fourstring

Fourstring is a music term used to describe any instrument that uses four strings. The label emphasizes the number of strings rather than a fixed instrument family, and it can apply to bowed, plucked, or hybrid instruments.

Common examples include the four-string bass guitar, which is a staple of many genres from rock to jazz; the ukulele, a small four-stringed plucked instrument widely used in folk and popular music; and the violin-family instruments (violin, viola, and cello), which all use four strings and are usually played with a bow. The double bass also has four strings and is a central voice in orchestral and jazz contexts. Four-string banjos, such as the tenor and plectrum banjos, exist as well.

Tuning varies by instrument. In the violin family, strings are typically tuned in perfect fourths: violin G-D-A-E; viola C-G-D-A; cello C-G-D-A; bass E-A-D-G. The ukulele is commonly tuned G-C-E-A. Banjo tunings for tenor/plectrum models are often C-G-D-A or similar. Many four-string instruments balance tension and playability via design choices like neck scale and body construction.

In modern music, the four-string bass is central to many genres; the ukulele has seen surges in popularity; classical ensembles rely on the four-string bowed instruments; four-string banjos appear in traditional jazz. The term fourstring is primarily a descriptive label rather than a specific instrument.