Violin

A violin is a stringed instrument with four strings that is most commonly tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family which also includes the viola and cello.

The violin is also sometimes called a fiddle regardless of the type of music played on it. The violin has ancient origins but acquired most of its modern features in 16th century Italy. It then had more modifications in the 18th century. Violin affecionados particularly prize the instruments made by the Gasparò da Salo, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona and Jacob Stainer in Austria.

A person who makes or repairs violins is called a luthier, or simply a violin maker. Violin parts are usually made from different types of wood (although electric violins may not be made of wood at all). Violins are generally strung with gut, nylone/steel composite or steel strings.

A violinist or fiddler is a person who plays the violin. The violinist can produce sound in a variety of ways. The most popular are by drawing a bow across one or more strings (which may be stopped by the fingers of the other hand to produce a full range of pitches) and by plucking the strings (with either hand). Musicians can play the violin in a wide variety of musical genres, including Baroque music, classical, jazz, folk music, pop-punk and rock and roll. The violin has come to be played in many non-western music cultures all over the world.