Tuning pegsTapered wooden pegs, two each side, that wind the strings. Friction holds them in place.
FingerboardThe long board, usually ebony, that the player presses the strings against. It is glued to the neck.
G stringThe lowest and thickest string, tuned to the G below middle C.
BridgeA thin piece of carved maple that holds the strings up. It passes their vibration into the top. It stands between the f-holes' inner nicks.
F-holesThe two sound holes shaped like an italic f. Their inner nicks mark where the bridge stands.
TailpieceAnchors the strings at the bottom. It is held by the tailgut looped around the tailpin.
ChinrestA cupped rest where the player's jaw holds the violin. Fitted at the lower edge, left of the tailpiece.
Scroll, pegs and nut 1
NutA small ridge at the top of the fingerboard. It lifts the strings and spaces them.
The four strings 3
D stringTuned to D, a fifth above the G string.
A stringTuned to the A above middle C, a fifth above the D.
E stringThe highest and thinnest string. Tuned to E, a fifth above the A. It often carries the fine tuner.
The body 2
Upper boutsThe two rounded upper parts of the body, nearer the neck.
Lower boutsThe two rounded lower parts of the body, the widest.
Bridge, tailpiece and fittings 3
Fine tuner (adjuster)Makes tiny changes in pitch. A small screw and lever on the tailpiece. Often only the E string has one.
TailgutThe loop that holds the tailpiece to the tailpin.
Tailpin (end button)An ebony button fitted into the bottom block. The tailgut loops around it. Also called the end button.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. (1) Wikipedia, Violin, Construction and mechanics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin : a spruce top (soundboard, top plate, table or belly), maple ribs and back, neck, bridge, soundpost, four strings and an optional chinrest over the tailpiece or to its left; two upper bouts, two lower bouts, two C-bouts at the waist; purfling round the edge of the top against cracks; the ebony fingerboard on the neck; the nut; pegbox and scroll; tapered tuning pegs held by friction; the tailpiece anchored by the tailgut round the tailpin in the bottom block; a fine tuning lever on the E string; the bridge standing between the f-holes' inner nicks; strings G3, D4, A4, E5. (2) Yamaha Musical Instrument Guide, violin mechanism, https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/violin/mechanism/mechanism002.html : the scroll, the tuning pegs, the tailpiece and its adjusters (only the high E string usually has one). Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
The parts of a violin on one upright drawing, G string on the left. Start with the 8 main parts, then the scroll and pegs, the four strings, the body and the fittings.
Read the full guide
From the scroll down
The scroll crowns the pegbox, where four tuning pegs wind the strings. They cross the nut, run down the fingerboard and over the bridge to the tailpiece, whose tailgut loops round the tailpin at the bottom.
The body
The spruce top has two upper bouts, two C-bouts at the waist that leave room for the bow, and two lower bouts. The bridge stands between the f-holes, and the chinrest sits beside the tailpiece.
Read the strings from the viewer's left: G, D, A, E, the same order a player reads them from low to high.
Questions and answers
What are the four strings on a violin?
G, D, A and E, tuned in fifths. The G below middle C is the lowest, and the E string is the highest.
What is the chinrest on a violin for?
The player's jaw rests on it to hold the violin against the left shoulder. It fits at the lower edge, over the tailpiece or to its left.
What is the button at the bottom of a violin called?
The tailpin, or end button: an ebony button fitted into the bottom block. The tailgut loops round it to hold the tailpiece.
What does a fine tuner do on a violin?
It makes small changes in pitch with a screw on the tailpiece. Often only the E string has one, and the other strings are tuned with the pegs.