Strings.
The Strings are the largest family of instruments in the Orchestra.
In a Symphony Orchestra, stringed instruments include the violin, viola, cello and double bass. They are all made of curved wood and nylon strings. These instruments are played with a bow.
Stringed instruments are some of the oldest instruments in the world.
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The Instruments
The four main stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass) are built using similar structures and materials. As a result, they also share a similar tone colour. They are warm, rich, resonant and rounded.
The main difference between the instruments is their pitch - how high or low they sound.
Think of stringed instruments as a SATB choir. Some instruments are very high, some are medium, some are low, and some are lower again.
Violin.
The violin is the highest of the stringed instruments.
Violins often play the melody in Orchestral music and are the leaders of the Orchestra.
Viola.
The Viola is slightly larger than the violin and has a lower, deeper sound.
The Viola uses the Alto Clef.
Cello.
The Cello is the closest instrument to the male voice. It has a rich, low sound and is featured in many emotive solos. The Cello is played from a seated position, and uses the bass clef.
Double Bass.
The Double Bass is the lowest stringed instrument. It is an octave lower than the cello and has a dark, ominous tone colour. In the Orchestra, the Double Bass provides the melodic and harmonic foundations for the other players.
