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The String section is the largest part of the classical orchestra. It’s normally formed by Violins, divided in first and second Violins; Violas, Cellos and Double Basses. The only difference between the first and the second Violins is that the musical lines are different.
The String instruments produce their sound by bowing, plucking or hitting them. The Strings which play in an orchestra are usually bowed with a bow (Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass) or plucked with the fingers (Harp), although the bowed instruments can also be plucked by using a technique called Pizzicato. All the String instruments of the orchestra, unless the Harp, have a resonance chamber, which is a wood hollow area. The vibrations are transmitted to the body of the instrument and are amplified due to the resonance chamber.