Your violin strings have a big influence on the sound and playability of your violin. Exactly which strings are best for you, depends on your preferences and budget.
From Affordable Steel Strings to Pro-Level Synthetic Strings
At Bax Music, you have the pick of a large variety of violin strings. From inexpensive steel strings to professional synthetic strings, we stock them all - including viola strings. If you're not sure what you need, feel free to reach out for advice or check out our blog on picking out the best violin strings. Also, in case you haven't got one yet, be sure to browse through our range of Violin Tuners and Pitch Pipes.
Replacing Violin Strings
There's no clear set of rules for when you should replace the strings of your violin. One violist might replace them every two months, while another will slap on fresh strings once per year. It all depends on the quality of the strings and on how much you play as well as how critical you are when it comes to the sound. In any case, you'll have no choice but to replace the strings if one of them breaks or is damaged and, as a result, refuses to stay in tune. Replacing all of the strings in one go assures you of a fully fresh and balanced sound, but bear in mind that it's crucial that you remove the old strings and install the new strings one by one. This is because there's a sound post clamped between the soundboard and back inside the body of every violin. Removing all of the strings at the same time takes tension off the soundboard which may cause the sound post to fall over, in which case you'll have to take your violin to a luthier in order to get it fixed.
Violin String Materials
Violin strings vary greatly in terms of sound, playability, lifespan and cost. Back in the day, they were made using animal gut wound with silver or aluminium. Gut strings are fit for all playing styles and are still used today for their warm sound and satisfyingly supple feel. The downside to gut strings is that they're relatively expensive and wear out rather quickly, making steel strings a cheaper and more durable alternative. Steel violin strings are mass-produced which makes them a lot cheaper, but they're also exceptionally stable and last a long time. That said, steel strings don't sound near as rich as gut strings, and they also feel quite rigid. As such, most violinists these days opt for synthetic strings. These strings combine the superb sound and playability of gut strings with the stability and durability of steel strings. The main drawback of synthetic strings is that they take relatively long to break in.
Tension
In addition to the material, the tension is also something you should look at before you pick out a fresh pack of violin strings. Here, you have the choice between light, medium and heavy tension strings. Light strings offer a fast response and bow attack at the expense of a bit of volume, while high-tension strings offer the opposite and give you more volume at the expense of response. Most violinists, however, tend to go for medium tension strings since these offer the best of both worlds and are suitable for practically all styles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Violin Strings
What’s the standard tuning of a violin?
From low to high, the strings of a violin are tuned to G, D, A and E.
What's the standard tuning of a viola?
From low to high, the strings of a viola are tuned to C, G, D and A.
How many strings does a violin have?
A traditional violin has four strings, but you can also find five-string violins on the market nowadays. Five-string violins combine the range of a four-string violin with the range of a viola. At the far end of the spectrum, you'll even find electric violins equipped with six or seven strings.
What are violin strings made of?
In general, violin strings are made of either animal gut, steel or a synthetic material. Nowadays, most violists use synthetic violin strings.
