At home in practically every genre of music you can think of, the instruments of the string family are amongst the best musical instruments to learn. But how to choose? Aren’t they all the same?
In this article we will describe the four instruments in the string family and outline the main advantages and disadvantages to getting started on each. This information will help you to make the best choice about the easiest string instrument to learn.
The String Family
All four instruments in the string family (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) normally have four strings, and are most often played using a bow but occasionally also by plucking the strings like a guitar. They are all available in a variety of sizes to suit beginners of any age.
Violin
The violin is the smallest and highest-sounding of all the string instruments. It is most commonly played in orchestras and other classical music ensembles but can also be seen in popular music and musical theatre. It can be one of the best instruments to learn for children due to its small size and popularity in groups.
Advantages of learning the violin
- The violin is a small and easily manageable instrument. It is available in a wide range of sizes, so is ideal for children who want to learn an instrument from a young age.
- The violin does not require as much finger strength when getting started as some of the other string instruments.
- Violin is a popular choice within music education, so you will have a wide choice of teachers offering both individual and group lessons, and it should be easy to find a good beginner instrument at an accessible price.
- There are many opportunities for violin players to play in groups, as well as lots of excellent learning materials for beginners of any age.
- Violinists learn to read the treble clef, which is a useful transferable skill for a wide range of other musical activities.
Disadvantages of learning the violin
- The small size of the violin requires highly accurate movement in both hands which can challenge the physical coordination of some beginners.
- It is difficult to be able to play with a good sound straight away and early practice sessions may require a lot of patience!
- Many beginner instruments are of poor quality and can be easily damaged.
- As a very popular instrument, learning the violin can be competitive and it can be difficult to win places in the most prestigious groups later on.
- Some beginners may find the high pitch of the violin unappealing to listen to.
For a starter instrument, we recommend the Primavera 100 – it comes with nearly everything you need, and is a superb price.
Primavera 100
High quality student violin-
Material: Hand carved maple and spruce body
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Includes: A case, bow, and rosin
- Durable ebony pegs
-Ebonised fingerboard
The TedScore™: 8/10
Viola
The viola looks like a large violin and is played in the same way, resting on the player’s left shoulder. It makes a slightly lower-pitched sound than the violin and is most commonly seen in orchestras and chamber music groups.
Advantages of learning the viola
- Most violin teachers also offer viola lessons, so it should be easy to start learning.
- As a slightly bigger instrument, the physical coordination between the two hands is easier to learn than the violin for some beginners
- Viola players are much rarer than violinists, and the viola is a great instrument to start playing if you want to play in a group. Viola players are regularly in demand by orchestras and groups at every level
- Some beginners- especially adults- find the deeper sound of the viola more attractive than the violin, especially in the early stages of learning
Disadvantages of learning the viola
- Some beginners find it difficult to hold a bigger instrument under the chin comfortably
- It can be challenging to find a good-quality beginner instrument
- Good quality learning material is harder to find, and can be more expensive
- There are fewer opportunities to play solo as a viola player compared to the other string instruments
- Viola players do not learn to read treble clef until a relatively advanced stage. Their music is written in alto clef which is not commonly used in other musical contexts.
The Stentor brand is one of the most widely recognised student brands on the market. They’re well built, and pretty affordable; just like this Student 2 model…
Stentor Student 2
Best for starters-
MATERIAL: Ebony Pegs and Fingerboard
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MATERIAL: Carved From Solid Tonewoods
- Most Recommended Among Schools and Teachers
- Includes Hard Case and Bow
Cello
The cello is the same shape as the violin and the viola, but much larger and even lower in pitch. Instead of being held on the player’s left shoulder, it rests between the player’s knees, supported by an endpin (or “spike”) that sticks out onto the floor. It is often said that of all the instruments, the sound of the cello is closest to that of the human voice.
Advantages of learning the cello
- The cello has an enormous range of pitch from low to high, making it an extremely expressive instrument with many musical possibilities and a huge range of repertoire.
- The cello plays both tunes and accompaniment parts in a wide variety of groups and styles, making it incredibly versatile and offering a varied musical experience for the player.
- The seated playing position is more natural and comfortable for most beginners.
- Although not as popular as the violin, the cello is still a routine element of music education and it should be easy to find a teacher and a good quality instrument
- The sound is attractive to many people, even from the earliest stage of learning
Disadvantages of learning the cello
- A larger instrument can be physically challenging, especially for children who may need support carrying it in the early stages
- Whilst cellos are readily available, they tend to be more expensive than violins or violas, both to rent and to purchase
- The cello requires more finger strength and stretches the hand more than violin or viola, which can take a while to develop when learning to play
- A larger instrument can be difficult to transport, to store, or to practice at home
If you’re looking for a true starter instrument, then specialist maker Gear4Music can help, with their simply named ‘Student Cello‘. It’ll last the first few years of learning, and it’s very affordable.
Student Cello
by gear4music-
BUILD: Laminated spruce and basswood body
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FEATURES: Tailpiece tuners
- Includes bow, rosin and hard case
- Coloured silk strings wrappings help learning
Double Bass
The largest and lowest in pitch of the string instruments, the double bass is even bigger than its player! Like a cello, it is supported on the floor by an endpin, and double bassists can either sit or stand to play. The double bass is an important part of any orchestra, but is equally at home in other styles of music such as jazz, rock, pop, and world.
Advantages of learning
the double bass
- Double bass is one of the best instruments to learn if you want to play with other people, and is always in demand by groups regardless of the type of music
- Double bass offers the most opportunities to play a wide range of music. Not just classical, but jazz, pop, and world music too
- There are a wide variety of playing techniques, not just bowing and plucking but also “slap bass” and rockabilly
- The fingering system is straightforward and easy to learn. It also works on bass guitar, meaning double bass players can readily play both.
- It is one of the easiest musical instruments to achieve a decent sound with straight away
Disadvantages of learning
the double bass
- A very large instrument, double basses are difficult to store and transport. You might need a big car!
- The lowest sounds can be difficult to hear, which can make playing in tune challenging when you first get started.
- Younger beginners may be intimidated by the sheer size of the double bass, which will always be bigger than the player- even when playing a correctly sized “mini bass”
- Double bass is a very rare instrument to learn so it can be more challenging to find a teacher, and you may have less choice of teachers in your area
- Whilst double basses are available in a range of sizes for beginners of any age, these can be difficult to source and expensive compared to the other string instruments
- Fewer opportunities to perform solo than the other string instruments
- Good quality learning material can be difficult to find and expensive
Deluxe Solid Top Bass
Made by Gear4music-
BUILD: Quality Canadian Spruce & Maple Body
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COMES WITH: Bow & Hard Case
- Triple Hand Lacquered & Varnished Orange-Brown Finish
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Easiest stringed instrument for a child to learn
In our opinion, the easiest instrument to learn for a child would be the violin or the cello.
They both make a clear sound that is much easier to hear than the viola or double bass, offer many opportunities to perform both solo and in a group, and it is relatively easy to find good quality instruments and excellent violin and cello teachers.
Violin and cello are also the string instruments most commonly offered by schools, making it even easier for children to learn how to play them.
However, any child will find it easy to learn a musical instrument that they actually like! Allow your child to listen to the sound of each string instrument- there are plenty of videos available on YouTube, or look at our specialist YouTube channel here – and if possible arrange for them to try out the instruments that interest them most.
Easiest stringed instrument for an adult to learn
I always recommend the double bass as the best and easiest string instrument to learn for adults.
It is possible to make fast progress in the early stages, enabling you to participate in groups much sooner than would be the case with any other musical instrument. And as a player of a rare instrument you will always be in demand!
In addition, learning the double bass allows you to access the widest variety of styles and musical techniques, making it one of the most interesting instruments to learn to play.
That said, learning double bass is not without many practical considerations, and a smaller instrument may make life much easier in that regard. As always, the easiest instrument is the one you like the most!
Tips for choosing which stringed instrument to learn
- Think about the type of music you would like to play. All the string instruments are important in classical music, but some are more versatile than others across a range of genres.
- What kind of sounds do you enjoy? Some people find high-pitched sounds more pleasant than others. Listen to each of the string instruments, try them out if possible, and decide which you prefer.
- Do you want to play by yourself, in a group, or a mixture of both? Viola and double bass players are always in demand by a range of groups, but generally have fewer opportunities to play solo. Cellists have a wonderful solo repertoire and a varied role in most ensembles, playing both melody and accompaniment parts at times. Violinists spend much of their time enjoying the tune….
- Practical considerations! Can you fit a double bass into your car? How would you feel about taking your cello on the bus or train to orchestra each week? How much space at home do you have to practise your new musical instrument?
- Every musical instrument requires practice when learning how to play it, preferably little and often- at least five days per week. However, certain string instruments fit more easily into a busy life than others. For example, violinists often have to spend hours learning complicated music with exposed melodic lines, whereas double bass players usually have a more straightforward part to play in most groups.
Easiest string instrument to learn
Summary
Did you enjoy this article? I hope it has given you a useful and comprehensive idea of what makes the easiest instruments to learn, and will help make your decision to play a musical instrument easier.
Good luck on your string hunt!
