Parts of a Violin: Diagram, Sizes and Types
A violin is made of more than 70 parts. The main ones are the scroll, pegbox and pegs at the top; the neck and ebony fingerboard; the spruce top with two f-holes; the bridge, which holds up the four strings; the tailpiece with fine tuners; and the chinrest. Inside are the sound post and bass bar. A full-size violin body is 14 inches (356 mm) long.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US music words (measure, quarter note, eighth note, staff); the UK version uses bar, crotchet, quaver and stave. · UK version of this page
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Key facts
- More than 70 parts make up a complete violin.
- Woods: spruce top; maple back, ribs and neck; ebony fingerboard (and usually pegs and chinrest).
- The bridge is not glued: the pressure of the four strings holds it in place.
- Full-size (4/4) body: 356 mm (14 in). Smaller sizes: 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 (and 1/32).
- A violin bow is about 75 cm (30 in) long and weighs about 60 g; its hair is horsehair, rubbed with rosin.
- Four strings, G3 D4 A4 E5. Some fiddles and electric violins add a fifth, lower C string.
Try it: the labeled violin diagram
Press a part to find it on the diagram and read what it does. Self-assessed Cover the list and point to each part on your own violin.
Everything on this page runs in your browser. Nothing you press or type is saved or sent.
What are the parts of a violin?
From top to bottom: scroll, pegbox, pegs, nut, neck, fingerboard, strings, top with two f-holes, bridge, fine tuners, tailpiece, chinrest and end button. The sides are the ribs, and inside are the sound post and bass bar.
| Part | Where it is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Scroll | Very top | The carved spiral at the top of the violin. It is decoration and shows the maker’s skill. |
| Pegbox | Below the scroll | The open box below the scroll that holds the four pegs and the ends of the strings. |
| Pegs | Through the pegbox | Four tuning pegs, usually ebony. Turn them for big changes in pitch. |
| Nut | Top of the fingerboard | The small ridge at the top of the fingerboard. The strings vibrate from here to the bridge. |
| Neck | Under the fingerboard, top half | The part your left hand holds, usually maple. |
| Fingerboard | Neck to the middle of the top | The long black ebony strip under the strings. Your fingers press the strings down onto it. |
| Strings | Pegbox to tailpiece | Four strings: G, D, A and E, tuned in fifths. |
| Top (belly) | Front of the body | The front of the body, made of spruce. It vibrates and makes most of the sound. |
| F-holes | Either side of the bridge | The two f-shaped sound holes either side of the bridge. They let the body vibrate freely. |
| Bridge | Middle of the top | The thin wooden piece that holds the strings up and passes their vibrations to the top. String pressure holds it in place. |
| Fine tuners | On the tailpiece | Small screws on the tailpiece for small changes in pitch. |
| Tailpiece | Lower part of the top | Holds the lower ends of the strings. A loop round the end button holds it. |
| Chinrest | Left of the tailpiece | Where your jaw rests, on the left of the tailpiece as you play. |
| End button | Bottom edge | The small knob at the bottom that the tailpiece loop hooks over. |
| Ribs | Sides of the body | Curved maple strips that join the top and back. |
| Back | Rear of the body | Arched maple, in one or two pieces. |
| Purfling | Around the edges | Inlaid strips that decorate the edge and help stop cracks. |
| Sound post | Inside, near the bridge | A small wooden column linking the top and back. |
| Bass bar | Inside, under the G string | A strip of wood that strengthens the top and helps the low notes. |
What does the bridge on a violin do?
The bridge holds the strings up off the fingerboard and passes their vibrations into the top of the violin. Its curve lets the bow play one string at a time. It is held in place only by string pressure.
Check your bridge every few weeks: it should stand straight, at right angles to the top, with its feet in line with the notches of the f-holes. Tuning slowly pulls the top of the bridge towards the fingerboard, so ask a teacher or shop to show you how to straighten it.
What size violin do I need?
Stretch the left arm straight out and take the length from the shoulder to the middle of the palm. Over about 60 cm (23.5 in) needs a full-size (4/4) violin; most children aged about 7–11 play 3/4. Use the size finder below.
| Size | Arm length | Typical age | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 (full size) | Over 60 cm (23.5 in) | Adults and teenagers | 35.5 cm (14 in) |
| 3/4 | 56–60 cm (22–23.5 in) | About 7–11 | 33.5 cm (13 in) |
| 1/2 | 50–57 cm (19.5–22.5 in) | About 6–9 | 32 cm (12.5 in) |
| 1/4 | 44.5–51 cm (17.5–20 in) | About 5–8 | 28 cm (11 in) |
| 1/8 | 42–44.5 cm (16.5–17.5 in) | About 4–7 | 25.5 cm (10 in) |
| 1/16 | 34–43 cm (13.5–17 in) | About 3–5 | 23 cm (9 in) |
Violin size finder
The test that matters most: with the violin under your chin and your arm comfortably bent, your fingers should wrap round the scroll. Between sizes, choose the smaller one.
What wood are violins made of?
The top is spruce, a light softwood that vibrates well. The back, ribs and neck are usually maple, which is hard and often flamed. The fingerboard is ebony, and the pegs, chinrest and end button are usually ebony too.
What types of violin are there?
The main types are the acoustic violin, in fractional sizes from 1/32 to 4/4; the electric violin, which needs an amplifier and sometimes has five strings; and the fiddle, which is a violin set up for folk music.
- Acoustic violin: the standard instrument, with a hollow wooden body.
- Fractional violins: smaller sizes for children – the same instrument, scaled down.
- Electric violin: a pickup instead of (or as well as) a hollow body; some add a low C string.
- Fiddle: the same violin, often with a flatter bridge and steel strings. See fiddle vs violin.
The violin bow
A violin bow is about 75 cm (30 in) long and weighs about 60 g. Its hair is traditionally horsehair, tightened with a screw at the frog (the end you hold) and rubbed with rosin so it grips the strings. Loosen the hair after every practice.
Classfern’s free violin tools on lessonplanner.info run in your browser. Find every note on the violin finger chart.
Quick quiz: parts of the violin
Six questions on parts, woods and sizes. Marked by Classfern Your score stays in this browser.
More music tools
Spotted a copyright problem with any music here? Report a copyright problem and we will check it quickly.