1. String Family

2. Where do you think the String family got their name?

3. Four instruments of the String family:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

4. The Violin Most widely used instrument in the orchestra
Leader of the orchestra plays violin, and sits beside the conductor
4 strings (E A D G)
Made of wood
Can be played with a bow or plucked
(pizzicato)
It is the smallest, therefore the highest pitched.
First violins and second violins
Timbre: sharp and shrill, warm

5. Viola Listen to the viola What does it look like? How does it sound?
Second-smallest instrument
Often plays harmony
Does not play solo often
Timbre: warm, rich, round

6. Cello Listen to the cello
How would you describe the timbre of the cello?
Second-biggest string instrument
Plays harmony, but versatile solo instrument
Played with cellist sitting down
Timbre: Deep, warm, rich

7. Double Bass
Listen to the double bass. What animal does it remind you of?
It is the biggest (and lowest) string instrument
It is so big the player has to stand up!
It used to only be a harmony instrument,
but more composers are writing solos
Often used in jazz
Timbre: deep, dark, full. Can be hard to pick
out timbres because it is so low

8. Harp Not part of core string group Can add special effects
Sometimes plays solo
47 strings, 7 foot pedals
Played by plucking strings with both hands
Glissando – plucking all the strings in between
two notes
One of the oldest instruments
Timbre: light, bright, clear

9. String Instrument Recap
4 instruments
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
All instruments have 4 strings
All played using bow or pizzicato
The bigger the instrument, the lower the sound
Strings are at the front and centre of the orchestra
A string quartet is a group of 4 string players
usually 2 violins, a viola and a cello
How do you think the sound is made from the stings??