Strings are the section of an orchestra that contains stringed instruments that are played with a bow. This section consists of violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Stringed instruments that are not played with a bow, such as the guitar, harp and piano, are not included.
The strings are usually the largest of the four sections of the orchestra, typically comprising well over half of the instruments in a large orchestra. Among them the violins are by far the most numerous, and they are usually divided into two sections.
A string orchestra is an orchestra that consists solely of bowed string instruments.