String Instruments: Definition, History, and Types

String Instruments: Definition, History, and Types

What Are String Instruments?

String instruments, or chordophones, produce sound through the vibration of tensioned strings.

These strings can be made to vibrate in various ways:

• Bowing, such as violins and cellos.
• Plucking, such as guitars, harps, and ukuleles.
• Striking, such as the hammered dulcimer.
• Mechanical means, e.g., through a wheel on the hurdy-gurdy.
• Natural elements, e.g., wind for the Aeolian harp.

The vibrations are passed on to a resonating body, typically made of wood, which enhances the sound and propels it into the air.

Moreover, string instruments today can employ carbon fiber or plastic to introduce strength and characteristic tonal qualities.

A Brief History of String Instruments

String instruments have a long, ancient history, and archaeological evidence can be found in records of early human civilizations:

• Prehistoric Period: Early humans likely discovered the potential in stretched sinew or animal gut when preparing meat.
• China: The yin (bowed zither) dates back to the 8th century, and the family of bowed strings known as the huqin has been around for over a thousand years.
• India: The ravanahatha, a precursor to the bowed instrument, is found in temple carvings and is described as one of the oldest Indian stringed instruments.
• Middle East: The rabab, which is found in 10th-century writings, was a precursor to many European bowed instruments.
• Europe:
  • The fiddle and rebec of the 11th century were likely copies of Middle Eastern originals.
  • The hurdy-gurdy, which used strings mechanically bowed by a wheel, was already present by the 10th century.
  • The nyckelharpa, a keyed fiddle, became popular during the 15th century in Germany, Italy, and Sweden.
  • The Renaissance was followed by an overabundance of fine craftsmanship, especially executed by luthiers like Antonio Stradivari, whose violins are still well thought of today.

Advances in more recent times include the construction of electric and carbon-fiber stringed instruments, providing new timbres and durability for contemporary practice.

Basic Structure of String Instruments

There is much variation between string instruments, but many share a similar basic structure:

• Head: Contains the scroll (ornamental top), tuning pegs, and pegbox.
• Neck: Holds the fingerboard upon which different notes are played.
• Body: The hollow section, typically wood, acts as a resonating chamber and comprises the top plate, back, sides, and sound holes (typically F-shaped).
• Bridge: Directs the vibration from the strings to the body.

For bowed instruments, the bow is a crucial element. It is made up of:

• A stick (wood or synthetic),
• Bow hairs (usually 150+ horsehairs),
• An adjustment screw to regulate tension,
• Thumb leather and wrap for protection and grip.

Types of String Instruments

1. Guitars and Similar Instruments

Acoustic Guitar

This steel-strung guitar is used in folk, pop, and country music. Acoustic forms are:

• Dreadnoughts, parlor, and cutaway forms.
• Electro-acoustic guitars, with internally mounted pickups.

Classical Guitar

Also referred to as the Spanish guitar, this employs nylon strings and is finger-style.

It features a flat, broad neck that lends itself well to complex finger styles. Flamenco guitars are the same but specially constructed for a percussive-sounding style.

For mariachi groups, such as the guitarrón (deep-voiced large guitar), there is additional bass harmony.

Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are equipped with pickups to convert string vibrations into electric signals. Body shapes are:

• Solid-body (e.g., Fender Stratocaster),
• Semi-hollow (e.g., Gibson ES-335),
• Hollow-body (e.g., jazz guitars).

They are typically assisted with effects pedals and amps.

Bass Guitar

The bass guitar provides harmonic and rhythmic backing in most contemporary music. It contains four strings, an octave lower than the guitar in pitch.

The electric bass must be distinguished from the double bass, though differing in playing style and construction.

Other Fretted String Instruments

• Banjo: Used extensively in American bluegrass and folk music.
• Mandolin: High-pitched, double-strung instrument.
• Lastly, Ukulele: Small, four-stringed Hawaiian instrument.

2. Orchestral String Instruments

Normally played using a bow, with pizzicato (plucking) also being taught.

Violin

Plays an accompanimental, warm-sounding role and is played from the alto clef.

Cello

Played seated with the instrument wedged between the knees.

Double Bass

It provides a harmonic foundation to orchestral and jazz ensembles.

Typical Instrument Types from Around the World

• First, zithers (flat-bodied, multi-stringed instruments)
• Secondly, lyres (ancient string harp-like instruments)
• Then, harps (plucked stringed instruments with many strings)
• After that, hurdy-gurdy (stringed instrument played with a wheel bow)
• Finally, nyckelharpa (sympathetic stringed keyed fiddle

The Bottom line

String instruments are rich tapestries of tone, form, and heritage.

From the bowed beauty of the violin to the rhythmic bite of the bass guitar, their range speaks to both musical vision and cultural identity.

Their enduring popularity is due to their range of expression and international appeal.