Whistling E String

Your Question:
I have a student who continues to occasionally "whistle" on her E string when playing double stops. We have changed the string with no improvement. I have watched her to be sure the bow is perpendicular to the string and not too close to either the bridge or the fingerboard, and yet it will still whistle on occasion. It doesn't happen every time, which is even more frustrating. Please help me diagnose this problem so I can help my student!

My Answer:
There is nothing more annoying than a whistling E string. My violin has a terrible whistle and playing fiddle tunes I play the open E string a lot. If you have determined that the problem is caused by bowing technique then it probably is the E string that you've chosen. What kind of E string is your student using? In addition, it is important to make sure that the violin is in good adjustment and that the notch for the E string at the nut and bridge are not too deep, and that the E string has proper fingerboard clearance.

I have two suggestions for clearing up this problem. You can try the Kaplan Solutions E string manufactured by D'Addario. It is a wound E string and specifically designed to get rid of the whistling E string problem. I've also had tremendous success with the Pirastro No. 1 -"The First Universal E String." It is a steel string wound with a tiny chrome steel wire, so thin that one cannot see that this string is a wound E string; the diameter of this string is almost as thin as a plain E string. This is the string that I use on my violin and it's hard to tell that this is a wound E string. To my ear it sounds as good as a plain steel E, which is my preferred E string. Please let me know if one of these solutions works for you.

Can I put a 3/4 Size E-string on a 1/2 size violin?

Question:
Can I put an E string meant for a 3/4 size on a 1/2 size violin? Will it work o.k.? Thanks for the form and the help.

My answer:
It is not a problem to put a 3/4 E string on a 1/2 size violin. It is done all the time.

Reply:
Thanks for answering , It's near amazing !..! The excitement one little string seem to cause.. . . . From kids freaking out to hair pulling to the point of to funny for type. Thanks again , from North of the Continental Divide.

How to Choose an E String for the Violin

Deciding which E string to use on the violin is a very individual choice. There are numerous E strings on the market and opinions will vary from player to player. This article will look at several popular brands and their characteristics.

There are many different types of E strings. They include plain steel, wound, gold plated, silvery steel, multilayer tin plated steel, chrome steel and plain gut.

Plain steel E strings are by far the most popular and preferred strings. They tend to give the truest sound with the most brilliant and clear overtones. A popular string currently is the Pirastro Wondertone Gold. It gives a clean and clear sound with even projection. The light or weich gauge Wondertone can also minimize wolf tones on the E string. If you are looking for a string with a little more color, the Jargar is an excellent choice. It adds more warmth to the sound and is popular amongst many violinists. Another great choices is the Westminster. The 27 1/2 gauge E is a high tension string and, on some instruments, it will open up the sound on all four strings. The Lenzner Goldbrokat has been used by violinists for many years. It is comparable to the Wondertone Gold E string and gives a clean and clear sound. However, Lenzners do not tend to last as long as Wondertones. Other good choices for a steel E include Corelli, Thomastik Dominant #129, Kaplan Golden Spiral, Prim, D'addario, Larsen and Hill, in addition to the many plain steel E strings by Pirastro.

The new generation steel E strings are plated with various alloys including silver, tin and chrome. Silvery steel strings are comparable to plain steel and can give a little more focus to the sound -- but at the cost of warmth. Pirastro manufactures these strings and they are sold as Evah Pirazzi, Wondertone Solo, and Passione. The tin plated E strings tend to have a more strident sound. Thomastik Vision uses tin plating. An excellent choice is the Pirastro No. 1 Universal E, which is chrome plated. This is a fantastic alternative to plain steel E strings, which can whistle. It retains the brilliance and clarity of plain steel -- with an easy response -- while eliminating the annoying whistle. This string is very good for violinists who suffer from hand perspiration.

Wound strings have been around for years. The two most popular wound strings are the Pirastro Eudoxa and the Thomastik Dominant #130. Both of these have a warm and rich sound, but lack the brilliance and clarity on harmonics and overtones. They tend to wear faster as the outer winding breaks down with use and perspiration -- thus leading to more frequent string changing. Hence, they are a poor choice for violinists with sweaty hands. Another popular wound E is the Kaplan Solutions, which is designed for violins that suffer from a whistling E. On many violins, they seem to make the sound seem somewhat dull.

Plain gut E strings are primarily used by baroque violin players. Since they lack an outer protective wrapping, they wear very quickly. They have a thin sound and generally sound nicer when the violin is tuned below A440. The Pirastro Chorda is the most popular of these. Gut strings are affected by temperature and humidity and require frequent tuning. As an organic product, they have a shelf life and require frequent changing.

Of the four strings on a violin, the E string is the least expensive. Thus, it is often possible to experiment with several options to find the one that best suits both your tastes and your instrument.

How to Choose Strings For Your Violin Or Fiddle

Now that you've practiced and practiced, you might be noticing that your strings are starting to sound false, or not in tune. Or, perhaps they are starting to unravel or sound "dull." If you have a fiddle contest or performance coming up, you should try to change your strings a week or two ahead of time to allow them to stretch and reach their full potential. How do you determine which strings to choose? There are numerous strings on the market at various price points.

There are three main types of strings.

1. Steel strings. These do not stretch much and can break in very quickly. They are usually the least expensive option. They can be difficult to tune because the core of the string is steel and is very sensitive to small changes in tension. It is a very good idea to have four fine tuners on your tailpiece if you choose to use the steel core variety. Steel strings can give a bright and edgy sound, with the exception of twisted brands, such as Helicore by D'Addario, which have a dark and warm sound. Other popular steel strings include domestic brands, such as Prelude by D'Addario and Supersensitive. There are some great imports as well, such as Pirastro Piranito and Chromcore, Thomastik Spirocore, Jargar and Prim.

2. Synthetic core strings. These are used by most violinists and fiddlers today and are moderately priced. Once they stabilize, they are capable of the warmest and richest sound of any string on the market. They are also unaffected by humidity. Thesy allow the musician to play into instrument, can have superb clarity, and allow for dynamic changes and nuances. They are usually available in three gauges -- light (weich), medium (mittel) and heavy (stark). The light gauge variety speak very quickly, have the least resistance and give a darker sound than the other gauges. The medium gauge variety are the standard used by most players. Heavy gauge strings can give a little more volume but tend to be more sluggish which, depending upon the instrument, might not be an advantage. Some popular brands include Pro Arte by D'Addario, Corelli Crystal and Alliance, Thomastik Dominant, Vision, Infeld Red & Blue, Pirastro Tonica, Obligato, Evah Pirazzi and Larsen.

3. Gut core strings. Gut strings tend to be the most expensive type and have been around since the beginning of the violin. They are made from sheep intestines. Over the years they became known as "cat gut" which is probably derived from the early instruments used in the 1600's, known as pocket violins, citterns or pochettes. These were instruments small enough for musicians to carry around in their pockets. The word "kit" likely arose from an abbreviation of the word "pocket" to "-cket" and consequentially "kit" or perhaps a shortened version of cittern. Available today are unwound, plain gut strings used mostly by baroque players and a variety wounded with varying metal alloys. Pirastro is a leading manufacturer of gut strings, which include Gold Label, Eudoxa, Oliv and Passione. The Golden Spiral brand are still a standard used by many violinists. Gut strings are affected by temperature and humidity. They are not as stable as the synthetic core variety, and require a lighter touch by the player, since they tend to "collapse" with heavy handed playing. Gut also has a shelf life. Since they are an animal product, they begin to deteriorate over time. They can make fiddle playing difficult given that most fiddle contests are held outside in all sorts of weather conditions.

There is no perfect string for all instruments. If you like the brand that you are accustomed to using, then stick with them. If you feel like experimenting I hope this guide will be helpful. Some violin shops will let you bring your fiddle in and audition different sets. Please keep in mind that this is an expensive proposition for the violin dealer as once the strings have been put on an instrument they can no longer sell them as new. Check with them first and if they are agreeable by all means make an appointment to do so.

How do I know when to replace a violin E string?

Sometimes if a string looks fine, it may be bad. Check the harmonics for clarity, also check the 5ths.

If an E string has discolored or the gold plating has warn off it is a good idea to replace it. I find that E strings generally need to be replaced sooner than the other strings. Packaged E strings do not have a shelf life unless they are several years old. I have seen old packaged E strings in old cases, that have rusted. Needless to say I would not want to use one, or at the very least get a tetanus shot first. Ha Ha

Of course, gut strings, even wound gut strings have a shelf life. Since they are an animal product they start to break down and deteriorate over time.

Need help selecting strings for a violin with a high arch that does not seem to like tension (like the failed experiment involving

Have you tried Pirastro Obligato, possibly in a light guage. The new formula Pirastro Tonicas seem to be fairly low tension as well. If you are looking for clarity in your sound Thomastik Vision in light guage could also work well.