Text: A piece of wood which, on instruments having a resonance-box, performs the double duty of raising the strings above teh belly, and of terminating at one end their vibrating portion. In instruments played with the bow, thebridge is arched, in order to allow the bow to impinge upon any one string without touching others. In instruments, such as the guitar and pianoforte, its upper edge runs parallel to the belly. In violins, the material and adjustment ofthe bridge are of great importance. Some instruments require a bridge made of course-grained wood, others of close-grained. It stands on twoo legs; that on teh right hand should rest on thebelly at a short distance behind the sound post. The legs should lie flat on the surface ofthe belly, in order that the vibrations of the strings should be duly transferred to the resonance-box. Thetone of an instrument is largely influenced by the position of the bridge, and only great experience and nice handling can discover where it is best set up.

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Source: 125