What are stringed instruments?

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The group of strings is perhaps the most numerous and diverse of all types of musical instruments. It includes instruments very far from each other, but all of them are united by one essence, contained in the name itself: all strings have strings. This is butter oil.

Stringed musical instruments can be divided into several groups according to the principle of sound extraction. Strings can be sounded by bowing, plucking, and striking. Let's take a closer look at each group.

Bowed string instruments are the backbone of a symphony orchestra. This can be seen even in the number of orchestra members - almost two-thirds of the musicians in the orchestra play the strings. The range of instruments covers any possible height of sounds - from the deep bottom of double basses to violin tops on the verge of "ultrasound". The sound of stringed instruments is closer to the human voice than other instruments, especially violins and violas. They can express a variety of emotions, evoking the same variety of feelings in the listener - from tenderness and light to gloom and aggression. Therefore, in symphonic music to carry outthe main themes are most often credited to the string group.

The violin was the first of modern string instruments. And to this day, she is considered the "queen" among them. Born in the 15th century, the violin quickly gained popularity throughout Europe. Entire clans of violin masters arose in Italy - Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati. Their instruments are still considered the unsurpassed standard. Following the violin, other bow instruments were "born" - viola, cello, double bass. All of them are similar in shape, but differ in size, and, accordingly, in the height of the range. The way they are positioned when playing music is also different - musicians put compact violins and violas on their shoulders, massive cello and double bass are placed vertically on the floor, and the double bass player has to stand all the time while playing, the instrument is so big. Common to all this family is the principle of sound extraction - with the help of a bow. Sound arises from the vibration of the string, achieved by rubbing a bow rubbed with resin against it. With all the fullness and beauty of their sound, bowed string instruments are, first of all, orchestral. Even solo performances by violinists and violists require "support" (piano or other accompaniment).

The next group is plucked string instruments. For these instruments, the sound source is the vibration of the string when it is plucked with a finger or with a plectrum. The "singing" bowstring of a hunting bow served as the progenitor of the plucked bows. The most common plucked instrument is the guitar. The same age as the violin, the guitar has gained immense popularity all over the world. This is a favorite instrument not only and not so much for professionals, but also for music lovers. At least the notorious "three chords" tried to master, perhaps, the majority of people. Russian folk instruments (domra, balalaika, gusli) belong to the same group of instruments. Plucked string instruments are rarely used in symphony orchestras, they are much more popular in folk groups.

The third way to produce sound in stringed instruments is to hit the string with a hammer. The most common representative of this group is the pianoforte. This is a unique instrument that is both a percussion keyboard and a string.

The pianist presses the key with his fingers, setting in motion a mechanism that causes the hammer to strike the string. The forerunners of the modern piano were keyboard string instruments, whose names are still on everyone's lips: harpsichord and clavichord. Another example of a stringed percussion instrument is cymbals (when playing them, the performer himself holds the hammers and strikes the strings).