by Nick Somoski

Created on: December 31, 2010   Last Updated: January 01, 2011

Stringed instruments make up a large portion of orchestras and ensembles. To ensure that they are being played at the best quality, there are many accessories to accompany the instrument. Stringed instruments include violins, violas, cellos, and guitars. They are not limited to these though.

When participating in an orchestra or ensemble playing a stringed instrument, it is important to consider using certain accessories to maintain the best playing that can be achieved. The accessories for guitars and stringed instruments, such as violins, differ. It is important to observe how these different instruments are played to understand how each has different accessories. A guitar, banjo, or even a harp are played by plucking the strings. Violins or violas, however, are played by bowing the strings. Each method produces a different style of sound. To ensure that either type of sound is emitted at the best it can, there are different accessories to use.

While these methods, along with the accessories, can be used universally, there are specific accessories that are geared towards specific instrument. Violins, violas, cellos, and even stringed bass all tend to use the same types of accessories. To achieve the "bowing" method of playing, these instruments are best used with bows, and rosin.

Bow - Most stringed instruments; such as violins, violas, and cellos; use bows. A bow is used to emit the sound on these instruments. When it is moved across the strings, it produces a vibration which is then amplified by the body of the instrument. The bow is made out of wood, and has tightly bound horse hair on it. It is the horse hair, when taut, that is applied to the strings of the instrument to produce that sound.

Rosin - Rosin is used on violins, violas, cellos, and like instruments. It is a resin that comes from pines and other conifers. Because of the rosin's friction-increasing capacity, it is extensively used on the bows of stringed instruments to enhance sound production. To use rosin, it is important to scratch up the surface. Only when the surface is rough and grainy will the resin go on the horse hairs of the bow. A bar of rosin can easily be scratched up with a coin or some other hard object. The rosin, now with a powdery scratched surface, can be rubbed against the horse hairs, giving a substance to allow friction. This friction is what produces the sound when the bow is used.

Guitars, banjos, and even harps, however, need different accessories to achieve the plucking method. The main accessory used is the pick.

Pick - Most plucking instruments can be playing using the hand itself, to pluck the strings. Many people tend to use guitar picks though, to achieve specific tones. The pick is a small triangular object, usually made of plastic. It is used to strum the stings of a guitar, banjo, or any instrument of the like. Picks can be custom made so as to produce a specific unique sound.

Strings - The most important accessory for any stringed instrument are the string themselves. If any string is missing, or worn, the proper sound of the instrument cannot be successfully achieved. It is extremely important, for that reason, to care for strings and replace them when need be. There are many different brands of strings that differ in quality. It is the player's preference as to which is best.

Tuners - For all stringed instruments, it is important to have a tuner, and properly know how to use it. It could be a pitch fork, a pitch pipe, or even an electronic tuner. It is essential that the player knows how to replace a string on their instrument and how to tune the strings to keep the instrument sounding its best.

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