By Andre Geiger on 14 de Março de 2023
Violin, Violin and Cello

Stringed musical instruments are all those that emit sound primarily through the strings present in their body. The variety available in musical practice is great and each one has its own characteristics, according to its style and musical genre.

However, we can divide them into three groups according to the way this sound is produced, which are: plucked, rubbed and percussed string instruments. These classifications include the well-known guitar, violin and cello.

But, do you know the difference between them? The first, and most visible, is the amount of strings that each one has, but there are other particularities that influence the way of learning and how to play these instruments.

In this post, we will present some of them and talk a little about the characteristics of these instruments. Check it out below.

Guitar Characteristics
Considered a plucked string instrument, as the main way to extract the sound from the strings is with the fingers, pick or deira. In the world, it is known as acoustic or classical guitar. However, the term “guitar” became popular in Brazil because it resembled a large viola.

Commonly, it has 6 strings, but it can have more depending on the style intended by the musician. These strings are usually nylon, but can also be steel, and are numbered from the highest note to the lowest, bottom to top.

In general, the thinner the string, the higher the note produced by it. The guitar is a versatile instrument, which can be used from popular to classical music.

Next, let's compare it to the violin's differences. Keep reading.

Features of the Violin
Unlike the guitar, the violin is an instrument with fretted strings, as its sound is extracted with the aid of a bow that rubs the strings, and is considered the smallest and most acute of this instrumental group.

Generally, it has four strings, tuned from the highest to the lowest, and a timbre similar to the female soprano. However, it is possible to produce more velvety sounds if you change the way you play the instrument.

In this way, the musician can also extract sound from the instrument through pizzicato – a term that represents the technique of pinching the violin strings with the fingers, or by col legno – a technique of striking the strings with the wooden part of the bow, instead of rubbing them with the bristles.

Therefore, the violin can also be considered an eclectic instrument, having its main use in classical music, but making appearances in popular, folk and even rock music.

Another instrument that gets very familiar with the violin is the cello. Learn more about him below.

Features of the Cello
Also part of the family of bowed string instruments, the cello is very similar to the violin, but with larger proportions, which gives different characteristics to its sound and the way of playing it.

Generally, it consists of four strings, and its sound is capable of covering the entire male vocal range and a good part of the female vocal range.

Due to its size, the instrument is supported between the legs to be played and, to extract its sound, it is possible to either rub the strings with the bow or strum them, giving another characteristic to the music produced.

The cello is becoming increasingly popular, not only in orchestras and classical music concerts, but also in rock bands and other musical styles.

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