In this book Sir James Beament, a distinguished scientist with a lifelong involvement with musical instruments, explains, without assuming any scientific background, how strings vibrate, and the role played by the bow, bridge, and body in producing sound. Those discoveries do not give a satisfactory picture of what we hear, and the core of the book explains how the sound relates to the sensations it produces. This leads to the conclusion that most of the myths about violins are groundless, but also that nothing can be achieved by applying modern technology to making or playing. Practical advice on strings, maintenance, purchase, and children's instruments completes the discussion.