Music - Orchestra Plan Layout - String Section

ORCHESTRA   

- instruments

The string section is the largest group in the orchestra and forms its core.

String Section  

The leading voice among the strings is the violin.
Violins, with 4 strings tuned in fifths,
 can play 2 or 3 notes simultaneously.

Orchestral violins are divided into 2 sections: “firsts” and “seconds”.

** First violins  (melody)  - demo
** Second violins  (harmony) 

** Violas  (the alto of the family, tuned a fifth below the violin) -  demo
** Cellos  (the tenor and bass of the family, tuned an octave below the viola) - demo  
** Double basses  (French or German bows) - demo

The size of the strings section can be expressed as, 

for example, 16-14-12-10-8.

They are primarily played with a bow. 

Some special bowing techniques:
* pizzicato (pluck) left-hand pizzicato
* tremolo
* harmonics
* col legno (with the wood)
* con sordino (mute)

But, like the harp, they can also by plucked.

** Harp  (47 strings and 7 pedals) - demo

Some other techniques to create special effects: 

* glissandos / glisses 

* harmonics