Playing on three or four strings at once?

Question

This is a violin question or perhaps any other stringed instrument, but how do they play on more than two strings at once?

I do play the violin; I have been for four years. I've just seen half notes with three notes rather than two.

Answer 1

Well, most of the time playing on three strings isn't written in the music. In 14 years of playing violin, I've definitely never seen any music with four strings used at the same time (to do so would be nearly impossible and it would definitely not make a nice sound ^_^) because of the arch of the bridge. Maybe you're referring to chords, which use three or four strings, but it involves moving the bow over the strings in an arc motion, playing two (possibly three if there's enough pressure on the bow) at a time. And it sounds like more strings than that.

Some instruments do allow you to play more than two strings at a time. The hardanger fiddle, for example (a Norwegian instrument), has a bridge that's more flat so you can play three strings at once.

Answer 2

AWA's answer is 100% correct. Because the bridge is arched that the strings go across is arched and the hair portion of the bow is basically flat a person cannot play more than 2 strings at a time on the violin, cello,bass , or viola; except when playing a chord the way AWA described it.

Answer 3

I play the violin and unfortunently I am not aware that there is a way to do that. I think it is impossible. I will update this tomorrow if I see otherwise b/c I know I violin teacher. Sorry.