What does bridge mean in music?

The instrument

Bridge

The bridge is the shaped piece of maple standing under the strings that transmits their vibration into the body of the instrument, and it is held in place by string tension alone.

Nothing glues it down. It stands where the tension of the strings holds it, which means it can, and slowly does, lean forward as the strings are tuned upward over months. A bridge left leaning eventually warps or falls, taking the soundpost with it, so checking that its back edge stands at a right angle to the belly is routine maintenance.

Its curve determines how far the bow arm must move between strings, and its exact position and thickness affect the instrument’s tone substantially. Both are a luthier’s work, not an owner’s.

Bowing nearer the bridge produces the glassy sul ponticello sound; nearer the fingerboard, the flutey sul tasto. The bridge is therefore both a component and a landmark.

Sound post: The sound post is a small wooden dowel wedged inside a string instrument between the top and back, transmitting vibration and holding the body under string tension.
Mute: A mute is a small clamp fitted to the bridge of a string instrument that damps its vibration, producing a veiled, quieter tone; con sordino asks for it and senza sordino removes it.
Sul ponticello: Sul ponticello is bowing very close to the bridge, which suppresses the fundamental and brings out high harmonics, producing a thin, glassy, metallic sound.
Sul tasto: Sul tasto is bowing over the fingerboard, well away from the bridge, producing a soft, hollow, flute-like tone with very little edge.

Every term in this glossary is taught in context somewhere in Arco's curricula, on the staff, on the keyboard, and on your own fingerboard at the same time.

Browse the curriculum All 106 terms