive physical characteristic to quickly identify a bowed string instrument is that it normally uses an exact number of 4 strings per instrument. Of course, at technical and musical levels, there are many ways to distinguish them both from other types of string instruments and from bowed string types, but it will require greater experience and a more trained and experienced musical ear.

Depending on each type of bowed string instrument, we will see great changes in terms of dimensions or timbre and more subtle differences such as shape (they are usually very similar to each other).

Regarding the way of playing, we also find differences, obviously very conditioned by the instrument's own size. The double bass will be supported vertically on the floor, and the violin on the musician's neck horizontally. Can you imagine a double bass supported on the musician's neck? It wouldn't be too comfortable, would it? :)

It is worth highlighting the "Italian reputation" in relation to bowed string instruments. Great world-renowned brands such as Stradivarius, Amati, Guarnerius... come from Italian luthier families, who were pioneers in this field from the 16th century onwards.

It is possible to classify bowed strings based on whether or not frets are used, which coincides with the most and least famous instruments in this sub-family:

• The most popular bowed string instruments worldwide are those that do not use frets: the violin, the double bass, the cello, and the viola.
• On the other hand, there are fretted bowed string instruments such as the viola da gamba, the hurdy-gurdy, or the arpeggione, which, as we said, are less well-known than the previous ones.

2. Plucked string instruments

Another category included within string instruments is plucked string instruments, also called pinched or strummed strings. Thus, the sound is produced by one of these three aforementioned methods.

The right hand will be responsible for plucking or strumming, while the left hand is used to configure the length of the strings and thus the sound. In this group, we can include instruments ranging from truly ancient ones like the lute to more modern instruments like the electric bass.

This type of string instrument can be classified based on whether they use a neck, keyboard, or frets: