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How to choose the strings
I am frequently asked to help players decide which brand of string they should use on their instrument. String choice is dictated by playing style and the instrument’s individual qualities and players budget. The best way to choose the right string combination for an instrument is to listen and consider what tonal qualities the player hears on the instrument with strings currently on the instrument. If the tonal quality does not satisfy and the player wants to have a warm, rich sound with many complex overtones he should use gut string. However, a string that works well on one instrument may not produce the best sound with another because the final sound is a result of the interaction between three variables: the instrument, the type of string and the player.
So which strings are the best? There are no one-size-fits-all answers. Each violin reacts differently to different brands of strings. One type of string may sound amazing on one instruments but sour, dull or too bright on another violin.
Synthetic core strings are by far the most popular type of strings, because they are more stable than fickle gut strings but have most of the tonal colors of gut strings. It is believed that Synthetic Core Strings have the warm sound qualities of gut, but are much more stable pitch. Gut core strings are regarded as having the best tone, but they need to be tuned more often and react to changes in the weather. Steel strings are generally for those who prefer the stable sound and wants them to last longer. Strings made of steel core have a direct, clear sound, and few overtones, although those that are wound can have more interesting overtones. They are much more stable in pitch than gut.
Though somebody choose strings from different brands it is not always recommended to less experienced players because of the different characteristics.
Topics: violin |