How to String a Violin From Scratch

String your own violin.

If you know how to put one string on a violin, you can also string it from scratch. The only difference is that you have to deal with the loose bits and pieces only held in place by the strings, namely the bridge and the tailpiece. Place your violin on a soft surface before you start to work, so you make sure you don't scratch the wood and you have two hands free.

Things You'll Need

• violin
• tailpiece with fine tuner
• bridge
• full set of strings

Instructions

Stringing it up

1. Put your violin in front of you, with the bottom end facing you. If the tailpiece is not already in place, hook the tail gut onto the end pin (the little button at the bottom of the violin). The strings go into the four small holes in the tailpiece. Depending on the make of your strings, you will find either a knot or a small pinhead at the tail end. Insert this knot into the wider, rounded end of the string holes in the tail end. Pull it forward, so that the knot comes to sit beneath the narrow slit.

2. 

   A perfectly strung violin.

   Start with the G-string. It goes into the far left hole in the tailpiece. Pull it tightly into the slit and thread it into the lower peg on the left side on top of the violin. Turn the peg from front to back -- only once at this point. You need to secure the string but not tighten it yet. Proceed with the D- and A-strings in exactly the same way. The D-string goes into the second hole from left and into the top left peg, the A into the third hole and top right. The E-string on the far right usually has a fine tuner. Fasten the little metal head in the groove of the fine tuner. Then thread it into the bottom peg on the right.

3. 

   A peek into the f-hole will show you the sound post.

   Before you tighten your strings, you need to insert the bridge, which is necessary before you tighten your strings. On an old violin you can usually see where the bridge has to go. There will be two spots where the wood is lighter. If your violin is new, you need to peek inside. If you look through the sound holes, you will see the sound post, a small, round piece of wood that connects the "floor" with the "ceiling" of the violin. The right foot of the bridge needs to rest exactly above the sound post. This is for two reasons. First, it optimizes the sound and second, it stabilizes the instrument. When tuned, the strings exert a considerable amount of pressure, which could damage the violin, if the bridge is in the wrong place. Adjust the bridge straightly and insert the strings into the grooves on the bridge and on the top nut.

4. Tighten your strings by turning the pegs further from front to back. Take care that the bridge stays in a 90 degree angle to the body of the violin. Adjust if necessary.

   Finally, tune the violin and start playing.

Tips & Warnings

• This method, with a fine tuner only for the E-string refers to the classical violin, which usually has three gut strings and a steel E. If you choose to string your violin with a whole set of steel strings, you also need a whole set of fine tuners.

• The violin is normally played with the bow in the right hand and the left hand on the fingerboard. If you want to play with the bow in your left hand, you need to string it exactly the other way round.

References

• Violins Only: Violin Parts
• Violin Online: Tuning