How to Replace a bad Violin string and save cost

Hello steemians, in today post I will be teaching you how to easily change a broken or an old strings on your violin, don't be scared it is not as difficult as it might sound...and I bet you it would definitely save you extra cost.

Before rushing into the main aim of this post (how to change broken strings on a violin), Knowing the names of the different parts of the violin is very important not just for beginner only but for everyone who wish to play a violin, so that the player has a clear understanding of what parts they may need to retune or restring.

THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A VIOLIN

Image Source

1. The SCROLL

The scroll is located at the very top of the instrument just above the pegbox, it has a curl design, it's primarily aim is to add beauty to the instrument.

2. The TUNING PEGS / PEGBOX

The tuning pegs is located at the top of the instrument by the scroll.
Note: This is where the strings are attached at the top, the end of the string is inserted directly into a hole in the peg, which is then wound in order to tighten the string.

3. The NECK

It is the long wooden part located behind the fingerboard, it is the part of the violin that carries most of the stress of the strings, also it is the part in which the fingerboard is glued to.

4. The NUT

The nut act as the connector between the fingerboard and the peg box. The nut of a violin has four (4) grooves in it which the strings is fitted in so that they are properly spaced.
Note: if the strings are very loose, then you should probably check that the strings are fitted in the grooves at the nut (and at the bridge) before you start to tighten the strings.

5. The STRINGS

The string of a violin is primarily the major part of a violin, it is tuned G,D,A,E from lowest to highest. They help to bring out the lovely sound in a violin.

6. The FINGERBOARD

The fingerboard is found on the neck of a violin underneath the strings, it is a smooth black playing surface glued to the neck of the violin.

7. The BODY

The body of the violin is made of a variety of different woods, it is the body of the violin that amplifies/produces the sound in acoustic violins.

8. The BRIDGE

The Violin bridge comes in varying angles of curvature. The smaller the angle the easier it makes it to play two or three strings at the same time. Whereas more curved bridges make it easier to hit the right notes without scraping across a wrong string.

9. The F HOLES

The F Holes is use to direct out the sound wave from the body. While playing a violin direct the F holes towards your audience in order to allow the audience to experience the best sound possible.

10. The FINE TUNER

The Fine tuners can be located either on all four strings, or just the E string. The Fine tuners are essentially a screw that presses down a lever that then tightens the string fractionally. When a fine tuner reaches the end of the screw, it should be unscrewed completely and then the peg should be tightened before again using the fine tuner.

11. The Tailpiece/Endpin

The tailpiece is what the strings are attached to at the bottom of the instrument, closest to the players chin. The tailpiece is attached to the bottom of the instrument by the endpin or end button, a small button on the side of the violin that rubs against the players neck.

TOOL REQUIRED TO CHANGE A STRING OF A VIOLIN

The only equipment need to carry out this change it just:
A New string ( 1 string in the market is just 100naria only in Nigeria currency).

HOW TO CHANGE THE STRING OF A VIOLIN

STEP 1.

Remove the old string by twisting its tuning peg in cock wise direction in order to loosen it, and then pull the string out of the hole in the tuning peg. After that has been done, unhook the other end from the fine tuner.
Note: If there is no fine tuner, unhook it from its hole in the tailpiece. Ensure to only take one string off at a time because if you don't then your bridge, tail piece, and sound post can easily fall off.

STEP 2.

Fix the new string by Insert the ball-less end of the new string into the hole in the tuning peg, and then push it all the way through, so that about 2cm of it sticks out the other side.
After that, Bend this end back so that the string does not come out of the hole easily. Place the ball end of the string into its fine tuner or the hole in the tailpiece.

STEP 3

Ensure that the new string is in the proper notches in the bridge and the nut, and begin to tighten the new string with the tuning peg. Tighten it until it is approximately at the pitch it should be.

STEP 4

Continually check the bridge! Since you will be tightening the new strings a lot with the tuning pegs, your bridge will start to lean toward the fingerboard. Just straighten it out by gently pulling the top toward the tailpiece.

STEP 5

Stretch the new strings. After you have tuned your new strings, stretch them back and forth rapidly and vigorously (be careful when stretching so it won't damage the new strings).

STEP 6

Then, tune them again. You should notice that they have gone flat. This is because they have stretched. Repeat this process until they will not stretch anymore. This will make your instrument stay in tune much better.

STEP 7.

After completion of the above steps, you can now test if the new string on your violin is working fine and producing quality sound.

For a more detailed explanation watch the video BELOW

Conclusion

On completion of all the steps stated above, a very big congratulations, you have successfully change your broken or old string of a violin, you can now proceed to use this knowledge to make other changes if required.

NOTE: ALL IMAGES AND VIDEO USED IN THIS POST ARE ORIGINALLY MINE, ALL STATEMENT AND DEFINITIONS ARE GOTTEN FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF USING AND PLAYING A VIOLIN.