The Violin or Fiddle |
(click an instrument to hear it play) |
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Is a small instrument with four strings which you hold under your chin and play with a bow. A bow is a wooden stick with horse hair stretched across it. The horse hair is rubbed with a sticky stuff called rosin to help it grip and pull the strings.
A fiddle is just another word for a violin. We usually think of someone playing folk music on the fiddle whereas we might call it a violin if they play classical music.
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The Mandolin |
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The mandolin is tuned like a violin but instead of using a bow the strings are plucked with a piece of plastic called a plectrum, or a pick. It has eight strings, twice as many as a violin.
Fortunately you don't need twice as many fingers to play it as the strings are in pairs, so you play two together.
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Old Italian mandolins (above) have a round back that can slide around on your belly when you play it. Most modern ones (right) have a flatter back and are easier to play standing up. The two types have slightly different sounds. See if you can hear a difference when you click on the pictures.
Just as the violin has a family (the violin, viola, 'cello and double bass) so does the mandolin. The names of these are the mandola, mandocello and mandobass.
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The Guitar |
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The guitar needs little introduction as it is the most popular instrument of all. It has six strings which are plucked with the fingers or a plectrum (pick).
Acoustic guitars have either nylon strings or steel strings. Electric guitars need an amplifier to be heard properly.
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The Banjo |
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It's really a drum with a neck and strings stretched across it.You can play it with a plectrum or with your fingers.
It is a loud instrument, but some players like to make it even louder by using metal fingerpicks. It originally came from Africa and was taken by slaves to America. It has a happy, 'plink plonk' sort of sound.
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The voice |
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Most people forget that their voice is a musical instrument, and the great thing is we've all got one.
So join in the choruses and help us out. If you find the words a bit difficult at first, try doing some actions. Many of the songs have choruses with great actions.
See if you can work them out.
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The Double Bass |
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This is the biggest member of the violin family and makes the lowest sound. It stands about two metres tall and can be played with a bow or plucked with fingers.
You can also slap the strings to give a drum-like beat.
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Hilary James & Simon Mayor
c/o Acoustics Records
PO Box 350, Reading RG6 7DQ, England
+44 (0)118 926 8615
send an email |
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