The violin is an instrument capable of a seemingly inexhaustible depth of expression in the hands of capable musicians. Jacob Augustus Otto says it holds pre-eminent rank amongst all instruments and “it may indeed be the perfect instrument, as by the peculiarity of its construction, the minutest gradation of tone can be produced upon it.” Its range and tonal quality bear resemblance to the human voice and when well played it most certainly sings.

The composition and construction of the violin bear a mystique rarely matched amongst musical craftsmanship or craftsmanship of any kind for that matter. The secrets of Antonio Stradivari and how he created such beautiful sounding instruments is still a mystery many strive to unlock and understand. Stradivari’s instruments today sell for multiple millions of dollars and are amongst the most prized collectors items of any kind.

Violin Luthiery or the craft of violin making is steeped in rich traditions and history. I hope to investigate this history and process in a series of post which will exam the processes and techniques of violin making.

To begin I think it is prudent to orient ourselves to the various components and component names of the instrument.

Scroll : The decorative carving at the end of the neck.  The scroll is most commonly carved as a rolled up sheet of parchment although many creative variations exist.

Pegbox : The pegbox houses the tuning pegs upon which the strings are wound. it is a hollowed box at the end of the neck.

Neck: Between the body of the violin and the pegboard it is set at a slight angle.

Fingerboard: Literally a board for the fingers to depress the strings.  Made of ebony on the best violins but often rosewood or some other hardwood.

Upper Bout: The top of the violin’s hourglass shape.

Waist: or C-bouts is the concave section between the upper and lower bouts which provides clearance for the bow.

Lower Bout: The bottom of the violins hourglass body.

F-Holes: carved in the shape of a scripted f the f holes allow the sound to come out of the resonating body.  F-Holes can noticeably influence the sound of the violin.

Bridge: A cut maple piece upon which the strings rest.  The bridge transmits the vibration of the strings to the resonating box of the body of the instrument.

Tail Piece: Anchors the strings to the lower bout.

Chinrest: a rest for the chin while playing.  A later development not found on early violins.

Sound Post: a dowel shaped post which sits inside the body of the violin below the treble foot of the bridge. Transmits vibrations between the top and back.

Bass Bar: not a component of early violins the bass bar is a bar of spruce glued to the under side of the top plate.  It strengthens the top plate against the pressure exerted by the strings on the left foot of the bridge.

Purfling: Purfling is the black line around the edge of the violin’s body.  It is a small sliver of wood inlaid into a carved channel and provides protection against edge cracks.

This video is provides a good discussion of the various parts of the violin.