Bridge (instrument) facts for kids

For other meanings, see Bridge (disambiguation).

Two violin bridges. The one on the left is not yet finished.

A bridge on a string instrument is a small but very important part. It sits on the instrument's body and holds up the strings. The bridge helps send the vibrations from the strings to the main part of the instrument. This makes the sound loud enough for us to hear.

How Bridges Work on String Instruments

The Violin Family Bridge

Instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and double bass have bridges you can see easily. These bridges are made from a strong wood called hardwood. They are shaped like a small arch on top. This arch shape helps the musician play one string at a time without hitting the others.

The bottom parts, or "feet," of the bridge are carefully shaped. They fit perfectly onto the curved front of the instrument, which is sometimes called the "belly." What's interesting is that the bridge is not glued or fixed to the instrument. It stays in place only because the strings are pulled very tight. This tightness is called "tension."

The Role of the Soundpost

Inside the body of violin-family instruments, there is a small wooden stick called a soundpost. This soundpost also stays in place because of the tension from the strings and the bridge. The soundpost helps carry the vibrations from the top of the instrument to the back, making the sound richer and louder.

How Strings Vibrate

The part of the string that vibrates to make a musical note is the section between the bridge and where the musician presses their finger on the fingerboard. The other end of the string is attached to a part called the tailpiece.

Bridges on Other Instruments

This fixed guitar bridge and tailpiece assembly not only raises the strings above the sound board but it is also the place where they are attached to the instrument.

On a banjo, the bridge works in a similar way to those on violins. However, on a guitar, the bridge is usually fixed firmly to the instrument. The strings are then attached directly to this fixed bridge.

Some instruments even have bridges that can be moved. For example, the Japanese koto has a separate, movable bridge for each string. This allows musicians to change the pitch of each string by moving its bridge.

Images for kids

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  On a cello, the strings are attached to the tailpiece and are held above the soundboard by the bridge.

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  A violin bridge blank and a finished bridge.

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  A licensed Kahler vibrato system on a '87 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Note that the "whammy bar" lever is not attached in this photo.

See also

In Spanish: Puente (instrumento musical) para niños