Which violin to buy for a beginner

However, there are many, very excellent, used violins for sale in these sizes. Never purchase or rent a beginner violin that is too big. Playing on the wrong size instrument creates serious problems with technique, and can eventually lead to chronic neck, back, and arm injuries. If in doubt, going with a smaller size is better than playing on a violin that is too big.

This factor is probably the most important when learning how to choose a violin. Violin construction was perfected about years ago, and the violins made today are crafted in the same way. Since hand-crafted instruments are very costly, precision manufacturing has emerged as an effective way to make intermediate and beginner violins.

Violins are crafted from specific tonewoods, such as Spruce and Maple, and a good indicator of quality is the depth of carving on the scroll.

A deep carving typically indicates superior craftsmanship. Also look at the joining areas around the body, they should fit tightly. The violin itself should feature symmetrical alignment, i. To achieve the best sound, beginners should start with perlon a type of nylon or synthetic core strings, if possible. Spending a little more for these types of strings is worth it.

The Alphayue strings by Thomastik-Infeld are great beginner strings — synthetic core strings at a steel core price. Moreover, the synthetic core stays in tune longer, so students can practice without having to stop to make frequent tonal adjustments. Be sure to choose a bow that will bring out the best in the violin, and in turn, the student.

Carbon composite and carbon fiber bows are great for beginners because of their combined agility and strength. No rosin? No sound! And lastly, you will need a case to protect and carry your wonderful new instrument. Check out our tips for buying the perfect case here. There are lots of violins to choose from. Take your time. Ask your teacher for suggestions. The violin looks good and will make your kid feel like a true professional. Sure, the quality of this violin is nothing special, but the thing with musical instruments in general is that you get what you pay for, and if you want a cheap instrument for a entry level violinist that might not play the violin anymore in a year or two, you will have to compromise a bit on quality.

This is the violin for an adult that has been wanting to play the violin their entire life and have decided that this is the time when the dream comes true! As an adult you will want a violin that you can use at least for a few years before you upgrade to a more expensive instrument and you want one that really feels like a real instrument and not a toy. You will get a bow and a deluxe case to keep your violin in. Note that this violin model only is available as a full-sized violin, so it will only be appropriate for adults and teenagers, kids will have to find another violin.

There are even professional violinists that recommend this violin for beginners, and we think that says a lot, because most professional violinist tend to be a little bit snobby when it comes to instruments. This is a really good violin that would work well for any adult beginner! Another good thing is the tuner included, which is a very good thing to have as a beginner. A bow, a rosin and a case are included too, so the only extra thing you have to buy is a shoulder rest. Don't practice too long - Telling a student not to practice for too long might seem counterintuitive, but it's for a good reason.

Extended practice sessions for a beginner can lead to cramps, strains, and acute injuries. The most important thing when it comes to violins is of course the sound. No violin sounds amazing at the hands of a beginner, but of course some are better than others and having a good instrument will make it easier and more enjoyable to play and improve.

Whether the sound of an instrument is any good is something that only you can give an answer to, since everybody have different opinions. So how can you tell if a violin is any good or not? Just looking at it can give you some clues. For example you can check the painting on the fingerboard.

Is it even or have they just painted it in a hurry and left some wood shining through? Another thing that can give you a clue is if the strings are branded or not. Most often when you buy a violin specifically designed for beginners like the ones in our list, you will get the full package with a bow, case, rosin and so on. The equipment is often pretty cheap and the bows are probably good enough to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with, but when you improve you will need a new bow.

Never tighten the bow too much and make sure you loosen it after every time you played, otherwise it will change shape. The hair is tied in a knot in the tip of the bow, and if you keep pulling out hairs from the knot it will loosen and eventually all the hairs will fall off. Instead, keep scissors in your violin case so that you can cut the hairs off. They are sturdy and very durable and often affordable. And another piece of advice, make sure that you keep the old bow, just in case something would happen to your new one and you need a backup.

When you start using a new bow, work the rosin in thoroughly, sit for maybe ten minutes and just apply rosin. The rosins included with affordable violins are normally not any good and should be replaced.

Make sure that you never touch the horsehair bow since the grease on your fingers will stick and make it hard for the rosin to work. The same thing goes with touching the violin strings between the bridge and the fingerboard. A pizzicato should always be performed over the fingerboard, never where you normally play with your bow. The violin should be wiped with a soft cloth after every single time you play to keep it clean, since the rosin and dust can get stuck to it.

Once in a while you can give it some extra care with some oil varnish designed for string instruments. This will both clean it and fill in any marks and scratches, making the violin look brand new again. Speaking of tuning please be aware that new strings stretch. You will have to retune the violin quite often in the beginning, but the more often you tune it, the faster it will settle. You can also try to push the peg in a little bit more. These minor problems have nothing to do with the quality of the violin, it happens to everybody once in a while.

It can be helpful to fill in the little cracks for the strings on the bridge with a pencil, which will make the strings, slide easier when tuning.

Be very careful about leaving your violin in the car during winter and summer when the temperature inside the car will be below or over room temperature. Heat also draws moisture from your violin and could even cause it to crack! String instruments are individuals, and even if it is the same violin model, it can sound and feel different, therefore buying your violin from a shop that specializes in string instruments is a very good idea.

Make sure to head to the best violin shops in town! Try the violins out and compare them to one another. If this feels daunting and difficult, as we imagine it can do for a beginner, and you just want to buy a violin that does the job, then ordering violins online might actually be cheaper than buying in a physical shop.

Select a few different violins from our list that you are interested in and have a look at Amazon. If you use this information wisely you will not only find a good violin, but also take care of it in such a way that it will be a companion for many years to come!

String Orchestra. Violin Accessories. Viola Accessories. Cello Accessories. Double Bass Accessories. Music Stands. Instrument Stands. About Us. Contact Us. Instrument Rentals. Popular Searches. Product Suggestions. A professional set up is essential! A professional set up should include adjustments to the: Bridge Nut Fingerboard Pegs Soundpost Tailpiece String Adjusters Chinrest Each part needs to be fitted, adjusted or fine-tuned to ensure comfort while playing, a balance of tone quality and volume, and clarity of sound that is free from buzzing.

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