Violin Maintenance for Better Sound

Violin Maintenance: What You Can Do Yourself

Keeping your violin in top shape will help your violin produce the most beautiful resonant sound that it is capable of. Some aspects of violin maintenance are best left to a competent violin maker, but there are many things that you can easily do yourself to keep your instrument in top condition. Here’s how you can maintain your violin for a richer and more satisfying playing experience.

Monitor String Wear

Strings are the lifeline of the sound of your violin, and their condition can really affect your performance. Take a close look at your strings regularly for any signs of wear, such as notches, fraying, or discoloration. When any of these signs appear, it’s time to replace them. Old strings can result in a lifeless tone and may be more difficult to play. Get quality strings here: Polychord

Clean Strings After Each Practice

Rosin building up on your strings can give you a scratchy sound and will reduce the life of your strings. Every time you get done with practice, take a soft, clean cloth and run it down the strings. This simple habit will help prevent rosin buildup and corrosion, keeping your strings at their optimum.

Clean the Fingerboard

A clean fingerboard helps in smooth playing and prevents excessive building up of grime. Gently clean the fingerboard using a small amount of alcohol with a soft cloth. Be watchful not to spill any alcohol on the violin varnish because it does damage.

Adjust Fine Tuners and Tailpiece

Fine tuners and the tailpiece should not be loose or touching the wood of the violin. If the fine tuners are loose, it may cause rattling, and this would mean affecting the sound quality. Also, if the tailpiece is loose, it will cause unwanted vibrations. These should be fitted tightly in order to have a clear and clean sound.

Check Bridge Position

The bridge of your violin is an extremely critical part to the sound quality. It should be upright and correctly aligned with the fingerboard. Whilst this is usually a job for a violin maker, you ought to look at it often in case it has shifted out of place. Loosening the strings a little bit can make re-positioning of the bridge easier. Consult a violin maker if in doubt.

Clean the Bow Stick

Rosin dust may be deposited on the bow stick and reduce its performance. After playing, it is recommendable to wipe the bow stick with a dry cloth in order to remove the accumulated rosin. In this way, you will keep your bow in good condition for an even and smooth playing experience.

Use Enough Rosin

A well-rosined bow is necessary for a clear, solid sound. Before every rehearsal or practice session make sure that your bow has a good covering of rosin. If the bow is not “catching on” properly to the strings, you probably need another fine layer of rosin. Apply rosin also at the outer ends of the bow, at the frog and at the tip to enable smooth bow changes.

Polish the Varnish

This will help in maintaining the appearance and improve the violins resonance by removing dampening residue. Gently rub the varnish with a dry, soft cloth to remove fingerprints, rosin and dust. This helps preserve the finish of the instrument.

Dust Inside the Violin

Dusty areas in the violin body will deaden the tone. Fill it with a handful of raw uncooked rice and shake it around gently. The dust will be absorbed in the rice, which you can carefully pour out. Clean and cook the rice afterwards for a healthy diet. 🙂

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Extreme changes in temperature and humidity can damage your violin. Always keep the instrument in stable conditions away from sources of heat, cold drafts, and excess moisture. It will prevent warping, cracking and other forms of damage.

Store Your Violin Properly

When not in use, your violin should be stored in a quality case to protect it from dust, bumps, and changes in temperature. At home you should store the case in a safe, dry place to preserve your instrument.

Violin Maintenance: Violin Maker Tasks

With many of the violin maintenance tasks you can do yourself; there are some things only a professional should perform:

  • Check String Height (Action)

The string height or action affects the comfort in playing the violin. Strings which are too high will be hard to push down, and if too low, buzzing may occur. Periodically check the height of the strings at the fingerboard and let the violinmaker adjust the height to a comfortable level for playing if necessary.

  • Re-surfacing the fingerboard

Re-surfacing of the fingerboard is important to remove grooves, which can lead to buzzing noises and to ensure smooth playability.

  • Bridge and soundpost placement

Proper placement of the soundpost and bridge enables the best sound and response of a violin. The positioning of the soundpost requires special tools and a lot of experience. Check the bridge and soundpost position regularly with a violinmaker.

  • Open seams and cracks

Seams can open due to temperature and humidity changes and should only be glued back together with water-soluble hide glue. Professional repairs maintain the instrument’s structural integrity and ensure the best sound.

  • Bow rehair

Bow rehairs are to be done on a regular basis to maintain good sound and even pressure on the bow stick..A good violin bow rehair has an even spread and parallel hairs.

  • Nut inspection and adjustment

Check the grooves of the nut with a violinmaker to prevent damage on the strings and buzzing noises from improper shaped or sharp edged grooves.

Have fun practicing!

Simon Streuff Violin Teacher Join my course on sound production: Sound of the Violin.

Simon Streuff, Violinist and Violinteacher

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