Violin stringing guide

A few days ago, I came across a publication by a violin teacher. In it, she recounted the difficulties she'd had in tuning her pupil's instrument. She also included a photo by way of explanation, and that's how I realized what a disaster it was(you can see it below). That's why I decided to create a violin stringing guide to help beginners mount their strings correctly. An explanatory video below!

 

Violin stringing guide

With this guide, I'm going to give you the simple, effective methods you need to install your strings perfectly yourself. Of course, you'll need a bit of practice, but you'll see that with a little method, there's really nothing complicated about it.

So, in this guide, I'll try to put things into perspective. Indeed, this operation will be more or less difficult depending on how much attention has been paid to your instrument in the first place. As a result, a perfectly formed and maintained pegbox and pegs will always work better than others. But the point here is to give you the means to do your best whatever the situation.

Mistakes not to be made

First, let's take a look at the following photo to determine what's wrong in terms of string installation on the pegs of this violin.

 

The ropes are going the wrong way.

As you can see from the photo, they pass under the ankles. This has several negative effects:

• Increased tension, which will significantly increase string breakage(not to mention the change in sound and tuning inaccuracy).
• Unwanted rubbing, not only on the saddle but also on the pegs. Since the strings don't follow their intended path, they rub on the pegs in front of them, and also too much on the string passages. This friction will also destroy your strings very quickly.
• Finally, it completely reverses the references in terms of tuning direction. This will turn the brain of anyone trying to tune this instrument upside down.

 

The ropes are not on the right pegs

If we look at the way the strings move towards the pegbox, we can see that they are out of order. In fact, G and D are correctly placed, but A and E are inverted. If these were in the correct position, they should cross. However, the strings should never cross, and their change of direction should always be smooth.

• Firstly, the G is located on the peg closest to the saddle, on the left-hand side when viewed from the front.
• Next comes the E string, positioned on the right.
• Then there's D, on the left-hand side.
• Last is the A, the string furthest from the nut.

 

Ropes are badly wound

The string must be perfectly positioned to ensure long life and stable tuning. In the photo, there are several problems that absolutely must not be reproduced:

• The green rope is wrapped around itself several times. Although this is also a way of blocking a slipping rope, it also represents a point of weakness. Indeed, rope that is stretched over itself will deteriorate more quickly, or even break suddenly.
• The blue rope is wound in the wrong direction. In fact, to work optimally, the rope must be wound in the direction of the peg handle. In this way, it will align perfectly with the line drawn by the rope from its point of attachment to the tailpiece. In addition, it should rest lightly against the wall to prevent the peg from sticking out.

 

 

Why are these ropes installed incorrectly?

In fact, the pitiful installation of these strings is not the violinist's fault. Perhaps he(like many others) received his violin through a general store. The buyer is therefore often the first person to check the instrument since it left the factory. As a result, he may find himself confronted with an instrument assembly he never imagined.

As a result, and in the absence of any documentation, it's normal to see violins, violas or cellos assembled in an approximate manner. It's an operation that requires a bit of rigor(and knowledge) to be perfectly executed.

That's why, even if you buy your instrument online, visit your local luthier. He or she will be able to install it properly for you and correct any minor defects. Even if he might initially be unhappy that you're buying online(and not from him).

But that's just the way it is... In any case, it's impossible to provide an instrument that has been taken care of in a violin workshop at the same price as single-use violins(also known as "Kleenex"). Finally, for a more responsible and economical approach, it would also be possible to opt for an instrument rental.

 

Violin stringing video guide

[kad_youtube url="https://youtu.be/HcUliG05spk " width="600″ height="400″]

 

How to fit the strings on your violin

Finally, if you want to get your strings right, I wrote an article entirely on the subject a while back. It will be a very good guide to violin string assembly.

[blog_posts items="1″ orderby="date " ids="9033″]