How to Make a Violin

Aren't the melodious notes emerging from the violin simply amazing? If you were wondering whether you could make this musical instrument yourself, let me tell you it is possible. Many violinists make their own violins and then play beautiful music on their home-made violin. If you wish to learn how to make a violin on your own, you can work under a violin maker to acquire the skills. Buying a good book on the art of violin-making might also be of great assistance to you. It will give you an idea about the parts and voice peripherals of the violin. You will also find instructions on making a violin and a violin bow. Here's some information on the things you need and instructions for making this musical instrument.

Things You Require

• Wood-maple and spruce
• Bridge
• Pegs
• Soundpost
• Tailpiece
• Fingerboard
• Strings
• Gouges
• Files
• Saw
• Glue
• Bending iron

Instructions for Making a Violin

• You must be wondering what kind of wood you would need for your violin. You would need to gather spruce and maple. The neck, back plate and ribs of a violin are made from maple wood. Spruce is used for making the front plate. You will need a block of wood that resembles the shape of the body of the violin. So, a block curved in that form, smaller spruce blocks, wedges of maple for the back and wedge of spruce for the front would be required for shaping your violin. For the ribs, you shall require several strips of maple veneer. The corners of the violin shall need support and that's where the small blocks carved from spruce will come in handy. These will keep the ribs intact.
• Since I mentioned wedges you might wonder how to prepare these. Now it's time to get the tools out. Saw them down, splitting into two making them only half as thick. Then you will need to glue them together at the end. Now this piece of wood represents a plate of wood that can be cut out for the front and the back plates. Follow this procedure for both front and back plates.
• Now get a gouge or file to shape the small spruce blocks. Once these are filed, you need to glue them to the block shaped holes in the edges of the curved form. These small blocks form the corners of the violin shape, so ensure that they follow the curves of the edges and are a good fit.
• Now, your next task involves the ribs. So, bend the maple veneers into the ribs. A household iron or bending iron would be needed to bend the veneers. Get ready to bend 6 parts. You will need 6 of these for filling in the space between the blocks in the top left and top right, bottom left and bottom right and middle right and middle left. Be cautious as you bend the strips and iron them. Put an object to keep the other end of the strip in place. Bend the strips for the middle just before you fit them in the form. It's time to glue these strips in the empty spaces between the blocks.
• Refer to a book for information about the measurements. Make a rough outline and carve out the shape using a saw. You need to be very meticulous. This might be time-consuming. File the edges for a neat look. Get the curves right and ensure that each plate has a flat bottom.
• As far as the edges are concerned, ensure that the thickness remains the same throughout. Work your way from the edges to the plate exterior and then the curve. You could use electric tools to cut the wood if other tools are slowing you down. Be ready to force out the insides of each plate and follow the contours of the exterior. Work this entire procedure with both front and back plates.
• Now use a hacksaw and drill to cut out the sound hole (F hole). This is an important step so make sure you do it right. Refer to a book in case of even a slightest confusion. A bass bar has to be inserted onto the front plate. For that, you have to fix a wooden bar in the interior section of the plate using some glue.
• Now the slim neck of your violin has to be carved out of wood. Make sure the surface is not rugged and you carve out the exact length. Miscalculations at this stage could mean all your efforts going down the drain.
• You would need your bending iron again. Maple strips would be glued to the upper and lower section of the interior of the ribs. Inner side of the blocks also need to be filed. You need filed blocks to fit in smoothly with the inner side of the ribs. Now you have created the support system for the front and back plates.
• Now that the ribs are done, you need to glue these to the top plate. From the front block of ribs and the top plate that you created, you will need to cut out a section to form a slot to place the neck. Now glue on the back plate.
• Now refer to the book to put on the sound post, tailpiece, fingerboard, pegs, bridge, and strings.

These were simple instructions that you can follow to make a violin on your own. Violin-making is an art that can be perfected if you are willing to put your heart and soul into it. You would also need to pay attention to minute details.