Fact Finder - Music

Inside every violin, viola, cello, and double bass is a tiny, unassuming wooden dowel called the soundpost. It is wedged vertically between the top and back plates of the instrument, just below the bridge on the side of the high-pitched strings. In many languages, including French and Italian, the soundpost is called 'l’âme' or 'l'anima,' meaning 'the soul.' This is because the soundpost is responsible for transmitting the vibrations from the top plate to the back plate, allowing the entire body of the instrument to resonate. Its position is critical; moving it even a fraction of a millimeter can radically change the tone, volume, and responsiveness of the instrument. It is held in place entirely by friction and the downward pressure of the strings—it is never glued. If the strings are removed, the soundpost can fall over, requiring a luthier to reset it through the 'f-hole' using a specialized hook tool.