What are violin strings traditionally made of?

The secret of perfect strings was discovered by Italian craftsmen in the Middle Ages. They found out that the best strings were made of sheep's intestines. The myth of "cat's guts" was created in order to protect the fact from competitors. Actually, that protection worked really well: nobody dared to kill a cat because that crime was considered as an omen of misfortune.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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37 Comments

Mary Beth Miles

Violin strings were traditionally made that way. When I played my strings were always metal and it was a razor thin tightly wound metal. I broke a string once and it popped back against my hand creating an ugly cut. As innocent as I was when asked how I cut my hand I replied my g-string broke and sliced it. People looked at me funny.

Keith Richard Mears

Kenneth Traylor, the bow is traditionally strung with hairs from a horses tail, not the violin itself.

Susan Ludwig

Kenneth Traylor, the bow strings are horse tail

Julie Allen

Catgut is a type of cord that is prepared from the natural fibre found in the walls of animal intestines. Catgut makers usually use sheep or goat intestines, but occasionally use the intestines of cattle, hogs, horses, mules, or donkeys. Despite the name, catgut manufacturers do not use cat intestines.

Joseph A. Robitaille

First time I have heard it explained right to me.

John Manley

Kenneth Traylor, I think you will find the bow is horse hair.

Janette Will

Mary Beth Miles, I also remember my violin having metal strings.

Kenneth Traylor

Wrong answer. It is horse tail

Marguerite LaHaye

I've heard of violin strings referred to as "catgut" but my music teacher told me that no cats were harmed in the process of making violin strings.

anthonygriffin

That is very good information on the subject matter.

Bill Coe

This question is wrong on SO MANY levels. First of all, the question asks what they are "traditionally" made of. It should say "originally". Ane NONE of the answers are correct for what they are presently made of. Secondly, answer choices are cat's gut or sheep's intestine. And BOTH answers are correct. They WERE ORIGINALLY made of catgut which is actually sheep's intestine. Strings were first made of sheep's intestines (called "catgut"), stretched, dried and twisted. Modern strings are most commonly either a stranded synthetic core wound with various metals, or a steel core, which may be solid or stranded, often wound with various other metals.

Beau Shilkraut

Tricky. Sheep insteatines are called catgut.

debrarice

R-r-r-r-wrong‼️

Evelyn Forbes

I got it wrong! Larry Freeman, you're the first one I've heard mention the March tune, Under the Double Eagle, it was a tune I played while getting piano lessons, back in the forty's, and when I mention it now, no one knows it, you've brought back memories!