Hi.

Just been trying to tune a violin, and I've broken the G string. Think I over tensioned it - sounded OK though! Having just discovered how expesive violin strings are (are they running some kind of razor blade scam?) I thought I'd ask how tight they should be? Mine seem to go from floopy-loose to snappy-tight with very little turning of the peg! I know this is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string, but any guidance would be appreciated.

Maybe the string wasn't moving freely over the bridge and nut - try using a soft pencil in the grooves. Also, if it goes from floppy to loose with little turning of the peg it sounds like a metal string, and you are better using fine tuners for these.

Or perhaps it was a really cheap and nasty string! I have never broken a G string.

i would probably use an electronic tuner to tune your strings - that way you dont over do it. You can get some from ebay from around £5 i think... hope this helps. And your pegs may not be specially fitted - i.e. when you turn ur pegs do you get a clicking sound? - because my pegs on my violin turn very smoothly without hearing the friction between the peg and the wood. But i would stick to using fine tuners too..

And another thing to think about when tuning a violin:

Always loosen a string before tightening it. Even if you tighten it a bit and then stop, intending to tighten again, slacken it a fraction first and then tighten it.

Mine end up quite tight...

Sorry, this is probably a very stupid , and unhelpful answer (from a non-violinist), but don't you just tighten it up until its in tune?

Not a stupid question at all, Sarah123.

Yes, you have to get the string to the right tension to be in tune. But you do it gently, 'cos violin strings are at pretty high tension anyway.

And if you tighten a string without slackening it first, you're more likely to jerk and snap it.

Whereas if you let it slacken first, it's more likely that you'll tighten it that bit extra smoothly and gently.

Back again!

Looks like it was the 'cheap & nasty' string explanation. Just been to my local music shop and got a new set of strings, and it's now successfully re-strung and in tune. Even sounds (fairly) like a violin! Comparing the two sets, the old ones really must be very cheap and very nasty. They are obviously not as well made as the new ones, and the new ones were the cheapest the shop had!

If I might make a small confession: this is my first experiment with a violin. My first instrument is a clarinet, but I've always had an urge to try strings so I've got myself a beginners violin to have an experiment with. Looks like it's going to be a bit trial and error (mostly error!).

Anyway, thanks for the advice.

The term we use is "Chinese cheesewire"

Ah - so there's dodgy violin strings too, like there's dodgy clarinet reeds? The new strings claim to be from London (or maybe that's just where the office is!). Anyway I'll take it to the practice rooms at work tomorrow and see how it goes. Don't think I'll inflict my first attempt at violin on the neighbours!