Stringed instrument

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a bowed string instrument, which comprises a body (2) and a neck (1). The upper surface of the body (2) is a top plate (4). At the bottom of the top plate, a tailpiece is provided which is fixed to the bottom of the instrument. Strings (14) are provided in a tensioned state and are supported from below by a bridge between the tailpiece and the scroll (8) of the neck (1). The bowed string instrument according to the present invention comprises a tailpiece (16) adapted to hold the bottom portions of the strings (14). The tailpiece has a bow-shaped triangular shape and has a body of asymmetric shape made of multiple layers of material, and is rounded along the perimeter of its body. A hole (20) adapted to receive the string (14) is provided at the bottom corner (a) of the tailpiece and along an arcuate portion (9) extending between the two upper corners (b, c) of the tailpiece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The object of the present invention is a bowed string instrument, which includes a body and a neck. The upper surface of the body is a top plate. At the bottom of the top plate, a tailpiece is fixed to the bottom of the instrument. The strings are set in a tensioned state and are supported from below by a bridge between the tailpiece and the scroll of the neck. Background Art

[0002] There are currently various traditional bowed string instruments. Among the members of the violin family, the tailpiece is a component carved from ebony or rosewood, which is connected by string force to a button fixed to the lower endblock. In mandolins and some acoustic and electric guitars with metal strings, the component is made of metal and is tightened to the lower endblock or to the body of the instrument. In guitars, the tailpiece and the bridge are usually integrally implemented (as a single component), for example, in the case of classical guitars and flamenco guitars. In ancient plucked instruments and folk instruments, the (knotted) string bridge also forms the tailpiece.

[0003] The strings are the main sound - generating components of bowed string instruments.

[0004] The strings are thin and flexible ropes capable of vibrating transversely in a stretched state. They are usually made of animal gut, silk, plastic, or metal (the original meaning of the Hungarian word "húr" for string is "gut"). The sound characteristics of bowed string instruments are fundamentally determined by the strings, but they also depend on the structure of the instrument, because the sound generated by the strings is emitted by the body of the instrument.

[0005] The strings can be vibrated in various ways, including:

[0006] - Plucking (manually - using fingers - or applying a manual pick or mechanism, such as in the case of a harpsichord),

[0007] - Striking (applying a mechanism to strike, such as in a piano, or manually striking with a beater, such as in the case of a cimbalom),

[0008] - Friction (applying a bow, such as in the case of bowed string instruments, or applying a mechanism, such as in the case of a hurdy - gurdy),

[0009] - A special case where the vibration of the strings is caused by an air current (a aeolian harp).

[0010] On a string that emits a constant - pitched sound, standing waves are generated: the period time of the string's vibration is determined by the free length of the string. The magnitude or amplitude of the vibration determines the volume, while the frequency of the vibration determines the pitch of the generated sound. Other characteristics of the string (such as its material, thickness, etc. and the musician's touch on the string) affect the timbre. In the case of most musical instruments, the adjustment of the pitch of the sound emitted by the string ("tuning") is performed by changing the degree of tension of the string.

[0011] If a stretched string fixed at both ends deviates from its basic state at a given point, it assumes an elongated triangular shape, and after it is released, the corners of the triangle start to move along the string in two directions, running back and forth and reversing direction at the endpoints, while the string is "trying" to return to its basic state. It is important to note that the motion characteristics of the string depend to a large extent on the position of excitation, but this does not affect the sound frequency. In the case of plucking, the vibration weakens due to internal friction, but by applying a bow, the state characteristics of the plucked instant can be continuously maintained.

[0012] In order for a string to be suitable for musical use, i.e., to be able to emit musical sounds as long as possible, it must meet the following conditions:

[0013] - It must have sufficient tensile strength so that it can withstand the tension required for tuning.

[0014] - It must have sufficient flexibility so that it can truly act as a string rather than a flexible rod that vibrates.

[0015] - Thus, importantly, if the material is harder or more rigid (e.g., steel), it must have a sufficiently large aspect ratio, but for example, a silk string wound with a bronze cord will work with a relatively smaller aspect ratio.

[0016] - Its longitudinal mass distribution must be uniform. This does not exclude combinations of materials with different densities.

[0017] The earliest bowed string instruments were probably the so - called "idiochord" instruments. These instruments were made from various plant stalks by cutting longitudinal slits in the stalks and stretching the fiber bundles thus separated with small wedges at the ends. For example, the corn - stalk violin had such a construction.

[0018] The next stage of improvement was the heterochord and bow zither. In this instrument, strings made by twisting fibers composed of animal or plant raw materials are included, and the strings meet more stringent musical requirements.

[0019] During the improvement process of bowed string instruments, different materials have been available in various regions of the world for making strings: in the East, silk threads were used; in the horse cultures of Asian nomads, horsehair was used; in tropical regions, various plant fibers were used; and in the West, animal intestines ("gut strings") were mainly used for this purpose.

[0020] High-quality gut (sheep gut) strings are made from the intestines of sheep, goats, or lambs, but for more modest purposes, the intestines of calves, rabbits, or cats are also suitable. Intestines mainly consist of muscle fibers, which explains their extraordinary elasticity. After cleaning, bleaching, etc., the intestines are cut into thin strings, and then as many strings as needed are twisted together to form a string with the desired diameter, and then the string is dried, sanded, and polished.

[0021] For thousands of years, gut strings were the most common type of string. In the mid-20th century, gut strings began to be replaced by plastics. Nylon strings have a comparable sound quality to gut strings, and nylon strings are more durable.

[0022] Metal strings also have a long history: the main materials used to make them were once copper and bronze. Steel strings became widespread in the 19th century. They were first used for pianos and then for violins. In the 20th century, aluminum also became a material for making strings.

[0023] The violin is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family of bowed string instruments, having 4 strings, which are tuned in pure fifths. This family also includes the viola, the cello (or violoncello), and the double bass.

[0024] The lowest-pitched string is tuned to "little g", i.e., G 3 , followed by the "single D" (D 4 ), the "single A" (A 4 ), and the "double E" (E 5 ) strings.

[0025] Violin sheet music is usually notated in the violin key (or, in another term, the G key).

[0026] Due to the increasing requirements for the instrument, it has become one of the instruments that require the most complex expertise in instrument making. Careful manufacturing practices combined with the development of very refined instrument techniques result in a high-performance instrument whose virtuosity, dynamics, and tonal range exceed those of other bowed string instruments. The violin is probably the most popular of all bowed string instruments, but it is certainly also the most versatile and most beloved.

[0027] The modern violin evolved around the 15th century. Its main components are the ribs (sides), the arched top plate, the front and back plates, the neck that terminates in a scroll, the fingerboard, the tailpiece, the bridge, and the pegs. The shape and size of the violin, designed based on the golden ratio, have proven to be perfect, so much so that the same construction is still used today.

[0028] In the past 300 years, the shape, construction, and structural components of the violin have not changed substantially. Moreover, the composition of the adhesives used to assemble the components and the composition of the colorants and varnishes used for the surface treatment of the materials have also remained unchanged.

[0029] Reference Figure 1 Describe the construction of a traditional violin. The violin includes a body 2 that forms the resonant body of the instrument. Its function is to transmit the vibration of the strings and radiate the vibration of the strings as sound into the surrounding space. Viewed from the front, it has a distinctive hourglass shape, and its narrow "waist" allows the unhindered movement of the bow to sound any string.

[0030] The upper plate of the body 2 is the top plate 4, which is preferably composed of two spruce pieces that are cut "at the quarter" and assembled symmetrically in the middle and carved into a slightly arched shape. This is the component whose material, shape, thickness, and finish most affect the tone quality of the instrument. The bridge 13 is assembled against the top plate near the middle. The bridge is a particularly complex component suitable for transmitting the vibration of the strings 14 to the top plate. The so-called F-holes 10 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bridge 13. On the one hand, the F-holes are used to lighten the weight of the top plate to allow the bridge 13 to vibrate more freely. On the other hand, they are suitable for providing a certain degree of opening for the cavity of the resonator body (i.e., the body 2). The top plate 4 is strengthened on the inside by longitudinally extending bars (the so-called bass bars), which are arranged slightly asymmetrically under the bass strings.

[0031] Viewed from the back, the body 2 is terminated by a back plate 6, which has a similar construction to the top plate 4, except that it is made of a harder material, i.e., maple, and does not include holes or strengthening bars. It can be made integrally or by joining two symmetrical blocks (like the top plate 4).

[0032] The top plate 4 and the back plate are interconnected by ribs 5; due to the special shape of the violin, the ribs include six separate maple boards, which are bent into different shapes and fixed to each other by so-called blocks. On the inner sides of their two edges, there are so-called linings for increasing the adhesion surface area for attaching the top plate 4 and the back plate 6. The button 24 made of hardwood is connected to the lower end block, and the tailpiece 9 (which may optionally also include fine tuners) is suspended on the button 24. This member is adapted to fix the player-facing end of the strings.

[0033] The sound post of the violin (also known as also called "âme" in continental Europe) is a small cylindrical rod that is disposed inside the instrument and wedged between the top plate 4 and the back plate 6 approximately below the side of the bridge 13 that is below the high strings. It is not fixed by gluing so that its position can be adjusted using a special tool inserted through the F-hole 10. If it is removed, the instrument will be completely silent, but even moving it by one millimeter will cause a significant change in the sound quality. This member can be found in most bowed string instruments, and its main function is to convert the vibrations (almost parallel to the plane of the top plate 4) caused by the bow of the strings 14 into vibrations having a plane perpendicular to the plane of the top plate 4 so that they can be transmitted to the top plate 4 and transmitted by this top plate. This is achieved by the sound post in the following way: providing relatively firm support (pivot point) below one "foot" of the bridge 13 so that almost all of the vibration energy can be transmitted to the other "foot", and then the energy can be distributed over the entire top plate 4 through the bass bar.

[0034] The neck 1 is assembled to the upper end block of the body 2 slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body. It is made of maple and has a fingerboard 3 on its top surface that extends far above the top plate 4. At its other end, there is a pegbox 7, which has a tuning head in the shape of a scroll and a peg 12. Notes of different pitches are generated by the player by pressing the strings against the fingerboard 3, so the shape of the neck 1 is ergonomically adapted to the player's palm. The fingerboard 3 is made of ebony and has a slightly convex cross-section corresponding to the curvature of the bridge 13. The nut 11, which forms one vibrating end point of the strings 14, is provided at the far end of the fingerboard 3.

[0035] The tuning head terminating in a scroll carving can be considered as the "signature" of the luthier. With this in mind, in the case where the neck 1 of a valuable musical instrument has to be replaced, the tuning head is cut off from the original neck 1 and fitted onto the replacement. The strings extend from the nut 11 to the grooved recesses in the pegbox 7, where they are wound around the laterally inserted pegs 12. The latter are made of ebony or African blackwood by turning; importantly, they are fitted very precisely (using a tapered connection fit) into the holes of the said tuning head, since the precise tuning of the instrument depends on the quality of this fit. The conical shape is important for correctly securing the pegs.

[0036] As regards the materials used for manufacturing musical instruments, the top plate, bass bar, sound post, blocks and linings are made of wood from coniferous trees (i.e., spruce), while the back plate, ribs, neck, pegbox with scroll and bridge are made of semi-hard wood from deciduous trees (i.e., maple). Ebony is used for manufacturing the fingerboard since it withstands high loads and wear. The pegs, tailpiece, buttons and chinrest can be made of rosewood, boxwood, ebony or other exotic wood materials.

[0037] The strings of the musical instrument are placed between the tailpiece and the tuning head.

[0038] In Figure 2 is shown the construction of a conventional tailpiece 9 forming the lower attachment point of the strings 14. The tailpiece 9 was originally a small hard metal plate, in which four holes 15 were provided along the wider upper end, and small and narrow slits (not shown in the figure) were connected to the said holes. The holes 15 and slits - GDAE - adapted to receive the strings 14 were constructed relatively narrow to facilitate the installation and manipulation of the strings 14. The nut of the conventional tailpiece 9 includes an edge machined into a hemispherical shape. Importantly, all parts of the said tailpiece are rounded.

[0039] Over the centuries, the tailpiece has been modified many times. For example, such a modification was designed by Zahn, who tried to secure the upper end of the tailpiece and replace the slits with holes, thus fixing the strings passing through the said holes with knots.

[0040] His intention was to increase the resistance of the strings and achieve a regular vibration of the strings.

[0041] To fix the tailpiece 9 to the button, a thick string segment is usually applied (see O.P. Apain Bennewiti: A építés alapismeretei (The Making Essentials of Violins), Ernh Friedr Voight Kiadó 1892, reprinted in 1992 and privately published in Hungarian translation in 2004).

[0042] Numerous technical solutions have been proposed to further improve the string plate of bowed string instruments. Such solutions are disclosed in documents DE19515166 A1, EP0242221 A2, DE 29712635 U1, US 5883318, DE 2845241 A1, WO 2012 / 150616, and EP 0273499 A1.

[0043] Inventions EP 1,260,963 and HU 225,320 disclose a string plate that substantially maintains Figure 2 the shape of the string plate shown in. The string plate is equipped with a string plate body, on which a string holding mechanism is arranged, and the string holding mechanism includes a joining ring, and the joining ring forms a joining arch suitable for fixing the string plate to the instrument.

[0044] For easier operation, the body of the string plate includes an adjustment mechanism, which is suitable for adjusting the distance between the apex of the joining arch of the joined string and the string plate, and the adjustment mechanism can be operated from the direction of the lateral side of the string plate.

[0045] In the case of the string plate disclosed in document US2012 / 0285311, the openings suitable for receiving the strings are arranged along an asymmetric arc-shaped opening, and as a result, the strings have different lengths.

[0046] Document US2017 / 0278489 discloses a string plate mainly for plucked string instruments, and the string plate is constructed as a multi-layer hollow string plate, where the openings suitable for receiving the strings are arranged along an arc-shaped side.

[0047] The string tension is adjusted by applying tuning pegs.

[0048] Document US2003 / 0217633 discloses a string plate for a bowed string instrument, which is arranged on the top plate of the instrument, fixed to the top plate at the lower section of the instrument, and suitable for receiving the bottom part of the string. This known string plate can be considered a shorter variant of the traditional string plate, where the elongated foot part (the upper part of which includes holes for receiving the strings of the instrument) of the traditional string plate is omitted.

[0049] The known technical solutions have a complex structure on the one hand, and on the other hand, they are essentially variants of the traditional string plate, but do not significantly affect the sound of the instrument. Summary of the Invention

[0050] The object of the present invention is to provide a bowed string instrument including a tailpiece, which can eliminate the drawbacks of known technical solutions, provide easier operation and significantly improved, more pleasant sound.

[0051] The present invention is based on the recognition that by providing an arcuate configuration of the conventional elongated upper portion of the tailpiece adapted to receive the strings, and by fixing the strings to the upper portion of the tailpiece at different heights, the free movement of the resonator body and the strings can be improved, which makes the sound of the instrument more "responsive" because the resistance of the strings is greatly reduced and the string resonance becomes controllable, and, in addition, the operation (vibration) of the strings (which are stretched to different degrees) becomes more uniform, which greatly improves the sound of the instrument.

[0052] Another recognition of the present invention is that in the case of a bowed string instrument including the tailpiece of the present invention, the strings have different lengths and, due to the configuration of the tailpiece, their stretching is more uniform, so that the strings can sound more easily and have a more relaxed sound.

[0053] The object of the present invention has been achieved by providing a bowed string instrument including a body and a neck, the upper surface of the body being the top plate, a tailpiece fixed to the bottom of the instrument being provided at the bottom of the top plate, the strings being provided in a tensioned state and being supported from below by a bridge between the tailpiece and the scroll of the neck, the bowed string instrument including a tailpiece adapted to hold the bottom portions of the strings, having a bow-shaped triangular shape, having an asymmetrical-shaped body made of a multi-layer material and being rounded along the perimeter of its body, wherein holes adapted to fix the tailpiece to the bottom of the bowed string instrument are provided at the bottom corners, and holes adapted to receive the strings are provided along an arcuate portion extending between two upper corners of the tailpiece.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the bowed string instrument according to the present invention, the tailpiece is a multi-layer body formed by a core portion, at least one reinforcing layer adapted to define the core portion on both sides, and at least one covering layer adapted to define the reinforcing layer on both sides, wherein the core portion is made of at least one of the following wood materials: ebony, rosewood, afzelia, iroko, african padauk, red sandalwood, massaranduba, teak, red sandalwood, jatoba, merbau, african black walnut, wenge, african wenge, bigleaf maple, shorea, african mahogany, and the one or more reinforcing layers are made of at least one of the following materials: kevlar, carbon fabric, graphene.

[0055] In another preferred embodiment of the bowed string instrument according to the invention, there is an adhesion between the layers of the multi-layer body of the string plate, wherein the adhesion layer is formed by a cyanide-containing adhesive and / or a thermosetting resin adhesive.

[0056] In another preferred embodiment of the bowed string instrument according to the invention, the holes of the string plate adapted to receive the strings have a chamfered edge configuration.

[0057] In an advantageous embodiment of the bowed string instrument according to the invention, the function of the arc segment extending between the corners of the arc portion in the upper part of the bottom end of the string plate adapted to receive the string is defined by the function part defined by the following equation and values:

[0058] y = a + bx + cx 2 + dx 3 + ex 4 + fx 5

[0059] x ∈ [-12.96831103; 20.84428892]

[0060]

[0061] Another advantageous embodiment of the bowed string instrument according to the invention further includes one or more spacer members disposed between the bridge and the string plate and adapted to move up and down along the string, wherein the spacer member has a block configuration and a groove adapted to receive the string is formed in the side surface of the block.

[0062] The length values of the strings applicable to the bowed string instrument according to the invention are specified in Table I. Description of the Drawings

[0063] The bowed string instrument according to the invention and its string plate are explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0064] Figure 1 A front view (a) and a side view (b) of the bowed string instrument - violin - are shown, the bowed string instrument including a string plate known per se,

[0065] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 An enlarged view of the string plate shown in

[0066] Figure 3 A side view of the bowed string instrument - in particular, a violin - according to the invention is shown,

[0067] Figure 4 For Figure 3Partial front view of a stringed instrument

[0068] Figure 5 Is a perspective view of a string plate applicable to the stringed instrument according to the present invention

[0069] Figure 6 Shows according to Figure 5 Front view of the string plate

[0070] Figure 7 Shows according to Figure 5 Rear view of the string plate

[0071] Figure 8 Shows according to Figure 5 Top plan view of the string plate

[0072] Figure 9 Shows according to Figure 5 Bottom view of the string plate

[0073] Figure 10 Shows a view taken along section I-I according to Figure 5 of the string plate

[0074] Figure 11 Shows a curve describing the upper part of the string plate according to Figure 5 of the string plate

[0075] Figure 12 Shows a spacer member applicable to the stringed instrument according to the present invention, and

[0076] Figure 13 Is a side view of the spacer member according to Figure 12 of the spacer member Detailed description

[0077] Figure 3 Shows a side view of a stringed instrument (in this case a violin) according to the present invention

[0078] The construction of the stringed instrument according to the present invention is substantially the same as that of the traditional instrument shown in Figure 1 , that is, the construction of the main body 2 and the neck 3 has not been modified

[0079] The role of the bridge 13 has been taken over by the bridge 25. However, the construction of the string plate 16 located at the bottom of the instrument is completely different from the known technical solutions. The construction of the string plate 16 will be described in detail below

[0080] The string plate 16 is adapted to receive the bottom ends of the strings 14, and the string plate 16 is attached to the bottom of the instrument at a single point by the button 24

[0081] Figure 4 Shows according toFigure 3 Front view of a bowed string instrument, also showing the strings, wherein a spacer member 26 adapted to move up and down along the string 14 is provided at a portion between the string plate 16 and the bridge 25 for the purpose of eliminating unwanted out-of-tune sounds.

[0082] It should be noted that the spacer members 26 are only optionally included, i.e., they can be omitted.

[0083] Figure 5 The structure of the string plate 16 of the bowed string instrument according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view.

[0084] The string plate 16 is a body having a structure that widens upward, and the right upper end of the body, which is symmetrically shaped with respect to the axis 17, has a greater length. The string plate 16 is substantially a body having an asymmetrical bow-shaped triangular shape, with the corner c of the body being higher than the corner a, where the corners b and c are connected to each other by an arc portion 19 (see Figure 6 ). The arc portion 19 forms the upper side of the string plate 16.

[0085] Holes 18 are provided on the string plate above the bottom corner a of the string plate 16, and the bottom corner a is adapted to fix the string plate 16 to the bottom part of the bowed string instrument (e.g., a violin), i.e., to the button 24 of the bowed string instrument (see Figure 3 ).

[0086] It should be noted here that it is usually sufficient to fix the string plate 16 to the instrument through a single hole, but in some cases, an attachment using two holes can also be considered. Such an attachment can be achieved by using through holes or hidden holes.

[0087] Single-point attachment has a more favorable effect on the resonance of the instrument. In the case of two-point attachment, the above-mentioned resonance can be reduced, and as a result, the vibration of the lower segment of the string (below the bridge 25) will become more significant.

[0088] Along the arc portion 19 connecting the upper corners b and c of the string plate 16, four holes 20 are provided, and the four holes 20 are adapted to receive the strings (the latter are not shown in the figure, see Figure 6 ). The holes 20 have a beveled / chamfered edge structure.

[0089] The G string and the E string are respectively fixed in the holes 20 below the corner b and the holes 20 below the corner c, and the D string and the A string are fixed along both sides of the axis 17 along the arc portion 19 connecting the corners b and c.

[0090] At Figure 7In [the figure], a rear view of the tailpiece 16 of a stringed instrument according to the present invention is shown. It should be noted that if the characteristics of the instrument permit, the tailpiece 16 can also be attached to the instrument in this configuration. In this case, the G string and the E string are of course fixed respectively in the holes 20 located below the uppermost corner c of the tailpiece 16 and in the hole 20 located in the corner b.

[0091] In Figure 8 and Figure 9 the tailpiece 16 is shown in a top plan view and a bottom view respectively.

[0092] As can be seen in Figure 5-9 there are no sharp edges and corners along the side surfaces of the tailpiece 16, that is to say all the surfaces have a chamfered configuration. It should be noted that the tailpiece 16 can have a convex configuration or a flat configuration.

[0093] Figure 10 Shows a sectional view taken along the Figure 6 section I-I.

[0094] The tailpiece 16 is a solid body composed of multiple layers. Depending on the type of material used and the characteristics of the instrument, the number of layers is between 7 and 14.

[0095] In this embodiment, the tailpiece 16 is a violin tailpiece, where the tailpiece 16 is composed of the following layers: a core part 21, a reinforcing layer 22, and a covering layer 23, where the core part 21 is made of ebony. Both sides of the core part 21 are surrounded by corresponding reinforcing layers 22, which are preferably made of Kevlar. Each side of the reinforcing layer 22 is covered by two covering layers 23, which are made of ebony, mahogany, afzelia, iroko, african padauk, red sandalwood, massaranduba, teak, red sandalwood, jatoba, merbau, african black walnut, wenge, african wenge, bigleaf maple, shorea, african mahogany.

[0096] Carbon fabric and graphene can also be applied instead of the Kevlar reinforcing material.

[0097] Cyanide-containing adhesives and / or thermosetting resin adhesives can be applied to bond these layers together.

[0098] In the case of an instrument including the tailpiece 16, the tailpiece 16 is fixed to the button 24 at the bottom of the instrument at a single point, so that the tailpiece 16 can be tilted relative to the strings 14.

[0099] In the case of a violin, the axis of this tilt is parallel to the strings, while in the case of a double bass and a viola, the tilt angle is preferably 3.7°, and in the case of a cello, the tilt angle is preferably 7.8°.

[0100] This inclination has a beneficial effect on the sound of the musical instrument.

[0101] Figure 11 A curve showing a function (polynomial function) that describes an arc portion connecting points Y and Z of the bridge plate 16 is shown.

[0102] y = a + bx + cx 2 + dx 3 + ex 4 + fx 5

[0103] where

[0104] y = 0.000000000000000888 + 0.0163847606654536x + 0.0326450466094223x 2 +-0.000710668554553942x 3

[0105] +

[0106] + 0.000083073284331152x 4 +-0.000001250897129314x 5

[0107] x ∈ [-12.96831103; 2084428892]

[0108]

[0109] Second-order polynomial: (SSE = 0.547) x ∈ [0.53]

[0110] -0.00938455·x 2 + 0.52331792·x - 0.01674261

[0111] Third-order polynomial: (SSE = 0.403) x ∈ [0.53]

[0112] 3.97677664·10 -5 ·x 3 -1.25425892·10 -2 ·x 2 + 5.84860760·10 -1 ·x - 1.73194702·10 -1

[0113] Fourth-order polynomial: (SSE = 0.106) x ∈ [0.53]

[0114] y = (4.24340772·10 -6 )·x 4 -(4.07083511·10 -4 )·x 3 +(1.98383363·10 -3 )·x 2 +(4.39330062·10 -1 )·x-(3.13336927·10 -2 )

[0115] Fitting measurement points:

[0116] [x, y] = 0; 0 8; 3.3 18: 6.8 28: 7.3 38: 6.13 48: 3.12 53: 1.7

[0123] Obtain the part of the function that defines the value of the arcuate portion 19 through the values calculated for the fitting points (x, y).

[0124] It should be noted that the function describing the arcuate portion 19 is also a family of parametric functions.

[0125] Now return to the construction of the chord plate 16. As already mentioned, the chord plate 16 has no sharp corners or edges, and all its surfaces are chamfered; and, in order to make the layers that make it up "invisible" - like the bowed string instrument itself, see Figure 1 - Its outer part is provided with a covering, which can be made integral or can consist of a plurality of interconnected parts.

[0126] It should be noted here that, by default, the chord plate can be installed without a fine tuner, but it can also include a fine tuner if the characteristics of a given instrument require it.

[0127] For fine tuning and eliminating possible out-of-tune sounds, the bowed string instrument according to the present invention may further include a spacer member (or spacer members) 26, which is disposed between the strings 14 and can move up or down between the chord plate 16 and the bridge 25 (see Figure 4 ).

[0128] Can be observed in Figure 12 and 13 the construction of the spacer member 26.

[0129] The spacer member 26 is substantially a rectangular block member, in which a groove 27 adapted to receive the string 14 is formed in its side surface.

[0130] As can be seen from the construction of the string plate 16 for a bowed string instrument according to the present invention, different from the instrument equipped with a conventional string plate (see Figure 1 ), the strings have different lengths. The bottom section of the string (E string) fixed in the hole 20 at the corner C has the minimum length, but the lengths of some strings are different from those of the strings applied to the instrument with a conventional string plate.

[0131] This results in a significant difference in sound and makes the operation of the instrument easier.

[0132] It should be noted that although the construction of the instrument according to the present invention and the construction of the string plate for it are described with reference to the application of a conventional violin, the string plate can be applied to any other bowed string instrument, and the lengths of the strings vary according to the characteristics of the specific instrument.

[0133] The tuning arrangement of the strings on a bowed string instrument is as follows (from the thicker string to the thinner string):

[0134] - Violin: GDAE

[0135] - Viola: CGDA

[0136] - Cello: CGDA, or, in the case of a five-string baroque cello: CGDAE

[0137] - Double bass: EADG, or, in the case of a five-string double bass: EADGB

[0138] The string length values applied to the bowed string instrument including the string plate 16 according to the present invention are summarized in the following table:

[0139] Table I

[0140]

[0141]

[0142] The string plate for a bowed string instrument according to the present invention has the following advantages:

[0143] - It acts as a resonance control device,

[0144] - Through its application, a larger, more resonant sound and a wider tone range can be obtained,

[0145] - Although the tone decay time is not much longer compared to traditional tailpieces, a richer and more dynamic sound can be obtained by applying appropriate bowing techniques; it gives the impression that there are additional resonance "layers" available for sound formation,

[0146] - It makes daily instrument practice more enjoyable,

[0147] - The resistance of the semitones produced during instrument playing is reduced and becomes more uniform, thus allowing for greater volume differences,

[0148] - The vibration of the bottom string section (below the bridge) helps to form new frequency ranges; in addition, it makes the "wolf tone" (found on almost all high-quality bowed string instruments) manageable by reducing or completely eliminating its natural incompatible vibrations,

[0149] - Subjectively, the instrument is easier to play, which is first manifested in more flexible application of string pressure with the left hand, and in the case of the right hand (the hand that holds the bow), it is easier to use the bow to achieve string vibration,

[0150] - Vibrato (i.e., using the left hand of the player to periodically modify the pitch of the note being played) also becomes more dynamic - the spectral range of the vibrating note becomes wider - showing additional qualities never seen before, which opens up entirely new possibilities in sound production and can also lead to new directions in instrument practice,

[0151] - During the training of playing bowed string instruments, it makes it easier for students to tune the instrument (easier to hear).

[0152] List of reference numerals

[0153] 1 Fingerboard

[0154] 2 Body

[0155] 3 Fingerboard

[0156] 4 Top plate

[0157] 5 Rib

[0158] 6 Back plate

[0159] 7 Pegbox

[0160] 8 Scroll

[0161] 9 Tailpiece

[0162] 10 F - hole

[0163] 11 Nut

[0164] 12 Peg

[0165] 13 Bridge

[0166] 14 String

[0167] 15 Hole

[0168] 16 Tuning plate

[0169] 17 Axis

[0170] 18 Hole

[0171] 19 Arc part

[0172] 20 Hole

[0173] 21 Inner core part

[0174] 22 Reinforcement layer

[0175] 23 Cover layer

[0176] 24 Button

[0177] 25 Bridge

[0178] 26 Spacer member

[0179] 27 Groove

Claims

1. A stringed bowed instrument, comprising a body (2) and a neck (1), an upper surface of the body (2) being a top plate (4), at a bottom of the top plate, a tailpiece being fixed to a bottom of the instrument, strings (14) being provided in a tensioned state and being supported from below by a bridge between the tailpiece and a scroll (8) of the neck (1), characterized in that, the stringed bowed instrument comprises the tailpiece (16) adapted to hold a bottom portion of the strings (14), the tailpiece having an arcuate triangular shape and having a body of an asymmetrical shape made of multiple layers of material, and the tailpiece being rounded along a perimeter of its body, wherein holes (18) adapted to fix the tailpiece (16) to a bottom of the stringed bowed instrument are provided at bottom corners (a) of the tailpiece, wherein holes (20) adapted to receive the strings (14) are provided along an arcuate portion (19) extending between two upper corners (b, c) of the tailpiece, and the strings (14) have different lengths.

2. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, the multi-layered body of the tailpiece (16) is formed by a core portion (21), at least one reinforcing layer (22) adapted to define the core portion on both sides, and at least one covering layer (23) adapted to define the reinforcing layer (22) on both sides.

3. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that, the material of the core portion (21) of the tailpiece (16) of the stringed bowed instrument is at least one of the following wood materials: ebony, mahogany, afzelia, iroko, African padauk, red sandalwood, massaranduba, teak, red sandalwood, jatoba, merbau, African black walnut, wenge, African wenge, bigleaf maple, shorea, African mahogany.

4. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that, the material of one or more of the reinforcing layers of the tailpiece (16) is one of the following materials: Kevlar, carbon fabric, graphene.

5. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that, there is an adhesive connection between layers of the multi-layered body of the tailpiece (16).

6. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that, the adhesive connection between the adhered layers of the tailpiece (16) is formed by a cyanide-containing adhesive and / or a thermosetting resin adhesive.

7. The stringed bowed instrument according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, the holes (20) of the tailpiece (16) adapted to receive the strings have a chamfered beveled edge configuration.

8. The stringed bowed instrument according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, a function describing an arcuate segment extending between the upper corners (b, c) of the arcuate portion (19) at an upper portion of a bottom end of the tailpiece (16) adapted to receive the strings is a function portion defined by the following equations and values: y = a + bx + cx 2 + dx 3 + ex 4 + fx 5 9. The stringed bowed instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bowed string instrument further includes one or more spacer members disposed between the bridge (25) and the tailpiece (16) and adapted to move up and down along the strings (14).

10. The bowed string instrument according to claim 9, wherein, the one or more spacer members (26) have a block shape, and a groove (27) adapted to receive the string (14) is provided at one of the side surfaces of the spacer member (26).

11. A string for a bowed string instrument according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein, the string (14) disposed between the tailpiece (16) and the scroll (8) of the neck (1) of the instrument has a length as specified in Table I: Table I

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