Handbook Of Violin Playing - Online tutorial

A Tutorial For Classical Style Violin, full online instruction.

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	I 2	FIRST PART.
	Function of the Soundpost and the bass-bar. The soundpost, placed underneath the right foot of the bridge (a little way behind it) supports the upper table against the pressure of the strings upon the bridge, and the bass-bar serves a similar purpose under the left foot of the bridge. The sound post, by connecting the upper table with the back, sets the entire instrument into vibration, and by its help the sound waves radiate to all parts. Position of the Bridge The bridge must stand on the middle of the upper table so that both feet are in line with the nicks of the f holes. Through the forward pull of the strings, — in­creased during playing, — the bridge has a tendency to bend forward. To avoid this one must frequently watch, and pull it backward, yet keeping the feet in the same place. The bridge may be fixed sloping somewhat back­ward rather than forward.*
	* The quality of the wood in a bridge, — whether hard or soft, — and its thickness (according to Otto, its weight), materially affect the tone of a violin. Bridges as supplied by dealers are usually almost twice the proper thickness, to allow for rubbing down with sandpaper. The best bridges are the genuine "Aubert" (with the name stam­ped inside an oval); those with large and decided reddish mark­ings showing hard­ness of grain, and the less distinct markings a softer quality. When _J                                                     £               fitting a violin, a few of each should be tried, first cutting the feet to the approximate slope with a sharp penknife, then with a small piece of fine (No. o.) glass paper held steadily between the ff holes, rub the bridge to and fro over the glass paper between the notches of the ff holes, until, on removing the glass paper it is seen to fit perfectly, standing upright when the