How to Choose Violin Strings for your violin?

This guide by Ultimate Violin Tools is here to help you choose violin strings that suits your violin. We may recommend some of the popular brands of strings, but that should not be the sole reason on which you base your decision.

There are no one type or one brand of strings that fits all. It is important to choose strings that suit your violin. Every violin sounds differently with different brands of strings. A brand of strings which may sound brilliant in one violin, may be dull in another.

Before choosing violin strings for your violin, let us look at what are the three types of violin strings that violinists usually use.

The Three Types of Violin Strings

There are basically three types of strings; Gut core, Synthetic core and Steel core violin strings. Let's see what are the differences between these three types of strings.

Gut core strings:

They are made of thin strands from sheep gut or intestines, and they usually have a richer and warmer sound than other types of strings. However, after being replaced, they require longer time to stretch and stabilized. Gut core strings are also sensitive to the environment and weather conditions, hence, require more tuning than synthetic strings.

As gut core strings require more stretch during tuning, fine tuners at tailpieces are not used. Gut core strings are preferred by professional violinists, due to its warm and rich tone. They cost 3 times more than synthetic core strings, but have one-third the lifespan.

Synthetic core strings:

They came into the musical world in the early 1970's, when Thomastik-Infeld produced his revolutionary Dominant strings, made from nylon perlon. They have the flexibility of gut core strings, but they are not as sensitive to the surrounding temperature and humidity.

Synthetic core string became popular and many experienced violinists have chosen them for their violins. Their pitches are much more stable, and posses warm sound qualities. Their tones and pitches stabilize fast after being replaced.

Steel core strings:

These strings are generally made from strand or strands of steel wire, and wrapped in thin metallic winding. The tone produced by steel core strings are direct, bright and simple. Their lifespans are quite long, and are least affected by the surrounding temperature and humidity.

Steel core strings are usually cheaper than other types of strings, due to the materials used and the manufactured process. Hence, steel core strings are recommended for beginners.

Popular Brands of Violin Strings

After you have understood the three types of strings violinists use, let's look at what are the famous violin strings out there in the market, so you can narrow down your choices, and choose the best-fitted strings for your instrument.

The following list is not meant to be exhaustive, but they are just recommendations of popular strings that are used by many violinists.

Synthetic core strings:

Thomastik-Infeld Dominants

Dominant strings have been the favourites among many experienced violinists. Their tones are brilliant and responsive, and they suits most instruments. They are also highly flexible, and cater specially for musicians who do not favour steel strings.

When new Dominant strings are installed, they tend to sound metallic and edgy, but they disappear after days of playing. The E string of the Dominant set doesn't seems to sound as well as the others, and many violin players have chosen to replace the E string, with Pirastro Gold Label E.

For experienced violin players, Dominant will be recommended when you choose violin strings. They provide good sound quality, and at reasonable price. And what's more, if you get it online, it will be much cheaper than you get it at local music retail shops.

Obligato

Obligato strings, among all the synthetic core strings, come closest to the quality of sound produced by gut core strings. But Wait! they are still not the direct substitutes for gut core strings.

Obligatos sound like Eudoxa gut strings, however, they are more brilliant and responsive. If your violin plays well with , you may want to try Obligato. Bright instruments also fit well with Obligato strings. A silver-wrapped D and a gold-plated E string is included in the set. Pirastro Obligato violin rosin is sometimes used to complement with these strings.

Pirastro Wondertone Solo

Pirastro Wondertone Solo strings are considered to possess the best string qualities of both Evah Pirazziand Obligato. They are exceptionally stable and they settle very quickly. Their tones are brilliant, focused, with powerful and direct projection. The old whistling E string has been improved significantly with enhanced tonality and playability.

Pirastro Aricore

Aricore strings are the first answers to Thomastik-Infeld Dominants. The strings have a warm, dark sound. However, it can be quite dull and dead on some instruments. To choose violin strings for violins that are harsh and shrill, Pirastro Aricore may be suitable, as they are only available in medium gauge. They can last long, and are quite stable in pitch.

Pirastro Tonica

Pirastro Tonica strings are also made to compete with Thomastik-Infeld Dominants. They possess many similar qualities of them, but they have more complexity, fullness and depth, and do not sound edgy and metallic when installed. However, they are not as bright as Dominants.

There are two types of E strings available from this set: one plain steel, and one with aluminum wrapping. The E string with the aluminum wrap would be preferred for violins that tend to squeak when open E is played.

Pirastro Evah Pirazzi

Evah Pirazzi strings have proved to be outstanding and powerful, and provide an overall complex and beautiful sound. Their tones can be considered exceptionally bright, and have a strong projection. Evah Pirazzi strings are also highly responsive and sensitive, and their break-in time is very short.

They last longer, and considered to be more durable than Dominants and Obligatos. Evah Pirazzis are also preferred and highly recommended by many professional violinists, like Joshua Bell, who used them on his Strad. They are preferred if you want to choose violin strings for great performances. Gut core strings:

Kaplan Golden Spiral

Kaplan Golden Spiral gut core strings by D'Addario, one of America's largest string makers, produce rich and warm sound. They tend to sound similar to Pirastro Gold label. The "Solo" version of it is much more preferred, as their tones are a bit more brilliant, and available in different gauges too. To choose violin strings that are great for both ensemble and solo playing, Kaplan Golden Spiral Solo would be recommended.

Pirastro Eudoxa

Pirastro Eudoxa strings, been in the market for quite a long time, have a warm, dark and full sound. However, they tend to respond slower. If you are looking for violin strings for new violins, Pirastro Eudoxa would not be recommended, as they will sound dull on the instrument. Instead, these strings sound the best, especially on old German and Italian violins. The Eudoxa rosin is specially made to complement the Eudoxa violin strings.

Pirastro Gold Label

Pirastro Gold, widely known as the Gold Label, has also been in the market for quite a long time. The most popular string in this set is the E string, which is highly rated for its high volume and full sound. The E string has also worked well with many violins, and often replaces the E string of other string sets. It come with 3 gauges, with a ball or loop end, and cost inexpensively.

Pirastro Oliv

Pirastro Oliv strings, being in the market for 40 years, they sound more brilliant than Eudoxa, and give a quick response than other gut strings. Precious metals- a gold alloy wrapping for the G, and a gold plated steel for the E- are used, and hence they are a little more expensive. If the instrument is right, the strings will fit well, and produce excellent sounds.

Steel core strings:

D’Addario Helicore

D'Addario Helicore steel core strings produce very warm sounds, and like all steel strings, they are very responsive. However, unlike others steel, they have a soft and comfortable feel below the fingers. D'Addario Helicore steel strings would probably be the best choice for electrical violins.

Pirastro Chromcor

Pirastro Chromcor strings are one of the lowest priced violin strings in the market. They have a bright, clean, and clear sound. They are popular in Europe, and will be a perfect match for anyone who plays jazz, fusion, new age, or bluegrass. Most violin teachers find Pirastro Chromcor strings useful for their students, especially for small student violins.

Identify your Violin Strings

Sometimes, we have troubles identifying the brand of the violin strings we use. However, there is a useful tool to help you identify:

Quinn Violin's String ID Search

Buying of Violin Strings

Violin strings can be bought easily from local music shops, as they will have many brands of strings for sale. However, many of the strings sold are highly overpriced, as the same brand of strings could be bought over the internet at relatively lower prices.

There are many reputable online music or retail shops which sell brand new strings, and some even provide free delivery if you live within an area. Delivery or shipping fees are applicable for some places, and goods will arrive within days.

Got your violin strings? Learn how to change violin strings here!