String Quartets

While a sting quartet can include any combination of four stringed instruments, the most usual combination is 2 violins (first and second), a viola and a cello.

First Violin: The first violin most frequently plays the main melody line which is usually pitched the highest and often includes very fast or difficult passages. Although the melody is almost always shared by the other instruments at some point throughout the piece, the first violin has it most often and is therefore usually the leader of the quartet. The musicians play without a conductor, so the first fiddle cues the others in, sets the pace and signals the end of the piece.

Second Violin: The part of the second violin is a support to the first, harmonising the melodies or playing counter-melodies or rhythmic variations. The music played by the second violin is usually lower pitched than the tunes carried by the first, and this part is often played by a younger or less experienced musician.
Viola: A viola is larger than a violin with a lower pitched voice, and often play quite boring and simplistic parts in an orchestral score. However, in modern quartets the viola part may be quite complicated and although more repetitive than the violins parts.