If you play a note without putting any fingers down, that’s playing an open string ie the notes of the violin strings without any fingers pressed down. The open strings on a violin are G, D, A and E, with E the highest sounding, thinnest string and G being the lowest, fattest string.
The Four Notes of a violin
- G string: The lowest, thickest string.
- D string: The next one up, lower in pitch than A.
- A string: The middle-high string, tuned right below E.
- E string: The highest, thinnest string
The Four Notes of a Viola or Cello
- C string: The lowest, thickest string.
- G string: The next one up, lower in pitch than A.
- D string: The middle-high string, tuned right below E.
- A string: The highest, thinnest string
The full length of the string vibrates freely giving it a loud and bright sound. An open string is shown in music using a small circle (o) above a note on standard musical staff notation
