Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Brief Guide To Violin Accessories

By Cornelia White


A lot of people who own violins are passionate about them. It is an instrument that can produce a beautiful sound and violinists are often in high demand. However this also means that their instruments need to be properly looked after. If you want to keep your instrument in the best working order then you need to ensure you have the right violin accessories.

Aside from the instrument and the bow there are a number of other items you can buy that can potentially affect the performance of the instrument. One way to ensure that you get the best sound from the instrument is to keep it stored in a solid case that can keep the instrument properly stored.

Another way to improve the sound of the instrument is by using rosin. Rosin is a kind of sap that is used to create additional grip or friction between the bow and the string. If you do not apply rosin it can be very clear to the listener as the instrument does not produce a lot of sound without it.

There are also a number of accessories you can use to change the sound of the instrument. For example there may be points in a piece where you want to play your violin a bit softer. One way to achieve this is to clip a mute to the bridge of your instrument. As you might have guessed this makes the sound of the instrument quieter, perfect for softer pieces of music.

Another thing that affects the sound quality of an instrument is a sap called rosin. This is used to change the amount of friction and grip between the bow and string. Without rosin a violin does not produce a lot of sound. You can get rosin in varying degrees of quality but the best will be mixed with precious metals such as gold and silver in order to get the best possible sound from your instrument.

One point of contention between violinists is whether or not to use a shoulder rest. There are some musicians who maintain that people should not use a shoulder rest. This is because they believe this separates the musician from their instrument and this means the music lacks that additional element of personal contact.

Other people say that a shoulder rest makes the musician more comfortable. This then means they are more likely to focus on their playing. Some people like to improvise their own from wood or sponge while others prefer a specifically fitted product. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer to this and it is purely about what you as a musician find comfortable.

There are numerous stores and websites that sell violin accessories. It is worth asking your tutor and other musicians to recommend the best products from the right retailers. This will make it easier to find the accessories that are best suited to your particular playing style and budget. Use your regular search engine to find out more, get feedback and compare what is available and appropriate for you and your instrument!




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