The aim of this work is to describe the precursors of the string quartet up to the time of Haydn and, drawing on a wide range of historical sources, to show how varied and different the development was in the various musical centres of Europe and how the foundations of the string quartet genre were thus laid. To illustrate the historical differences, the work is accompanied by illustrations of title pages, sheet music and paintings. This is intended to give an overview of the rapid musical changes that took place between 1580 and 1760 and which formed the basis for the complex four-part string writing. Particularly striking here are the very different designations of string instruments and musical forms.