Violin

Violin, smallest, most versatile member of the bowed, 4-stringed violin family (violin, viola, cello, double bass). Violins succeeded the viol in the 17th century, differing in their flexibility, range of tone and pitch, arched bridge, squarer shoulders, narrower body, and lack of frets. The violin proper, derived from the 16th-century arm viol, is tuned in fifths and ranges over 4 1/2 octaves above G below middle C. Perfected by the craftsmen of Cremona, it became a major solo instrument. The principal violinist leads the orchestra. Classical string quartets have 2 violins.