A violin is a wooden string instrument that you play by drawing a bow (a stick strung with horsehair) across four strings stretched over its body. The violin produces sound when the bow's friction makes the strings vibrate, creating notes that can range from deep and mellow to bright and soaring.

Violins are surprisingly small instruments, about the size of your arm from shoulder to fingertip, yet they can fill an entire concert hall with sound. Players hold the violin under their chin and press their fingers on the strings to change the pitch while moving the bow with their other hand. This takes remarkable coordination and years of practice to master. Beginning violinists often produce squeaky, scratchy sounds before learning to create the instrument's characteristic, singing tone.

The violin family includes the slightly larger viola, the cello (which you play sitting down), and the enormous double bass. Together, these instruments form the string section of an orchestra. The violin plays a leading role in classical music, from the soaring melodies of Vivaldi's Four Seasons to modern film scores. Violins also feature prominently in folk music traditions worldwide, from Irish fiddle tunes to American bluegrass. In these contexts, people often call the instrument a fiddle, though it's the exact same instrument played in a different musical style.