Straightening the bridge of your violin

MaintenancePractical knowledge

On a violin, the bridge is simply placed over the body of the instrument. It is held vertically by the tension of the strings. That is why, after changing the strings of your violin, it may tilt and will be no longer vertical in relation to the body of the violin. This slight inclination can also occur when you practice for hours.

In this tilted position, your violin will produce a sound of a lower quality than if the bridge was well positioned. It will not capture the vibration produced by the strings correctly. It must be straightened to ensure the best sound possible.

Straightening the bridge

The bridge must always be placed vertically to the body of the electric or classical violin.

straightening bridge

To check the position of the bridge, simply look at its position with the naked eye from above or from the side. If necessary, reposition the bridge by following the instructions below.

  • Put your electric violin flat down on the table and stand up to straighten the bridge. And, loose the strings slightly.
  • If you have not lubricated the ridges of your bridge for a long time, lubricate them lightly with a graphite bold pencil (of the 2B kind). This light lubrication will facilitate the repositioning of the bridge without forcing the strings.
  • Grab the top part of the bridge on both sides with both of your hands, between the thumb and forefinger.
  • Gently move the upper part of the bridge until you get a perfect verticality that is visible with the naked eye. To check the positioning of the bridge, stand sideways to view the body of the violin horizontally.
  • Finally, check that each string is rightly placed.

Straightening the bridge

To help you in the process of straightening the bridge, we shot a video that details each one of the steps mentioned above.

Tags: acoustic violin, electric violin, violin, violinist

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