小提(ti)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)由(you)30多(duo)個(ge)零件(jian)組(zu)成(cheng)。其(qi)主要構件(jian)有琴(qin)(qin)(qin)頭、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)身、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)頸、弦(xian)(xian)(xian)軸、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)馬(ma)、腮托、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)弓、面板(ban)(ban)、側板(ban)(ban)、音(yin)柱等。小提(ti)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)共有四(si)根弦(xian)(xian)(xian),分為:1弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(E弦(xian)(xian)(xian))、2弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(A弦(xian)(xian)(xian))、3弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(D弦(xian)(xian)(xian))和(he)4弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(G弦(xian)(xian)(xian))。小提(ti)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)身(共鳴箱)長約(yue)35.5厘米,由(you)具有弧度的(de)面板(ban)(ban)、背板(ban)(ban)和(he)側板(ban)(ban)粘合而成(cheng)。面板(ban)(ban)常用(yong)云杉制(zhi)作,質(zhi)地(di)較軟(ruan);背板(ban)(ban)和(he)側板(ban)(ban)用(yong)楓木(mu),質(zhi)地(di)較硬。琴(qin)(qin)(qin)頭、琴(qin)(qin)(qin)頸用(yong)整條楓木(mu),指板(ban)(ban)用(yong)烏木(mu)。小提(ti)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)的(de)音(yin)質(zhi)基本上取決于它(ta)的(de)木(mu)質(zhi)和(he)相應的(de)結(jie)構,取決于木(mu)材的(de)振動頻率和(he)它(ta)對弦(xian)(xian)(xian)振動的(de)反應。優質(zhi)琴(qin)(qin)(qin)能把發出的(de)每個(ge)聲音(yin)的(de)基音(yin)和(he)泛音(yin)都同樣(yang)靈(ling)敏地(di)傳播出去(qu)。
小(xiao)(xiao)提琴(qin)(qin)有(you)(you)琴(qin)(qin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)4根,原均為(wei)羊(yang)腸制的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)裸弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian),約從(cong)(cong)18世(shi)紀(ji)起(qi),低(di)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)G弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)常包以銀絲,使(shi)(shi)(shi)其反應靈敏。現代(dai)則將G、D、A3根弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)用纏金(jin)屬絲的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)羊(yang)腸弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)或鋼絲纏弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian),晚近(jin)也用尼龍弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)。E弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)改用鋼絲弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian),使(shi)(shi)(shi)其在高音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)區的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)色(se)更佳(jia)。小(xiao)(xiao)提琴(qin)(qin)制作成現代(dai)這(zhe)種(zhong)樣式,并非(fei)完全從(cong)(cong)形態美觀出發,而是有(you)(you)其音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)響(xiang)上(shang)和(he)演(yan)(yan)奏(zou)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)需(xu)要(yao)(yao)。小(xiao)(xiao)提琴(qin)(qin)面(mian)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)和(he)背(bei)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)有(you)(you)弧度,使(shi)(shi)(shi)其共(gong)鳴良好(hao),發音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)洪(hong)亮(liang);琴(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)腰身狹窄,便于(yu)演(yan)(yan)奏(zou)高把位(wei)和(he)低(di)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian);面(mian)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)和(he)背(bei)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)加嵌條,除(chu)防止木板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)開裂外,對琴(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)質(zhi)也起(qi)一定(ding)作用。面(mian)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)與背(bei)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)中間有(you)(you)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)柱(zhu)支撐,其位(wei)置變化對小(xiao)(xiao)提琴(qin)(qin)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)色(se)影響(xiang)明(ming)顯。面(mian)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)左下方粘低(di)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)梁(liang),既起(qi)加固作用,又具音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)響(xiang)作用。小(xiao)(xiao)提琴(qin)(qin)表面(mian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)油漆如太硬、太軟,或漆得(de)不(bu)勻(yun),都(dou)會(hui)有(you)(you)損于(yu)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)質(zhi)。當琴(qin)(qin)弓(gong)(gong)與琴(qin)(qin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)摩擦使(shi)(shi)(shi)琴(qin)(qin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong)時,通過(guo)琴(qin)(qin)馬引起(qi)面(mian)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong),又通過(guo)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)柱(zhu)使(shi)(shi)(shi)背(bei)板(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong),E弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong)較少,而G弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong)較大(da),從(cong)(cong)而使(shi)(shi)(shi)低(di)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)梁(liang)有(you)(you)更大(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong),并造成共(gong)鳴箱(xiang)振(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)動(dong)(dong)。能否使(shi)(shi)(shi)琴(qin)(qin)聲得(de)以充分發揮,取決于(yu)琴(qin)(qin)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)及其張力(li)、琴(qin)(qin)馬質(zhi)量、運弓(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)壓力(li)和(he)速度。要(yao)(yao)想把琴(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)各(ge)種(zhong)音(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)(yin)質(zhi)都(dou)表達出來,還要(yao)(yao)加上(shang)演(yan)(yan)奏(zou)者的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)弓(gong)(gong)法、指法和(he)揉(rou)弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)、彈弦(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)等(deng)演(yan)(yan)奏(zou)技巧。
琴弓(gong)(gong)作(zuo)為樂器的(de)附加物,最早出現在(zai)拜(bai)占庭帝國時代,但(dan)其價值就如(ru)平(ping)民老百姓一般(ban)身份低(di)下,究其原因是(shi)與彈撥方法所產生的(de)聲音(yin)相(xiang)比,運(yun)弓(gong)(gong)生成的(de)音(yin)質(zhi)實在(zai)是(shi)太(tai)弱。
小(xiao)提琴分電子小(xiao)提琴和木琴兩(liang)種(zhong),兩(liang)者發聲原理迥乎不同。
電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)與(yu)普通(tong)(tong)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)最主要(yao)的(de)(de)區別是(shi)電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)不(bu)(bu)用共(gong)(gong)鳴箱(xiang),不(bu)(bu)像普通(tong)(tong)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)一(yi)(yi)樣(yang)通(tong)(tong)過(guo)(guo)音(yin)柱(zhu)帶動(dong)共(gong)(gong)鳴箱(xiang)內(nei)的(de)(de)空氣振動(dong)發聲,所(suo)以(yi)(yi)(yi)弦的(de)(de)震動(dong)要(yao)靠(kao)琴(qin)(qin)弦根部下(xia)方的(de)(de)幾個(ge)磁拾(shi)(shi)音(yin)器(就像電(dian)(dian)吉(ji)他的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)樣(yang))拾(shi)(shi)取,然后通(tong)(tong)過(guo)(guo)音(yin)響放(fang)大。也可以(yi)(yi)(yi)使用耳(er)機,在練(lian)習(xi)時可以(yi)(yi)(yi)不(bu)(bu)影(ying)響他人。所(suo)以(yi)(yi)(yi)電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)共(gong)(gong)鳴箱(xiang)只是(shi)個(ge)擺(bai)設。電(dian)(dian)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)不(bu)(bu)插電(dian)(dian)也能(neng)拉(la)響,但那(nei)個(ge)聲音(yin)根本(ben)不(bu)(bu)像是(shi)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin),而且聲音(yin)極小(xiao)(xiao),就像蚊(wen)子(zi)(zi)叫。不(bu)(bu)少大一(yi)(yi)些的(de)(de)琴(qin)(qin)行(xing)都(dou)有(you)賣電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)小(xiao)(xiao)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin),一(yi)(yi)種是(shi)有(you)自己的(de)(de)共(gong)(gong)鳴體的(de)(de),和普通(tong)(tong)提(ti)(ti)琴(qin)(qin)外形相同,只不(bu)(bu)過(guo)(guo)多了一(yi)(yi)個(ge)拾(shi)(shi)音(yin)器,類似于(yu)吉(ji)他家(jia)族中(zhong)的(de)(de)箱(xiang)琴(qin)(qin);還有(you)一(yi)(yi)種是(shi)電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)調音(yin)共(gong)(gong)鳴的(de)(de),沒有(you)共(gong)(gong)鳴體,看上(shang)去(qu)是(shi)“鏤空”的(de)(de)那(nei)種,通(tong)(tong)過(guo)(guo)電(dian)(dian)子(zi)(zi)電(dian)(dian)路(lu)對微(wei)弱的(de)(de)振動(dong)進(jin)行(xing)拾(shi)(shi)取放(fang)大及調音(yin)。