STRINGED INSTRUMENTS 



high tones are fine, while the long wires which produce the low 

 tones are coarse. The shorter and finer the wire, the higher 

 the pitch of the tone produced ; the longer and coarser the 

 wire, the lower the pitch of the tone produced. 



The constant striking of the hammers against the strings 

 stretches and loosens them and alters their pitch; for this 

 reason each string is fastened to a screw which can be turned 

 so as to tighten the string or to loosen it if necessary. The 

 tuning of the piano is the adjustment of the strings so that each 

 shall produce a tone of the right pitch. When the strings are 

 tightened, the pitch rises ; when the strings are loosened, the 

 pitch falls. 



What has been said of the piano applies as well to the violin, 

 guitar, and mandolin. In the latter instruments the strings 

 are few in number, gen- 

 erally four, as against 

 eighty-eight in the piano ; 

 the hammer of the piano 

 is replaced in the violin 

 by the bow, and in the 

 guitar by the fingers ; 

 varying pitches on any 

 one string are obtained 

 by sliding a finger of the 

 left hand along the wire, 

 and thus altering its 

 length. 



Frequent tuning is nee- FlG - l * 6 - ~ Front view of an P en P iano - 

 essary, because the fine adjustments are easily disturbed. The 

 piano is the best protected of all the stringed instruments, 

 being inclosed by a heavy framework, even when in use. 



Strings and their tones. Fasten a violin string to a wooden 

 frame or box, as shown in Figure 147, stretching it by means 



