Home / Learning

The Anatomy of a Violin

Ever wonder about the anatomy of your violin? We have all the details right here for you!

This blog contains an instructional video that goes through the anatomy of a violin.

Then we go through each part of the violin with a matching diagram to help you get acquainted with your violin better.

Here is a quick video to get you acquainted with the violin.


Now we can go through each part of the violin and refer to the diagram below to match up the letters with the graphic. Enjoy!

A. Scroll: a beautifully carved spiral sometimes called the “Head.” One can tell much about the quality of an instrument by the care taken in carving its scroll. Revelle scrolls are elegantly carved in the style of the old Italian masters.

 

B. Pegbox: Located within the scroll, the pegbox contains the space and holes for pegs to fit inside. The pegbox on Revelle instruments is carefully carved to maximize ease of peg movement and structural stability.

 

C. Pegs: Most commonly made of Ebony, pegs are the pieces used to turn and tune the strings on a violin. Revelle pegs are carefully fitted to turn easily so that the strings tune without excess force.

 

D. Neck: The neck is one solid piece of maple attached to the scroll and pegbox, carved to create an easy surface for the player to shift up and down on. Revelle necks are carved precisely so as to minimize thickness and maximize ease of hand movement.

 

E. Fingerboard: The fingerboard is the ebony surface on which the player places their fingers and plays notes. Revelle fingerboards are carefully planed and smoothed to minimize undesirable buzzing.

 

F. Nut: The nut is a small piece of ebony located at the base of the pegbox, at the top of the fingerboard. The grooves in the nut allow the strings to pass over it. Revelle instruments have carefully carved grooves for the violin strings to pass over so they have minimal friction and won’t break easily.

 

G. Shoulder or upper bout: Carefully carved, allowing for a seamless transition to the instrument’s corners.

 

H. Ribs: Made from high quality maple.

 

I. Corners: Formed nicely to accommodate the purfling.

 

J. Middle bouts (or waist): Tastefully curved to accentuate the instrument’s edge.

 

K. Bottom bout: Its slightly wider form gives the instrument its beautiful shape.

 

L. End button (on cellos End pin): Holds the tail gut. Typically made out of high quality ebony. Revelle instruments have a sturdy button that firmly holds the tail gut in place.

 

M. Table or top: Made of spruce. All Revelle instrument tops are made from top quality spruce, the ideal wood for a balance of strength and flexibility. Raven The choice for a new musical generation.

 

N. F-holes: Elegantly carved mirror images of each other.

 

O. Purfling: All Revelle instruments are accented by delicate ebony purfling along the edges. This is preferable to painted purfling that comes standard with many student instruments.

 

P. Bridge: Made of maple to maximize resonance and tone. Lower end models: Come set up with a nicely arched Revelle bridge Higher end models: Come set up with a beautiful Despiau bridge

 

Q. Tailpiece: Strings are threaded through the tailpiece, sometimes attached to fine tuners to make tuning easier

 

R. Chinrest: Made of high quality ebony, rosewood, or boxwood.


S. Back: Made of maple, usually of two pieces glued together at the center. All Revelle backs are made from highly flamed maple, creating a perfect surface for tonal projection.

 

Below is a diagram to match up with the letters above.

 http://www.connollymusic.com/revelle/blog/the-anatomy-of-a-violin via @revellestrings

 

Download our Anatomy of a Violin Guide.  Keep it with you as you get acquainted. Click Here.