How To Choose A Violin
Congratulations! You are about to buy your first violin...
Searching for the perfect violin can be thrilling, though slightly intimidating. Within our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning Violin’ series, this segment will assist you in beginning your journey by instructing you on how to choose the right instrument.
Things you should know before buying your first violin
- What sort of budget do you have? Remember, as with most things in life; you get what you pay for – so try to have the largest budget you can afford.
- Who is playing the violin – if the violin is for a young child you may want a different model from one for an adult learner. There are many different sizes of violin. The most common are ¼, ½, ¾ and full size.
- Do I want to rent or buy? Renting can be a good option, especially if you are not sure if the beginner will still want to play in a few months’ time. The violin can be a tricky instrument to begin with, so renting allows for flexibility. Renting is a sensible choice for a growing child, enabling you to swap the violin for a larger size when needed.
- How high quality does the violin need to be? If you are an adult learner who might wish to play in amateur orchestras and chamber ensembles you might want a fairly high-quality instrument. If the beginner is a child, while quality is important, it may be of greater importance that the violin is sturdy and can withstand visits to school.
- As well as the violin, you will also need to purchase a bow, a shoulder rest, rosin and a case in which to carry your violin. Often these are offered as part of a set, but you should check before purchasing. You may also like to purchase a set of spare strings.
Types of Violin
The violin is a member of the string instrument family. It is made out of wood and generally has four strings – G, D, A and E. It is played by drawing a bow across the strings or plucking them with your fingers.
There are three types of violin – the traditional acoustic instrument, the electric violin and the fiddle.
It is almost always a good idea to begin on an acoustic violin. However, we have explained the differences between the three types of instrument below:
Traditional violin
The violin as we know it today is first recorded in northern Italy in the 16th century. It quickly became popular with both the nobility and with street musicians, with instruments becoming available across Europe. Today instruments made by Italian makers, such as Antonio Stradivari, are still seen as the finest instruments in the world.
– A violin has four strings: G (the lowest), D, A and E (the highest).
– Violins are made from wood.
– They are hollow instruments.
– The strings of a violin were originally made from animal gut. They are now generally made from steel or synthetic materials.
The beginner violin we totally recommend is the Stentor Student Stand model that you can see below:
DESIGNED FOR: Entry-level student violin
COMES WITH: Hard case and bow
FEATURES: Solid tonewoods and a durable straight grained fingerboard
COMES WITH: Hard case and bow
FEATURES: Solid tonewoods and a durable straight grained fingerboard
8/10
Stentor Student Standard Violin
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
PROS
- Includes a hard case to protect the violin, and a bow
- Quality wood used
- Fine tuners included
- Aesthetically pleasing - dark varnish finish
- The bow is made from horse hair and has an ebony frog
CONS
- Shoulder rest is not included
- You may want to replace the factory strings with better quality strings as you or your child progress so that a warmer sound can be achieved
- Rosin is not included
The TedScore™ is our unique system of scoring products.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Electric violin
Violins have been electrically amplified since the 1920s. To begin with they were traditional instruments which had an electronic sound output. Today there are also purely electrical instruments available to buy. These are known as ‘solid-body’ instruments.
- The traditional violin is made of a hollow structure that amplifies the vibrations of the strings. The electric violin is generally made of a solid structure and must be connected to an amp to be heard.
- A traditional violin has 4 strings. It is not unusual for an electric violin to have five or six strings.
- Traditional violins meet standards of size and design, are made from wood and have a generally similar appearance. Electric violins can be any colour or design and are made from a range of materials.
Fiddle
The violin and the fiddle look the same, it is how they are played and the performances for which they are used which are the main differences between them.
- Violins are generally used in performances of classical, jazz and country music. In contrast, fiddles are played in performances of folk, Celtic and bluegrass music.
- A violin has four strings, while a fiddle often has five.
- Violins generally use synthetic strings while fiddles use steel core strings.
- Violinists learn from a teacher, while fiddle players are often self-taught.