| There are many choices of violin strings available | | | | Although gut-core strings have the traditional |
| on the market and choosing one can be difficult. | | | | sound most violinists desire, they can be affected |
| Thomastik-Infeld is a string-maker founded by | | | | by temperature or humidity changes. Tuning |
| Franz Thomastik and Otto Infeld in 1919. They | | | | issues aside, gut-core strings are notoriously slow |
| were the original creators of the steel-core string, | | | | to respond. Dominant's synthetic fibers allow the |
| which gave musicians a new option rather than | | | | string to sound warmer than steel while keeping |
| gut strings. | | | | stability. Like steel-core strings, they hold tuning |
| Until about 1970, these two options were the only | | | | and fare better in humidity changes. |
| ones available to violinists. Then, Thomastik-Infeld | | | | Many musicians of varying skill levels use |
| revolutionized the industry by creating synthetic | | | | Dominant strings. Their adaptability has made |
| strings. These synthetic strings have had time to | | | | them one of the most popular string brands in the |
| become accepted by the music industry and have | | | | world, offering musicians a rich, full sound with an |
| even surpassed their predecessors in terms of | | | | affordable price. However, affordability doesn't |
| popularity. There are some differences that you | | | | mean the strings sound cheap, making them a |
| must recognize before you buy as they will | | | | great option for most budgets. |
| influence how your instrument plays. | | | | Keep in mind that strings rarely sound the same |
| Dominant is one of the most popular string brands | | | | on different instruments and under different |
| on the market and they are constructed from a | | | | conditions, so you may find that mixing and |
| type of nylon called perlon. Perlon-core strings | | | | matching strings gives you the results you want. |
| offer many improvements over both steel and | | | | You may have to tune more frequently for the |
| gut-core strings. Steel-core strings became | | | | first couple days of playing, but after that they |
| popular primarily because of their stability | | | | will settle in and hold pitch. |
| compared to gut strings. | | | | |