Music

What is a String Quartet?

The Music Telegraph | Text 2020/04/14 [10:19]
Music

What is a String Quartet?

The Music Telegraph| 입력 : 2020/04/14 [10:19]

© Pixabay

 


What is a String Quartet?
 

A string quartet is a music ensemble made up of 4 string instruments: 2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello.

 

▲ Violin

© Wikimedia Commons


The violin is the most commonly used member of the modern string family. It is the highest-sounding instrument of that group. The strings are tuned an interval of a fifth apart at G3 (196 Hz), D4, A4 (440), and E5 (659.3 Hz). The complex tonal character of the violin comes from the strings' fundamental resonance plus all the string harmonics. The sound of the instrument is further enhanced by the instrument's body resonances and their air resonance of the f-holes, which act like a Helmholtz resonator.

 

 

▲ Viola

© Wikipedia Commons

 

The viola is the alto of the violin family, and it has the responsibility of playing the tenor part in the string quartet. Larger and heavier than the violin, it is tuned a fifth lower and has a darker, somewhat nasal tone. The strings are tuned a fifth apart at C3 (130.8 Hz), G3, D4, and A4 (440 Hz).

 

 

▲ Cello

© Wikipedia Commons


The violoncello or cello for short is the second largest member of the violin family. It is tuned an octave below the viola and serves both as a melodic and bass instrument in chamber and orchestral music. The body of the cello is approximately 76 cm (30 in) long and is much deeper than those of the violin and viola. The cellist is seated and supports the instrument between his/her calves, with its lower end raised off the floor by an endpin. The strings are tuned a fifth apart at C2 (65.4 Hz), G2, D3, and A3 (220 Hz).

 

The top plate of the cello is made of spruce or pine because of their good sound radiating qualities. The sides and back plate are made of maple. The neck, pegbox and scroll are made of maple. A thin piece of ebony is glued to the top side of the neck to form the fingerboard. At the end of the neck where the pegboard is attached, a small grooved piece of ebony is attached for holding the strings in position. It is called the "nut". The strings pass over a bridge made of maple, which transmits the vibration energy from the strings to the body of the instrument. The top of the bridge is curved to match the contour of the top plate and to allow one string at a time to be bowed.


 

 

  

 

< Copyright ⓒ The Music Telegraph :: Prohibit reprinting and redistribution >
The Music Telegraph Another articles
Comment
  • 도배방지 이미지

String Instruments Related Articles

광고
Most Read
1
Six String Audio 'Ultimate Rock Guitar': The Insanely Deep-sampled Superstrat Kontakt Library, Powered by Free Kontakt Player
2
‘Slooply’ - Creating music has never been easier!
3
Types of EQ
4
Building from the Bottom Up: The Foundation of Modern Music Production
5
Bunker Samples ‘Off-World Vol.1’: The Creative and Modern Approach to Vietnamese Traditional Instrument ‘Dan Bau’
6
Broadway Orchestra Wage Scales: What Musicians Earn
7
Review #7 (Digital Audio)
8
Basic Waveforms of Synthesizer: Pulse Wave
9
Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings
10
About 'Music Sampling': Legal Basics and Costs
광고
Music (popular articles)
1
Building from the Bottom Up: The Foundation of Modern Music Production
광고
Most Recent
Building from the Bottom Up: The Foundation of Modern Music Production
Frap Tools 'Magnolia': An 8-Voice Analog Thru-Zero FM Synthesizer
Behind the Sound: The Critical Roles of Monitor and FOH Engineers in Live Performance
Inside the Psychedelic Mix: Creating Motion, Depth, and Sonic Warmth
How We Hear Harmony: Frequency Relationships and the Science of Critical Bands
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고