- The main body of the violin, including the top (soundboard), back, ribs, and scroll, is made from tonewoods.
- Common wood types used for violins include spruce for the top and maple for the back, ribs, and neck.
- Other woods occasionally used include willow, poplar, and sycamore.
2. Ebony:
- The fingerboard, chin rest, endpin, and pegs are typically made from ebony, a dense and durable hardwood.
3. Strings:
- The four strings of the violin are made from different materials:
- The E string is made of steel.
- The A string is typically made of gut or synthetic material.
- The D string is made of gut or wound metal.
- The G string is wound with silver or other metals around a gut or synthetic core.
4. Bridge:
- The bridge, which supports the strings and transmits their vibrations to the soundboard, is usually made from maple.
5. Bow:
- The bow, used to draw across the strings and produce sound, consists of several parts:
- The stick is made from wood, typically pernambuco or Brazilwood.
- The frog is made from ebony, ivory, or other materials and holds the hair.
- The hair, traditionally made from horsehair, is tensioned and rosined to create friction against the strings.
6. Varnish:
- The violin's wooden components are often coated with varnish, typically containing ingredients like oil, resin, and alcohol.
- Varnish enhances the wood's appearance, provides protection, and affects the violin's tonal qualities.
7. Glue:
- Specialized glues, such as hide glue or fish glue, are used to hold the instrument's wooden components together.
Other minor materials used in violin construction include bone or plastic for the nut and saddle, metal alloys for the tailpiece and fine tuners, and whalebone or synthetic materials for the purfling (decorative inlay between the top and back).