What are the Instruments in a String Quartet?
A string quartet consists of two violins, a viola and a cello. These instruments are all built in a similar way, made of many pieces of wood which are glued together. The body of the instrument is hollow, creating a resonating box for the sound. Four strings made of animal gut, nylon or steel are wrapped around pegs at one end of the instrument and attached to a tailpiece at the other. They are stretched tightly across a bridge to produce their tones, or pitches. All are played with a bow. The violin is the smallest member of the string family and the highest in pitch. It is held under the chin, resting on the shoulder. The violin can be soft and expressive or exciting and brilliant. In a string quartet, there is a first violin and a second violin. The first violin has the melody most often, but there is often interplay between the two violinists.
