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How does a violin produce sound when its bow moves across a string?

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Watch a suspended vibrating spring to learn about the propagation of sound waves — sound Learn about the propagation of sound waves from a point source by observing the motion of a suspended vibrating spring.

A violin produces sound through the vibration of its strings, which is then amplified by the instrument's hollow wooden body.1

When a bow is drawn across a string, the friction between the bow hair—typically coated with rosin—and the string causes the string to vibrate. This friction is essential, as the powdered resin provides the necessary grip to set the string into motion.12

These vibrations are transmitted through the bridge to the violin’s top plate, or soundboard. Inside the instrument, the soundpost and bass bar help distribute these vibrations throughout the body. As the wooden body vibrates, it sets the surrounding air into motion, creating the sound that listeners hear. The resulting sound is complex, as the string vibrates in a fundamental pitch while simultaneously producing various overtones.13