Q)   I usually hear that a violin is tuned to a perfect fifth .What is that ?

A)   Any two adjacent strings in a violin are tuned to an interval of perfect fifth .How to count the interval as five is when you count the lines or spaces that the two notes are on as well as all the lines or spaces in between.For example in the following figure, If you count each arrow between the note “a” ( the third note) and the note “e” (the last note) , the number of arrows comes to be five and so the number of interval will be five.

Just like an interval of five we have intervals of one(prime), second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, octave  which all comes under the category of "Simple intervals".

Perfect intervals are Primes, octaves, fourths, and fifths.  The intervals are named perfect because notes of a perfect interval sound very close and good together. Edly's Music Theory for Practical People by Ed Roseman (click for more information) tells you the basics of music theory in a concise and organised manner. It is easy to understand and presented with lots of fun. Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool For All Musicians and Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory are also highly  recommended for understanding more about theory of music .This comes along with a CDrom


Q)   Iam an adult and want to study violin . Everybody says that violin study should be started from childhood . What are my prospects ?

A)   ) It is never too late to begin studying violin or any instrument . There are some advantages being an adult beginner such as self motivation, better concentration, quick grasping due to higher mental and analytical skills and ability to practise for long hours .A highly motivated adult beginner can quickly catch up with a child. On the other hand the disadvantages include the difficulty to allocate time regularly for practise and physical disablities if any .However  it is to be noted that many people have successfully learned the violin even after retirement.


Q)   I am a beginner and am worried that my violin practice disturbs my neighbors .What can I do ?

A)   Dont worry .We have mutes for that . Refer mutes under the violin parts section.


Q) Whenever i play the "F" note on my E string i hear a Buzz sound. Why is that ?

A)   The buzz sound that is heard when we play on E string can be due to strings contacting each other in the pegbox. It could also be due to loose windings on any of the strings or a badly shaped nut. Take the violin to a violin shop or luthier to find out the exact reason for the buzz.


Q)   I have purchased my new violin. What is the best way to maintain it in good shape?

A)   Humidity and temperature are very critical for violin. Dry weather (less himidity) can cause cracks on the violin and high humidity can cause bubbles on the varnish. Ideal humidity would be 50-55% . You can get a hygrometer and place it inside the violin case to know the exact humidity.  

If the humidity is very less, you can use a dampit  inside the violin case to bring up the humidity. Planet Wave violin humidifier  - Click for more information - is a good inexpensive humidifier. Planet Waves Instrument humidifier with HTS   is a more expensive solution. This humidifier has an open-cell phenolic foam insert that slowly releases moisture as needed and doesn't shrink or deform to cause leakage  This is highly reccommended for anyone who can spend couple more dollars.  After playing always wipe off the left-over rosin from the violin belly using a soft cloth. Never touch the bow hair using your hands as the oil in your hands can harm the bow hair.


Q)  How should i rosin my bow ?

A)   Tighten the bow hair by turning the screw at the end of bow upto the point when the distance in the middle between the bow hair and the wood is about 1 cm. Take the rosin  and apply sand paper over  it to produce a slight rough surface .You can also scrape the surface of the rosin cake with a small knife to produce the same effect. Use long slow strokes from top to bottom of bow to evenly coat the rosin onto the bow. Tap the bow stick using your hand to remove any excess rosin from bow. Now you are ready to play.


Q)    I see that the height of the  strings above the fingerboard varies across violins. Is there an ideal height for the strings?

A)   The E string is usually 3.5 mm (.1 inch) above the end of the fingerboard, and the G string is usually 5 mm (.2 inches) above the end of the fingerboard.