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Bowed string instruments – violins, violas, cellos and string basses – may look simple, but they are as complex and delicate as a fine Swiss watch. And like any fragile article, they must be cared for and protected from damage. Just as a car is maintained by regular tune-ups, oil changes and alignments, a violin (or one of its cousins) is preserved by careful attention and professional service. Many common problems can be avoided by regular tender, loving care.
Instrument types and sizes
The violin family has four members: violin, viola, cello (short for “violincello”) and bass. Violin strings are tuned EADG (from the highest to the lowest). The viola skips the top E, has the same ADG as the violin, and then adds a C on the bottom. Even though the viola covers much of the same range as the violin, it has a very different tone quality: much darker and richer. The cello has the same strings as the viola (ADGC), but they are each an octave (eight tones) lower than on the viola. The bass is lower yet, and is tuned GDAE. Each of these four instruments comes in different sizes, with bows to match. A full-size violin has a body length (not including the “button,” or the end of the neck) of about 14 inches, with a 3/4 size at 13+ inches, and so on down to 1/16 size. There is, in reality, quite a bit of variation among violins labeled as being the same nominal size. Another variation you may occasionally find is a 7/8, slightly smaller than a full-size. This used to be called a “ladies” violin.
Viola sizes are much more variable, ranging from about 14” to about 17”. Generally, 14” is considered to be a 3/4 size. Often, a full-size violin is fitted with viola strings and used as a 3/4 viola. A real 14” viola will have deeper ribs than a violin. The increased interior volume will help to compensate for the overall small size, and should have a better c-string sound than a restrung violin. Such small violas used to be hard to come by, but this is no longer the case. For an older student, get the largest viola he or she can comfortably play. The viola is basically a difficult engineering matter, and it needs a large air volume to produce dark, chocolate tone. In this century, several interesting design modifications have been tried to make large violas easier to play. The Tertis model has normal upper bouts (shoulders) but wider lower bouts. The Erdesz model has a deep cutaway in the treble (a-side) upper bout. Other makers, such as Alan and Sarah Balmforth, have tried an asymmetrical approach, with the right half of the viola slightly smaller than the left. The Pellegrina model of David Rivinus is quite radically distorted and asymmetrical. Most of these variations, with the exception of the Tertis, are not available in student-level violas.
Cellos come in full-size, 3/4 and so on, down to 1/10. Even in student instruments, try to get a cello that is real maple and spruce, not plywood.
The “full-size” bass that most adults play is actually a 3/4 size; a 7/8 size or actual full-size bass is appropriate only for very tall adults. 1/2 size and 1/4 size basses also exist. Again, a bass made of real, carved wood is preferable to one made of pressed plywood.
Although a good violin shop can guide you in choosing a size, your child’s teacher is the person best qualified to select the appropriate size of instrument.
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