The String Family
Information from The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Website
The four major instruments in the string family, the violin Links to an external site., the viola Links to an external site., the cello Links to an external site. and the double bass Links to an external site., are built the same way. The instruments are made of many pieces of wood which are glued - never nailed - together. The body of the instrument is hollow, thus becoming a resonating box for the sound. Four strings made of animal gut, nylon, or steel are wrapped around pegs at one end of the instrument and attached to a tailpiece at the other. They are stretched tightly across a bridge to produce their assigned pitches.
The harp Links to an external site. is not like any other member of the string family. It has 47 strings stretched across its tall triangular frame. The strings are plucked by hand while seven pedals at the bottom of the harp adjust the length of the strings to produce additional notes.
Videos of the Instruments