High pitch violin string

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srutishree91
Posts: 27
Joined: 06 Apr 2010, 06:56

High pitch violin string

Post by srutishree91 »

I'm looking for a "E" string that can be tuned to the high "Sa" on a sruti of G (ie, 5-kattai).

Any suggestions where such a string would be available ?

Thanks to all !!

raguanu
Posts: 94
Joined: 12 Oct 2008, 11:48

Re: High pitch violin string

Post by raguanu »

5 Kattai high Sa, G, is 3 semitones higher than E, for which the strings are designed to. You need a thinner gauge E string.

Depending on where you live, and if you can afford, some popular European and American string brands make thinner and thicker versions of strings. Have a look at D'Addario Helicore http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_helicoreviolin.shtml. Their regular 4/4 violin E string puts 18.6 lbs tension on the violin when tuned to E, whereas a light version of the same exerts only 16.8lbs pressure. You might be able to tune it to G but it's still going to be tight. Same case with any brand that manufactures strings targeted for western violin. It'd be interesting to see if a string for fractional violin or viola would work.

Karuna, the good old Indian brand, makes loose strings with specific thickness. Plain steel strings come in numbers 29 to 35. Higher the number, thinner the string is.

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35 is the thinnest, and probably you could tune it to G without breaking it. Many local stores don't stock such thin strings. Try and let us know if it works.

BTW, which A,D,G strings are you using and what are you tuning them to?

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