Music and Its Instruments

The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings. A violin is sometimes informally called a fiddle; the violin and the fiddle are the same instrument. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola, cello, and the string bass. These instruments are played with a bow. Slightly different bows, varying in weight and length, are used for the violin, viola, cello, and string bass.

The viola is also a string instrument played with a bow which serves as the middle voice of the violin family. People might mistake the viola for the violin because of their similarity in size, closeness in pitch range, and identical playing position, both rest on the left shoulder. However, the viola's timber sets it apart: its rich sonority is more full-bodied than the violin's, dark-toned and earthy. The viola's mellow voice is frequently used for playing inner harmonies, and it does not enjoy the wide solo repertoire or fame of the violin.

The cello is also a string instrument and a member of the violin family. The cello is popular in many capacities: as a solo instrument and also as a foundation of the modern orchestral sound. The timber of the cello is close to a person's singing voice. It is really good to show a lot of expression. The cello if bigger in size than the violin and viola. The cello is played sitting, with the knees apart and the instrument between them.

The string bass is the largest and lowest pitched bowed string instrument. It is used in genres such as jazz, blues, rock and roll, and others. As with most other string instruments, the double bass is played with a bow or by plucking the strings with the fingers. When playing this instrument, musicians have the option to either stand or sit while playing the instrument. When playing the string bass, there are two ways of holding the bow. Musicians have the choice to use the overhand grip or the German grip. The string bass bow is strung with white or black horsehair, or a combination of black and white as opposed to the customary white horsehair used on the bows of other string instruments.

The way musicians communicate with each other while playing is usually mentally and emotionally. Generally a member of the band, orchestra, or other type of musical group will give a sign to begin playing. This member might do so by looking at every member of the band, and taking a deep breath with a small jump. After this, every musician just plays by reading the his/her musical notes.

The way the different styles of music make me feel depend on a variety of things. It doesn't just depend on the sound and or beat. It depends of how I am feeling when I listen to a specific melody or song. I can make a melody or a song that evokes happiness to a sad melody or song. It might also depend of the thoughts it evokes in my mind. For instance, the “Feliz Navidad” melody makes me feel sad and melancholic because it reminds me that once again I wont spend Christmas with my mother and two little siblings. It makes me remember the happy times my family and I have spent Christmas together and, at the same time, the fact that every Christmas over the past 5 years have been lonely ones wishing to be together again as a family.

On the other hand, melodies such as “La Bamba” evoke a happy feeling for me because it doesn't make me remember of sad moments or evoke any other feelings. It only evokes happiness and makes me want to dance. The “Rock and Roll” melody also make me want to dance. In general, people have different opinions. However, my point is that almost always, songs don't necessarily evoke the feelings that the musician was trying to evoke. Every individual makes the feelings for every kind of music, song, and melody. It might also be that a certain style of music, song, and melody doesn't evoke anything to a person.

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