Why Do False Violin Strings Play Out of Tune?

A violin string is called false when its thickness and mass are not consistent along its length. This irregularity disrupts the way the string vibrates, causing it to sound out of tune at different finger positions—even when the open string itself is tuned correctly.

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How Uneven Mass Affects Intonation

The pitch of a vibrating string depends on three factors: its length, tension, and mass per unit length.

When a violinist presses a finger down, they shorten the vibrating length to create a higher pitch. On a normal string, this follows a predictable mathematical relationship. But if the string has uneven thickness, the mass per unit length changes from one spot to another.

This shift in mass alters the expected pitch. For example, placing a finger at the midpoint of a healthy string produces a perfect octave. On a false string, that same placement produces a note that is noticeably sharp or flat.

This inconsistency is especially troublesome when playing double stops: two notes may sound in tune in one position, but drift out of tune as you move up the fingerboard.

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Causes of False Strings

1. Manufacturing Defects

   • Poorly made or counterfeit strings may be false straight out of the package.

   • Counterfeits often use low-grade materials and lack proper quality control.

2. Wear and Stretching Over Time

   • Flattening: Repeated contact with the fingerboard can compress and stretch parts of the string.

   • Corrosion: Acids, oils, and moisture from the player’s fingers can corrode the surface, creating uneven mass.

   • Core Damage: On wound strings, the metal winding may unravel or the inner core may kink, disrupting vibration.

3. Environmental Factors

   • Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can stretch the string unevenly and reduce elasticity, accelerating the process of going false.

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How to Recognize a False String

• Unusual Finger Placement: If you consistently need to adjust your fingers away from normal positions to play in tune—especially higher up the fingerboard—the string may be false.

• Checking Fifths: Tune two adjacent open strings to a perfect fifth. If that same interval doesn’t stay in tune when played higher on the fingerboard, one of the strings is likely false.

• Visual Inspection: Flattened areas, discoloration, corrosion, or unraveling are strong signs. A shiny flat spot on the underside of the string is especially telling.

• Strobe Tuner Test: On a high-precision tuner, a false string often produces a wavering or unstable pitch instead of a steady reading.