What violin strings are best?

There are so many brands of violin strings out there (and new ones emerging all the time!) that it is impossible to try every single one. In this article, I share with you my top recommendations for violin strings based on my personal experience.

There are two things to consider when choosing which violin strings to buy: budget and sound quality. Violin strings come in varying price ranges, ranging from 30 to several hundred dollars per set, so having a specific budget in mind is going to help narrow your choices. Sound quality is also an important determinant. When deciding what type of sound you’re going for (either dark or bright), consider both your instrument’s sound and what sound you prefer. If your violin is a darker instrument, it most likely won’t sound its best with bright strings, and vice versa. Here are the strings I recommend looking into.

Dominants. Dominants have a very middle-of-the-road sound, meaning they are neither too bright nor too dark, which helps them sound great on almost any instrument. Dominants are also moderately priced, about 60-70 USD for a set. Hilary Hahn uses dominants, so they must be high quality!

D’addario Helicore. These are slightly cheaper than Dominants (around 30-40 USD for a set). I have never personally tried these but many of my students use and recommend them. They are ideal for the violin student on a budget.

Eva Pirazzi. Eva’s have a darker sound. I used them for a few years in high school before switching over to my preferred brand of strings, PIs. They are very easy to play on and respond quickly to the touch. Eva’s run about 100 USD per set.

Warchal Amber. I have never personally used these strings but they come highly recommended by my students. They have a dark, rich sound, and cost about 60 USD per set.

Peter Infeld PI. These are the strings that I use and I absolutely love them. They’re bright, clear, and easy to play; however, they are on the more expensive side, ranging from 150-170 USD per set.

If you have a set of strings that you absolutely love, please leave a comment with your recommendation!