skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    On Air Now

    Alexander Armstrong 9am - 12pm

    Alexander Armstrong

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.9 in D minor Opus 125 (3) Ludwig Van Beethoven Download 'Symphony No.9 in D minor Opus 125 (3)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.9 in D minor Opus 125 (3) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    Listen
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Learning
    • Quizzes
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • More Classic FM

    How to make a violin: in pictures

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Turning a violin from a humble block of wood into the perfectly balanced instrument we are all so familiar with takes a superb craftsman. Sit back and admire their exquisite work.

    1. Violin Making - Antoni Ruschil

      1. The beginning: a choice of woods

      The different woods are chosen for what will eventually become a violin. Violin maker Antoni Ruschil, from London tells us: "The tonewood I choose for each instrument has to be of the very highest quality... There are many important factors to consider in the process including the age of the wood, cut, grain line, density, moisture content, reflection, resonance, speed of sound as well as the natural beauty of the piece." Picture: Antoni Ruschil

    2. Violin Making - measurements masters - Antoni Ruschil

      2. Making precise measurements

      The measurements are made, taking inspiration from past masters. Antoni Ruschil adds: "These guys were clever and drew on the beautiful principles of geometry, mathematics, physics and aesthetics... So perfect are these designs and ratios that I am still using them 450 years later". Picture: Antoni Ruschil

    3. Violin Making - tools - luthier Juan Carlos Soto

      3. Tools and preparation

      An array of tools in the workshop of master luthier Juan Carlos Soto in San Jose, Costa Rica. Picture: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

    4. Violin Making - gouges - Shehada Shalalda

      4. Gouging - creating the shape

      After more precise measurements are made, Shehada Shalalda carves out the piece using a series of gouges in order to give the violin its curved shape, known as the arching. Picture: Abbas Momani /AFP /Getty Images

    5. Violin Making - hand plane - Christophe Landon

      5. Precision shaving

      After gouging the shape, violin maker Christophe Landon uses a small Chinese hand plane to refine the back of the arching. Picture: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

    6. Violin Making - f-holes

      6. F-holes - sound and beauty

      Serbian violin maker Jovan Popovic measures the distance between the f-holes. These holes are an elaborate and essential feature of the instrument, allowing the sound to project more efficiently. Picture: AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

    7. Violin Making - Getty Images

      7. F-holes - precision cutting

      Mathias Menanteau, a French violin maker in Rome, cuts the f-holes using a sharp knife. The precision of this process requires a steady hand. Picture: Gabriel Bouys /AFP /Getty Images

    8. Violin Making - f-holes

      8. Inspection

      Mathias Menanteau inspects the symmetry of the f-holes, an essential aspect of sound projection. Picture: Gabriel Bouys /AFP /Getty Images

    9. Violin Making - purfling

      9. Purfling precision

      The decorative lined edges are known as 'purfling'. They are in fact 0.3mm thin strips of stained maple and pearwood, inlaid into the body of the violin. German Violin maker Stefan-Peter Greiner adds this precision detail to the edges around the ribs. Picture: DPA/ Press Association Images

    10. Violin Making - Fredy Montoya

      10. Measuring thickness

      Colombian luthier Fredy Montoya measures the thickness of the instrument. Picture: Raul Arboleda /AFP /Getty Images)

    11. Violin Making - scroll - japanese saw - Christophe Landon

      11. Carving the scroll

      The scroll is the decoratively carved end piece to the neck of the instrument. Its shape approximates that of a logarithmic spiral, and is an indication of a luthier's skill and craftsmanship. Violin maker Christophe Landon uses a Japanese saw to create the initial shape. Picture: Stan Honda /AFP /Getty Images

    12. Violin Making - Mathias Menanteau

      12. Perfecting the scroll

      Mathias Menanteau, a French violin maker, works on a violin scroll in an advanced stage of shaping in his workshop in Rome. Picture: Gabriel Buoys /AFP /Getty Images

    13. Violin Making - PA Photos

      13. Preparing for varnishing

      Once everything has been assembled, the violin is ready to be varnished. Here, Violin maker Walther Mahr displays a violin made purely from spruce, ready for varnishing. Traditionally made from both spruce and maple, these all-spruce versions are supposed produce an even better sound. Picture: Daniel Karmann/DPA/Press Association Images

    14. Violin Making - Varnish

      14. Cooking the varnish - a seven-day process

      The varnish is then prepared - a complex process over seven days. Here, Mathias Menanteau, a French violin maker, prepares the varnish in his workshop in Rome. According to some experts, the secret to the wonderful sound of Stradivarius violins, is the varnish the maker used. No-one has managed to recreate the recipe yet… Picture: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

    15. Violin Making - Antoni Ruschil

      15. Pre- and post-varnish stages

      Antoni Ruschil displays the instrument in the pre- and post-varnishing stages. He uses "resins and oil, refining and cooking the ingredients for a minimum of seven days consistently, finishing with a deep, rich varnish that will not only look beautiful, but will also enhance the sound of the instrument for centuries to come". Picture: Antoni Ruschil

    16. Violin Making - Matthias Vorbrodt - bridge

      16. Placing the bridge

      Luthier Matthias Vorbrodt puts the bridge on a violin in his workshop in Germany. The bridge is central to the violin’s performance. Antoni Ruschil told us: "Setting it is an exact art, as it must stand equidistant between the sound holes, determining the tension of the string and setting the height from the fingerboard. It's an important job for something that weighs 1.9 grams." Picture: Photo: Alexandra Koerner

    17. Violin Making - Shehada Shalalda - ramallah

      17. Setting up

      The process is nearing completion. Shehada Shalalda sets up a violin in his workshop in the West Bank city of Ramallah. This is a precise process, ensuring the instrument is able to produce the best sound it can. Picture: Abbas Momani /AFP /Getty Images

    18. Violin Making - Mathias Menanteau

      18. The finished instrument

      The instrument is complete and ready to be played. Who knows what it will be worth in 300 years' time?

    19. Violin Making - Strad Hammer 1707

      19. Stradivarius - The ideal

      And this is the ideal. The 'Hammer' Stradivarius, which was sold at auction in 2006 for US$3.54 million. Eighteenth-century Italians Antonio Stradivarius and Giuseppe Guarneri 'del Gesu' are considered to be the greatest violin makers in history. Their instruments are studied meticulously today, and used as models of the ideal Italian style of violin making. Picture: Stan Honda /AFP /Getty Images

    Facebook share Twitter share

    More From ClassicFM

    Incredible blind, autistic pianist Derek Paravicini can play any piece after hearing it once

    Meet the blind, autistic piano genius, who can play any piece after hearing it once

    £400m for struggling arts sector announced in Rishi Sunak’s 2021 budget

    Musicians still ‘falling through the gaps’ as £400m announced for struggling arts sector

    Coronavirus

    Beyoncé sings the US National Anthem in 2019

    When Beyoncé sang the US National Anthem a cappella to combat miming criticism. And absolutely nailed it.

    Videos

    This AI has reconstructed actual Rachmaninov playing his own piano piece

    This AI has reconstructed actual Rachmaninov playing his own piano piece

    Rachmaninov

    Beethoven Orchestra Bonn has been named as the first Goodwill Ambassador of UN Climate Change

    An orchestra has been named as the first Goodwill Ambassador of UN Climate Change

    Beethoven

    ‘Deep Nostalgia’ AI composers

    ‘Creepy’ new AI brings great classical composers to life with deepfakery

    Videos

    Latest instrument features

    ‘Musicians need to be able to make mistakes. Now they live online forever’ – organist Anna Lapwood

    ‘Young musicians need to be able to make mistakes. Now they live online forever’ – organist Anna Lapwood

    Violinist Nicola Benedetti has announced a new series of ‘With Nicky’

    ‘With Nicky’: Nicola Benedetti’s educational violin videos with practice tips, techniques and support

    Nicola Benedetti

    AI pianist plays ‘unplayable’ black MIDI music

    This AI pianist performed an 'unplayable' piano piece and it's terrifying

    Watch Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Gary Barlow perform a stunning pop/classical rendition of ‘Hallelujah’

    Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason joins singer Gary Barlow for a sensational duet on ‘Hallelujah’

    Sheku Kanneh-Mason

    Confounding child's clavier

    A music theory professor shared this keyboard. It raises many questions.

    More instruments

    See more More instruments

    Violin

    Violin

    Piano

    Piano

    Guitar

    Guitar

    Flute

    Flute

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • LBC News
    • handel
    • debussy
    • music theory
    • instruments
    • brahms
    • vivaldi
    • bach
    • tchaikovsky
    • chopin
    • andrea bocelli
    • beethoven
    • mozart
    • classical music tear jerkers
    • best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • classic fm requests
    • john suchet
    • piano world record
    • best pianists
    • harry potter music
    • classic fm app
    • saturday night at the movies
    • star wars soundtrack
    • best sopranos
    • best cellists
    • composer or pasta
    • music for studying
    • best violinists
    • sad music
    • composer birthdays
    • relaxing music

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2021
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager