The violin, the most commonly used member of the modern string family, is the highest-sounding instrument.
Its four strings are stretched over a high arched bridge that permits the playing of one or two strings at a time, as well as the nearly simultaneous sounding of three or four as chords.
The sound quality can be changed considerably by the place where the string is bowed. If bowed close to the bridge (sul ponticello) then the sound is brighter with more harmonic content. If bowed further from the bridge (sul tasto) then the sound is darker, more mellow with less harmonic content.