The F-Holes

The F-Holes

What are f-holes and what are they for? F-holes are sound holes, openings, in the top plate of the violin. Sound holes have different shapes, depending on the instrument.Guitars have round sound holes, lutes have rosettes… The sound hole of the violin is...
Purfling

Purfling

What is purfling? Purfling is the narrow inlaid edge of the violin plates. They are made of laminated straps of wood in a contrasting color to accentuate it visually.Cheaper violins, mass-produced instruments often will have a plastic inlay, or even a painted one....
The Bass Bar

The Bass Bar

What is a bass bar and what is it used for? The bass bar is a long piece of would attached to the soundboard (top plate) inside the violin.It runs along the G-string of the violin (the bass string).It is there for several reasons. It supports the tension of the...
The Soundpost

The Soundpost

What is a soundpost and what is it used for? The soundpost in a violin is a dowel (wooden cylindrical rod) which is placed on the inside of the violin between the soundboard (top) and the backplate (bottom)., on the treble side (A and E-string position) just behind...
Music Terminology

Music Terminology

A Accelerando (Italian: ‘getting faster’) Adagio (Italian: ‘slow’). Meaning the music should be played slowly. Barber’s ‘Adagio’ is a fantastic example of this. Allegro (Italian: ‘lively’). Meaning the music should...