Stringed instruments

Image: The trunk of the 7 notes

Since human beings have the capacity for invention, he has used this ability to create objects that will facilitate the performance of a job in many areas of his life. Music is no exception, these objects or instruments were created with ingenuity to produce sounds which will later become music. In this TEACHER article, we'll talk about one of these types of musical instrument: stringed instruments.

Index

1. Operation and classification of a musical instrument
2. What are percussed string instruments: concept and operation
3. Parts of a stringed instrument
4. Examples of stringed instruments

There are hundreds of types of musical instrumentsand they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. As each musical instrument is a unique invention, its operation is therefore also unique and this means that the sounds it produces will be different. It is thanks to this variety of sounds that allows us to have music with a variety and richness of textures.

Since we are talking about sound production, musical instruments are classified depending on their mechanism and shape to produce sound. In general we can say that the instruments are classified as:

• String instruments (the sound comes from strings of different lengths)
• Wind instruments (breathing is used to produce sound)
• Percussion instruments (Objects that produce sound when hit directly or by another object).

At present we also find theelectronic instruments, which differ by not being analog like the rest, but uses synthesis to produce artificial sounds.

Some have subdivisions. In the case of string instruments, they are divided into rubbed string instruments, plucked string instruments and percussed string instruments.

As we have mentioned, and as the name itself indicates, these instruments have mechanisms whose most important element is the strings. These instruments use a principle formulated by the Greek Pythagoras, who studied the mathematics of proportions.

Pythagoras established the relationship between strings with different lengths, concluding that the longer a string is, the slower it vibrates when moving and therefore produces a lower note. In the opposite direction, a short string will vibrate faster and therefore produce a higher pitched note.

It is under this principle that the construction of string instruments is based, having different strings of different tuning to produce all the notes we need. While in other instruments the strings are rubbed or plucked, in the case of percussed stringed instruments, the strings are struck by means of a mechanism to produce sound.

Image: Slideshare

To better understand how stringed instruments are, it is important to discover what the different parts of these musical objects are. They are as follows:

Strings

They are various and change according to the instrument. The more different strings, the greater the register (more number of different notes). They can also vary in material, although most use metal ropes. The strings meet taut at the ends to keep in tune. With time and use, this tension is lost and maintenance is necessary to re-tune.

Unlike stringed instruments such as the guitar, percussed stringed instruments tend to have a complex mechanism and for this reason there are specialists who are dedicated solely to tuning. In addition to the length of the string, the thickness also influences the pitch of the sound (thicker equals more bass). For the lower notes, a technique called "wound" is used, where the strings are covered by a copper winding.

Body or soundboard

It is the space in which the strings resonate. The soundboard amplifies the sound produced, increasing the volume. The natural thing is that the instrument is closed, but for example in the piano, there is the possibility of opening the lid to reveal the body of the instrument, in this way we can increase the volume and this is very useful for concerts on large stages or to play with ensembles or orchestras.

Keys.

It is by means of the keys that instrument mechanisms are activated to hit the strings. These keys have a mechanical connection with a hammer (which can vary in material) which is the part that hits the strings. Each key represents a different note and they are arranged from low to high notes, from left to right. Since each key has its own mechanism, they can all be pressed independently and also simultaneously. The number of keys depends on the instrument, even within the same type of instrument there may be variations.

Pedals

They are levers that are pressed with the feet. They are also connected by mechanisms that are used to create effects in the sound, such as sustaining a note or shortening it.

Image: Slideplayer

So that you can better understand what stringed instruments are, below we are going to give you a list with examples of these instruments. The most used are the following:

Piano

It is the most popular stringed instrument known today. For many, the piano is the most complete instrument and the most difficult to master technically. Thanks to its popularity, the piano has hundreds of versions, varying in size, materials and number of keys, although they all share the same basic mechanism. In general we can classify the piano into the following types:

• Upright or wall piano: Its soundboard stands upright, unlike a grand piano, and as its name implies, it can be propped against the wall. The upright piano is much more accessible to have thanks to its shape, size, and price.
• Pianola: In addition to being a piano, the player piano has a built-in mechanism to play by itself, that is, without the need for a person to play it. The player piano uses perforated paper rolls for each piece of music, which tell you which keys to press. It was most popular during the 19th century.
• Grand piano: It varies according to the length of the tail, which can be from 130cm to 256cm. In order from small to large they are called tail mignon, quarter tail, half tail, three-quarter tail, and great tail. This type of pianos is mostly used for concerts and high-level presentations. In some companies, grand pianos are made with such thoroughness that they can take up to 7 years to complete.
• Digital piano or keyboards: Actually they are not a stringed instrument but they mimic the sound and shape of a piano electronically. They are cheaper, do not require tuning and some have the ability to communicate with the computer. They usually have different types of sounds at their disposal since they work as a synthesizer.

Clavichord

It is very important not to confuse it with the “harpsichord” (harpsichord, harpsichord or arpsichord) since the operation of these is different. The harpsichord is a plucked string instrument, while the harpsichord is considered a percussed string instrument.

Although the clavichordwas one of the most popular instruments during the baroque period and classicism of classical music, eventually its use decreased considerably as it was replaced by the piano during the s. XVIII.

The harpsichord is much smaller in size compared to a piano, both in general size and in the keys themselves, which are traditionally grouped into solo 4 octaves. Its volume is also lower and it has a smooth and bright sound.

Each instrument has characteristics that make it special in different areas, today you have known more about a type of instrument and hopefully your curiosity to find one there will be increased.

If you want to read more articles similar to Stringed instruments, we recommend that you enter our category of Musical instruments.