Hi Folks, this is probably but the stupidest question that`s been asked but is there violins made that are strung in the E-A-D-G pattern as opposed to the usual G-D-A-E pattern ? I am a guitarist (hey don`t laugh, it`s not like being a drummer ;-) and would like to buy a violin just to muck about and try some things. Being that I am so ingrained with the E-A-D-G-B-E mindset, I am initially interested in picking up an instrument with the low E string closest to my chin, and G one is furthest away from it. Do such beasts exists ? Kind regards from Sydney Australia, Glenn.

well now i play guitar also just recently i got a violin. i imagine you could switch the strings around any old way you want to kinda like making a righty a lefty. but i dont think you will have much of a problem with the strings the way they are supposed to be.

No they don`t exist. You`re thinking about a double bass.

Liz

Thanks for the reply folks - I thought it wasn`t possible. Is there any reason why I cannot tune the 4 strings to those notes ?

Actually, the viola da gamba and its viole cousins are 4th tuned, just as is the guitar. You could simply try treble viol instead of violin.

If you want to play a 4th tuned instrument under the chin (like a violin) then get a viola d`amore.

If you try to tune the violin strings to be spaced in 4ths, some will be too tight, and/or others way too loose. Let`s say you keep "a" the same, then the "e" would become a "d" which will work OK, especially if you are using a "stark" rather than "weich" guage e.

But next down, the d becomes an "e", which is too tight, and down fro mthat, the G would become a B which is waaaay too tight.

Conversely, you could keep the "g" and then your "d" would become a "c" which is ok but a bit loose (so use a "stark") but then up from there, your "a" would have to be an "f" which is really flabby loose---and above that, the "e" would be tuned to a bflat, which would be so loose and flabby that you would actually have to use an "a" string there and it would be a bit tight--so use a "weich".

For left handers the strings can be swaped around ...

you could switch the a and d string around, but im not sure it would be in your best interest: the a string is a lot higher than the d.

It wouldn`t be in your best interests - I accidentally strung my A as a D last week, and as I was tuning it, I could tell there was something wrong. Definitly didn`t sound right.