Frequently Asked Question

This document references numerous technical terms that may be unfamiliar to the novice violinist. Please reference the QuickStart Guide if you encounter any unfamiliar terms.

The eMedia My Starter Violin Pack you received should, after unpacking, have two protective foam pads straddling the bridge, like this:

If it looks like the above you can simply proceed as explained in the included QuickStart Guide which you can find along with the eMedia My Violin CD-ROM in the pouch of the violin case.

However, your violin might have shifted in transportation and look like this one:

Don’t worry if it looks like this, it’s not broken. It’s just that the foam pieces shook loose during transportation. We will explain what to do.

First, take the QuickStart Guide from the violin case pouch and place it so you can see the diagram of the violin and its parts. Next remove any tags that might be around the pegs. Do not pull any of the strings. Just find the bridge and the tailpiece if both came loose. With the violin on your lap, attach the small sling at the end of the tailpiece to the “button” of the violin:

If your chinrest overlaps the tailpiece, slide the sling through the opening created by the chinrest and attach it to the button.

Now look at the strings. Gently untangle them and find the thickest string. This is the G string. Do not pull it. It is attached to the first tuning peg on the left side of the frontal view of the violin head. Now, with the violin between your knees so you have both hands free, hold the G string with your right hand and with your left hand push the violin peg into the instrument by turning it a couple of turns. Now stretch the string gently and see if it reaches the fine tuners on the tailpiece. If not, release the peg just a bit, and insert the small metal ball at the end of the string into the middle of the first fine tuner slot, on your left:

Now turn the peg back to tighten the string so it lies in a straight line on the fingerboard from the notch in the nut to the G string fine tuner. Next find the thinnest string, which is the E string. Untangle it gently, do not pull, just hold it straight with your left hand. The string is attached to the first peg on your right side. With your right hand, turn the peg just enough to push it in. Guide the string through the first notch on the right side of the nut to the little metal ball at the end of the string and insert it into the E string fine tuner mechanism on your right. You may have to release the string a bit, but while turning always remember to push the pegs into the head of the instrument no matter which direction you go.

The E string should lie straight on the fingerboard, parallel to the G string on the other side.
Also check the tailpiece to see whether it is in the middle and straight. Now take the bridge. With the higher end of the bridge to your left, lie the bridge under the two strings, so that the notches on the bridge for the G and E strings are under these strings:

Gently lift the bridge into standing position so that the notches in the left and right f holes are in a line with the bridge and both strings are in their notches on the bridge and in a straight line over the fingerboard:

The bridge must be straight, not leaning backwards or forwards.

Next find the thicker of the two loose strings. It’s the D string and is attached to the second peg on your left side – the one above the G string peg. Follow all instructions for the G string, only now guide the string from its ridge in the nut over the bridge to the fine tuners. You may need a little more string to be able to insert the little ball into the D string fine tuner:

The only string left is the A string, which is attached to the tuning peg above the E string peg. Now follow the same instructions again, guiding the A string from its notch in the nut, over the bridge and to its fine tuner mechanism.

Now check everything out:

• The tailpiece should be firmly secured around the button and point straight ahead.
• The bridge must stand straight and be in line, equally distanced from the two f hole notches on the left and right.
• The strings should be securely fastened on the tuning pegs and run through their individual notches in the nut, through the notches on the bridge and to the fine tuners.
• The strings should be equally distanced from each other and run parallel to each other and the fingerboard.

Note that the bridge can be easily moved before tuning the instrument. After tuning you may have to release the strings a bit to move the bridge. Also, in case a string slips from its peg, just reinsert it through the little hole in the middle of its peg. It is best to pull the string out on the other side so you can wind it over itself, preventing it from slipping out again. (You may need tweezers to help you do this.)

Congratulations, you are done! Your instrument is ready to be tuned as per the instructions in the My Violin application.

Good luck and have fun!