How to Fix a Loosened String on a Violin

Tightening a violin string is a critical skill.

Learning to play the violin involves not only acquiring music and theory-related fundamentals. It also requires learning to care for and make adjustments to the instrument. Even the most skilled concert artist cannot produce quality sound on an instrument that is not properly tuned. The violin's four strings represent the pitches G, D, A and E. The player produces intervening pitches by applying pressure to the strings with his fingers. A loose violin string will have a lower pitch than it should. Tightening a string takes care and patience.

Things You'll Need

• "A" tuning fork, piano or pitch pipe

Instructions

1. Place the violin in your lap with its narrow end at the top. Hold the pegbox, located at the violin's narrow end just beneath the scroll, in one hand. Place your other hand where the neck meets the bout, the largest part of the violin, from which the sound is created.

2. Identify the peg to which the loosened string is attached. If it's not immediately apparent which string is attached to which peg, run your fingers from the violin's bridge along the bow until you reach the string's peg.

3. Play the appropriate note on your tuning fork, piano or pitch pipe. For example, if you are tightening the A string, play an A on your tuning fork, piano or pitch pipe.

4. Push in the peg gently while twisting it to the right. This action will add tension to the string and tune the string to a higher pitch.

5. Pluck the string to check for pitch. You may need to play the note again on your tuning device to match pitch accurately.

6. Stop tightening when the string has reached the correct pitch.

References

• Lutherie; String Instrument Care; Paul Hostettner
• Violin Online: Violin Basics