It can be complicated enough to shop for a quality violin, but it can be even harder to find one for your child.

Children often have varied needs and possess different skill levels compared to adult players, so their unique circumstances must be taken into consideration.

Violins for kids are made to accommodate your child’s size, ability and level of interest in playing the instrument.

To help, we’ve compiled a list of some of the highest-quality violin models that work well for young players.

We have researched the instruments themselves, sought expert opinions from professional educators and scanned critical buyer reviews to narrow down the most suitable choices.

Our Top 3 Picks

• The Cremona SV-175
• 5 out of 5
  Our rating
• Best quality tone woods
• Price: See Here

• Cremona SV-150
• 4.6 out of 5
  Our rating
• Hand-carved maple sides
• Price: See Here

• Mendini MV300
• 4.2 out of 5
  Our rating
• Beginner instrument
• Price: See Here

This information should be used to help you pick a quality model based on real applications and consumer satisfaction.

A good violin for your child will encourage your son or daughter to keep improving his or her skill even if they end up moving on and to play other instruments.

Violins For Kids That We Recommend

Factors to Consider When Buying a Violin for Kids

Some of the most important factors for any violin are its sound, playability and craftsmanship, but children have different needs from adults in their instrument.

Many factors are a priority for a child violin though they may be of less concern for everyone else.

Size

Courtesy of Jeremy Hiebert

Learning to play on a violin of the wrong size is completely detrimental to your child’s comfort and ability to develop as a player.

When it comes to violin for kids, the most common mistake is being given a violin to play that is too large.

The child’s age, size, strength, hand shape and skill level must be taken into consideration before choosing the right instrument.

For new players, it is best to aim for smaller rather than larger models.

The easiest way to determine the right size is to place the violin on the child’s shoulder while they reach their playing hand up around the scroll.

The child should be able to do so comfortably with a bent elbow.

It is important to purchase the right size children’s violin in order to prevent problems with developing proper technique.

String Type

There are many types of high-quality strings available for violins at all stages, and many of them stand out as more well-known types.

Many new violins come with steel strings installed.

Courtesy of Lady T

The benefit of these kind of strings is the fact that they are affordable and last a long time.

The downside is that these strings can be hard on kids’ little fingers.

There are several manufacturers of excellent strings with non-metal cores, including:

• D’Addario
• Thomastik
• Corelli
• Pirastro
• Larsen

Bridge

The placement, quality and shape of the bridge is one of the most important components of a well-made violin model.

The bridge should be shaped and fitted by a professional before use, but this is often not the case with student models.

Violins for kids may require assistance from a luthier or music shop to be installed correctly.

If the bridge is placed too high, it can be hard for children to press the strings down onto the fingerboard.

It is also important to have the strings spaced and shaped appropriately.

A poorly shaped bridge makes it difficult to cross strings cleanly, and stopped notes will be out of tune.

Chin Rest

Courtesy of Guus Krol

If the chin rest is shaped or positioned wrongly, it makes the instrument uncomfortable or even painful for the child to hold.

The perfect chin rest should comfortably fit the shape of the child’s chin enabling them to keep their head straight while looking at the fingerboard.

Some chin rests have a high ridge that is a common cause of discomfort and displeasure with standard chin rests.

Most models for kids come with a chin rest installed, but it may be necessary to replace the stock unit.

While comfort is the priority, this is a disadvantage where cost is concerned.

Shoulder Rest

should present a nice balance between softness and firmness.

A quality shoulder rest allows the child to have correct posture.

This allows the student to play without tension or discomfort and allows the instrument to resonate cleanly.

A new kid’s violin will likely come with a shoulder rest already installed, but many of these are of poor quality.

Like the chin rest, the shoulder rest can be replaced for a better piece.

Price

One of the trickiest factors for parents to balance is the money they spend on their child’s violin.

Before you spend too much, you should learn how committed your child is in learning the instrument.

Buying a violin that will sit in its case or on the shelf most of the time is a wasted investment.

Even if the child has the interest, you should also consider how skilled they are or how good they may become.

You don’t want to spend too much, but you still want a quality instrument that can help skill development.

Age

Courtesy of Fake Plastic Alice

Most parents decide to buy a newly-manufactured violin, but this is not always necessary.

There are many benefits to owning an older violin.

And how great that can be for those that have violin players in the family to pass their instruments down to new students.

Compared to newer styles, violins from older brands often have longer reputations that you can trust for quality regarding the craftsmanship and materials.

The tonal quality of a mature violin is usually more stable as the wood has had time to season and enhance the sound.

A new violin takes time to be “broken in” before it produces its true sound, but an older violin will already have this quality.

This is even more true if it has been played regularly and kept in tune.

Making the Decision

You are now probably well-informed about the significant and unique components of purchasing a quality violin for your child. 

Hopefully the information above has answered many of your questions so that you may proceed with finding your ideal instrument.

Make a list of your most important features to determine how to narrow down your choices for your perfect instrument

Children have different experiences and skill levels based on their interest, family history or personal talents, and kids’ violins can range from the basic beginner models to sophisticated units.

It may be necessary to test out your ideal models to understand how your child will really enjoy it in real applications.

You may also want to test the size out to determine if the model you prefer is made in the right size.

Carefully select the accessories as well to make the playing experience as easy as possible for your child.

It is important to pair a violin kids will appreciate with extras that make them stick with the hobby.

Compare the information you’ve gained here for every aspect of a choosing a violin for kids with your actual hands-on tests, and bring home an instrument that will make your child love playing immediately and provide a good foundation for years to come.

The post Best Violin for Kids and Young Beginners – Reviewed appeared first on Violinio.

“My life is about music” this expression is very often heard from people who are strongly interested in art and especially in music. Some people just like to listen to music, whereas others are so much involved in music that they make music almost a part of their soul as they listen deeply, dance to, and many times play a chosen instrument.

These types of people love to live and breath music and make it a part of their daily lives. It goes without saying, they are often eager to learn and play a musical instrument.

The choice of a musical instrument is very wide, of course. Despite a universal love for music, many people’s taste differ when it comes to favorite musical instruments. This choice becomes even more complicated when it comes to musical styles. Each instrument is unique and sounds original in different music styles.

No musical instrument sounds like the violin does. Violin music is touchy, flat, harmonious, and melodic. It is both combined with any type of musical instrument and it sounds impressive and unique when played without any other sound.

It’s true that everyone likes at least some style of music. Some people are eager to learn to play on a musical instrument.

Beginning is a very risky and hard process that a person faces when learning something. That’s why it is very important to think properly about how to do something before doing it.

There are some important points that one should take into consideration when taking violin lessons.

1. Aim and motivation.

Everyone who wants to take violin lessons should consider his/her aim to play on the instrument. People who learn to play on violin may have different aims and motivations.  The first group of people, who take violin lessons, love music to death. They devote all their energy, time and life to the learning process. This group of people sees the whole world in the framework of music and nothing else. They take lessons all day long and cannot imagine life without violin. Violin music makes them relax. It takes them to a marvelous fairy-tale world, where everything is wonderful. These sorts of people often appear on big stages, get fame through their talent and devotion to their work.

The second group of people take lessons just for educational purposes.They go to music school or just take online lessons in order to get in touch with music art; they get introduced to different styles of violin music. The third group of people who want to take violin lessons are just intended to play his/her favorite violin music. These learners do not spend much time and energy on learning process. Though it seems not so much hard work, it is a hard work. And besides not every person can do it well without proper learning and spending much time to practicing it.

2. Mental and physical ability

One should consider the mental and physical abilities for learning process. The learning process may be easy or difficult depending first of all on the musical talent that is to say the hearing ability a person has. There are a number of extra talented violinists who are very famous for all times in all over the world like Niccolo Paganini, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corell and others. Playing on violin is the meaning of their being and they are considered to be the “forever teachers” of violin. If one has a talent to play on violin, the talent should be developed to professional degree. Besides the spending time and efforts on learning process are also very important factors that should be taken into consideration. If a person is hard-working, motivated and a bit talented, he will get success by all means.

3. Age

The third factor that is to be taken into account is a person’s age, who is going to take violin lessons. Life-long learning is very actual, but learning something at an early age is easier and more effective. Besides, it is difficult to imagine a person over 50 years, who starts learning to play on a musical instrument like a violin, because it will be very confusing and difficult for him than for a person who is younger.

There are many young violinists in the world. An interesting fact is that there is no starting age for taking violin lessons. The world youngest recorded violinist is Vasnssa-Mae. She recorded both the Tchaykovski and Beethoven violin concerts when she was 13. And of course it is true that young people are more interested and involved in learning process than the elder ones. They don’t have enough nerves, patience and energy to spend on learning new things.

4. Patience, Tolerance, Occupation

We live in a “busy” world and not many people can spend much time on taking violin lessons. But if one decides to take the lessons he/she should properly plan his/her timetable for working effectively. Taking violin lessons demands much time and energy that’s why one should find extra time for it. Besides it always difficult for a person who works very hard all day long and is always very tired of everyday working to concentrate the mind in something that is just pleasant for him/her.  In any situation, in any sphere of a work it is important to be patient, tolerant and hard-working in order to get the wished result.

One should do his/her best in his/her work in order to feel the pleasure of the good result of a work. As far as nothing good is got easily, patience and tolerance is exactly what a person needs in learning process It especially refers to the beginner learners  that the violin lesson taking process may sometimes be disappointing, annoying. And in such cases the beginner learner should be more attentive, should have patience and tolerance in order to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in learning process.

Nowadays people are very busy with their work and it’s very difficult to earn for living. And not many people can spend their spare time, their money and energy on their hobbies or on just their favorite activates. That’s why is a person is too busy it will be more difficult to concentrate on a new beginning learning process. After all, it’s very hard in these days to find spare time, to be patient and tolerant in order to make one’s wish of learning to play violin come true.

5. Music style

Music styles you are interested in are also important factors that should be taken into consideration. Violin is a serious musical instrument and serious music genres and styles are played with the help of violin.    Violin as a musical instrument is adopted in some music genres like classical music, blues, folk, jazz, etc.. And therefore any beginner violinist should take into consideration that learning to play violin and not loving the music of these genres is absurd. And anyway it is preferable to like the music style you are playing.

It seems impossible for a violinist to play classical without loving or feeling the deepness of it.  One may like only violin music others may prefer violin with piano music or with saxophone music or with some other musical instrument. That is to say always take into account what kind of music you are going to play with the help of violin before you start to take the lessons.

6. Ways of taking violin lessons

In the 21st century the ways of taking violin lessons differ. One may choose to take lessons at music schools or at home. It is even possible to take violin lessons online using different educational videos and violin playing lessons. But after all if one has time to attend lessons at a music school, he has the opportunity to feel the cultural atmosphere and share the violin playing practice with the ones who are also playing the violin. Online violin lessons are very popular nowadays. If a beginner learner does not have time to attend music school in order to take violin lessons, online lessons are very effective for him/her. They spend no time, no money on taking the lessons, they take no means of transportation at the same time having the opportunity to get prepared anytime and anywhere they want.

Online violin lessons have both advantages and disadvantages. Some people get tired of learning process very soon and learning at home they have a chance to control their time as they want. They can practice anytime they want. Learners can choose their favorite violin lessons or can change the lesson they are tired of if they are online learners. But at school this chance is not given to them.

Besides, they can have any kind of information they are interested in about violin online, without asking the teacher or going to the library. There are also some disadvantages that refer to online violin lessons. Violin learners and especially the beginner ones do not have the chance to go deeper in the art atmosphere, they do not get in touch with the violin as a type of art. They can never understand what violin playing is as an art. Besides there is another disadvantage concerning to taking online violin lessons. They can never play violin with another musical instrument, which is much more interesting and attractive. Anyway online lessons are proper for a person who is very busy and is eager to play violin.

There are also some seemingly not so much important but in fact difficulties that one should consider when taking violin lessons. For example if one is married and has a baby it becomes almost impossible to take violin lessons, because one can practice neither the time baby is awake nor the time he is asleep. Or another annoying reason may be the neighbors who don’t stand violin music or just it makes them feel discomfort.

7. Learning process for people with physical disabilities

There are many obstacles for people with physical disabilities when they want to play violin. The musical instrument playing process demands a certain standing and moving way that a person having some physical difficulties may not play. There is no alternative means of playing violin suggested to people with physical disabilities. And it becomes a very sad situation.

8. Music lesson experience

Another important factor for the beginner violin lesson takers that should be taken into consideration is the music lesson experience that a person may have gained before starting to learn to play on violin. That is to say if a person can already play on the piano or on guitar it will be much easier for him/her to play on violin. But if one starts learning from the very beginning, it will demand much hard work and patience, love and devotion to succeed in learning process.

A small research was made among the young violinists at music school. The research was made to find out what factors they took into consideration when they chose to have violin lessons. And here are the results:

I have chosen   violin lessons because violin is very attractive and I can relax listening to it. It takes me to another world. Playing the violin makes me feel the freedom and kindness of the world.

It is harder to play on violin than to play on piano that is why I have chosen for me to overcome the difficulties of playing violin.

I have chosen violin because Vivaldi is my favorite composer and the only thing I dreamed of was to play the world famous composer’s works.

I have chosen to play on violin taking into consideration that big stages are waiting for a talented person like me.

9.  Success or failure

If you are strongly intended to succeed in your violin lessons, you will do it. You will overcome all the difficulties on your way. But do not be disappointed if you sometimes fail to overcome them. Remember there is no success without failures and difficult moments. You just try to make your dream of playing on violin come true. These are some of the main factors we have introduced to you to consider when taking violin lessons. Good luck and wish to see you on famous stages.

These were the most common factors that any violin lesson taker should take into consideration.

One should always think carefully before choosing to do something, because every decision is important and influences on a person’s life.

The post What You Should Know Before Taking Violin Lessons appeared first on Violinio.

The violin is made from wood and metal strings. It is a musical instrument which can play both small and high pitched music.

The violin has four strings tuned in perfect fifths. A violin is played by drawing a bow across its strings, which produces the sound we are all familiar with.

If you have decided to play violin you must first choose the perfect instrument that you are comfortable with. If it’s not comfortable you might lose interest in learning how to play.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to choosing the perfect violin size for you among all violin sizes. We know that people of all age groups from two to 102 play the violin, with many first learning at ages of five or younger.

Because of this factor the violins come in different sizes to be perfect to people of all age groups and physical development.

The best violin size would be which you can hold and play perfectly without any discomfort or supporting efforts affecting you. You must be able to play your violin comfortably, bottom line.

As we mentioned before, the violin typically comes in eight main sizes.

Violin sizes correspond to the length of the body of the violin. This does not include the neck and scroll.

The smallest size would be 1/16, it is only 9 inches or 23 cm. The size keeps increasing from 1/10 up to 4/4 or full size it is about 14 inches or 36 cm You know that you have the perfect size when a violin perfectly fits you. That is when you are freely able to reach the notes.

You should be able to hold up the violin by yourself without any discomfort.

Usually adults require a full size violin. But it really depends on the individual person.

A perfect violin would be something you can hold with ease. You should be able to grip the top of the finger board with your hand and still be able to bend your arm easily at the elbow.

Thus if just a 7/8 feels comfortable for an adult, then it will be perfect for them to play. If you are buying the violin for kids then to get the perfect size would be a little confusing.

This is because the children grow rapidly when they are young so the situation would be similar to buying shoes.

The best way to find a suitable violin would be to measure to get the correct size for each child. It is very easy to measure.

You just need to ask the child to stand up straight and hold out their arm with palm facing upwards. Then you have to measure from their neck to their wrist but make sure to measure from the left side of their body.

This is a method used by a few teachers. There is a possibility that when compared with another method there can be a slight difference in the size. The other method is measuring till the middle of the palm. Thus it is better to choose the bigger size that is the next size.

VIOLIN SIZES  –    MEASUREMENT FROM NECK TO PALM

1/16          –            33.25 cm or less, 13 inches

1/10         –            36 cm, 14 ¼ inches

1/8           –            38.5 cm, 15 ¼ inches

1/4           –           44 cm, 17 ¼ inches

1/2          –           48.25 cm, 18 ¾ inches

3/4          –           52 cm, 20 ½ inches

4/4          –           56 cm, 22 ¼ inches

It is very important to choose the correct size. If the violin is too big it will be very heavy for the person to hold and play. The weight of the violin will make the arms tired and numb.

There is a possibility of developing a pain in the neck and back. This would hurt the person’s neck and back thus not allowing them to play the violin in future. They won’t be able to concentrate on the notes and play in tune. This would completely destroy their motivation to play music.

A half – size violin is neither large nor too small it is the middle size available. The length is 20.5 inches.

A full size violin would be 23.5 inches or the 4/4 violin. These measurements are not exact they can vary according to different brands by a few inches. Some brands have different sizes based on the gender.

The male violins are usually a little longer then the female variety. The difference is usually half an inch. The persons using half- size violin will be comfortable with 24.5 inch bow. This would give them an ultimate comfort and quality.

If you are beginner you should concentrate more on the price and also other features which could make it easier for them to play. They need not buy the big ones. Better start with something that is a little smaller and easier to handle. Maybe after a little practice they can move on to a bigger size. This would allow them to easily play a violin rather struggling to play the appropriate size.

Violin Sizes

•  1/16 – this is the smallest variant available in the market. There is an even smaller variant available but it is unofficial. This size would be suitable for kids between the ages of 3 to 5 years
• 1/10 – the difference between this and the previous 1/16 is very less just about 1 or 2 inches. It usually depends on the brand. It will perfectly suit 4 and 5 year olds.
• 1/8 – this variant measures 17 inches and should be played with a 19, 25 inch bow. It is suitable for 6 year olds. It will be comfortable in relation to their length and weight.
• 1/4 – for beginners within the age group of 5 to 7 years old this would be a perfect choice. The total length would be 19 inches.
• 1/2 – this is the half size violin suitable for players with a 20 inch measurement. This would provide a good transition from small to big models.
• 3/4 – the length is about 21 inches. It will be perfect for players with a measurement from 21.5 to 22 inches. It will be great with a 27 inch bow. This is usually made with better quality materials. This is because it is made for older players.
• 7/8 – this is actually a rare phenomenon because there is not very big difference between this size and the 4/4. This measures about 22.5 inches in length. This is suitable for people with small hands or young adults.
• 4/4 – this is the standard size of a full size violin. This is the most popular size available in the market. Anyone who is big enough to hold it with ease and reach all the notes would be able to enjoy this size. If the young beginners practice enough they might be able to use the 4/4 with no problem.

Size Selection Issues:

The problems we might usually face in size selection would be in children who are growing constantly. If you cannot afford to keep buying a new violin to upgrade to the next size you have a few options.

The first would be renting a violin. The other option is very simple just wait there is no hurry. Once you keep practicing with a size give it time till you grow to a stage where you can skip a few sizes.

This way it will put a time gap in between your upgrade to the next size. Thus giving you an opportunity to save money for buying your next violin. This would be perfect for those who are on a budget.

The size of the violin really has nothing to do with the performance. It all depends on how comfortable you are with your violin.

If a half –size violin is your perfect size and you feel no need for a 4/4 then stick to it and keep practicing.

Then, if some of you feel that you need a bigger size then go ahead. If you are able to play the fourth finger notes in tune then there is no problem. You will face no problem with it.

Then there is this final thing, I think everyone will have this question in their mind. When I buy a bigger violin should I buy a new bow and case? The answer is absolutely yes. You will definitely need to buy new ones. Because if you are playing a half size violin you need a perfect half size bow similarly while playing a full size violin you need a full size bow.

When buying a new violin it’s better to buy a violin, bow and its case all together. By doing so you might be able to get a discount at most of the shops. But there are few shops which sell only violin and you have to buy the bow and case separately. When you are buying a bow separately make sure you buy the right size for your violin.

Finally we have reached the end so be sure to measure your size and by your perfect violin size. Wish you good luck on choosing your perfect violin size.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Violin Sizes appeared first on Violinio.

And since violins are also unique in that they are part of an instrumental family that makes up some of the oldest modern instruments, it’s no wonder that parts and components age and wear out. How would you feel if you were more than 100 years old and were expected to perform as wonderfully as you always have?

It is impossible not to love the amazing music that comes from a violin. From movie sound tracks and classic radio ballads to fiddler music and of course orchestral music. People of all ages are drawn to music with violins whether they realize it or not. It’s a part of our life soundtrack when you think about it from the day we are born.

It’s no coincidence then that more and more people are inclined to learn playing a violin. Unfortunately, the majority of them stop on the halfway when meeting the first obstacles.

In today’s early learning environment, it’s hard enough to learn proper holding and playing technique. Understanding how a violin works, what each part does to help it produce quality tones and how to care for and maintain these parts is not always a priority.

For all beginners it is crucial to at least know the names of the different violin parts they play. The reason is that they should clearly understand what part they need to re-tune or restring if necessary. If not, you will look like a driver who doesn’t know how to open the car hood.

To avoid similar situations and become a professional violin player, you should know all ins and outs of the instrument you play. Thus, let’s discuss them one by one and get familiar with each of them.

Violin Parts

Scroll

The very top of the violin is called scroll. It is situated above the pegbox and is generally identified by its characteristic curl design. Nonetheless, the ancestors of the violins had scrolls that were carved with figures or animals.

Tuning Pegs/Pegbox

By the scroll you can find the tuning pegs and peg box. They are located at the top of the instrument and it is here that the strings are attached at the top. In order to tighten the string, the end of it is inserted into a hole in the peg for winding it when needed. Generally the tuning process is done by tightening the peg, and with fine tuners that are used for strings needing less than half a tone.

Check Out Our Best Violin Pegs Reviews

Nut

The connector between the peg box and the fingerboard is called nut. It has four grooves and the strings sit on them so that they could be properly spaced. When restringing a violin or when the strings are very loose, you had better check whether they are sitting in the grooves at the nut and at the bridge before tightening the strings.

Strings

The strings on this instrument are tuned according to G, D, A, E from lowest to highest. They considerably vary in quality and their quality makes a big difference regarding the tonal quality produced by a violin. Generally strings are made from different metals: aluminum, gold for the E-string, steel, etc). Nevertheless, violin makers often use some synthetic materials to produce strings. Such “cat gut” strings are still popular in these days and they are made out of animal intestine.

Check out our Best Violin Strings Reviews

Neck

Another one from violin parts that we will get familiar is the neck. It is the part of the instrument that carries most of the stress made by the strings. The neck is the long wooden part situated behind the fingerboard and the latter is glued to it. Modern violins have more slender and longer neck compared to their baroque ancesters.

Fingerboard

Underneath the strings you will find some smooth black surface, it is the fingerboard glued to the neck of violin. You may often notice some black residue on the fingers of violinists. You should know that it is the black polish rubbing off from the fingerboard. Eventually, if it starts to happen, then the violin is near to refinishing.

Body

In acoustic instruments the sound is amplified by a violin part called body. Generally it is made of various types of wood. Many violins are made with two-piece backs that are joined together with a seam down. Whereas violins having one-piece back are more preferred as, they have increased resonance.

Sound post

Under the bridge of the instrument you can see the round sound post that runs from the front-piece to the back-piece inside the violin. It plays a crucial role in the sound produced by the instrument. It also supports the violin structure from the pressure coming from the tension of the strings.

F holes

When the string reverberates inside the violin, the sound waves come out from the body through F holes. Beginners can direct them towards the audience to reach their best music in this way. This step will allow the audience to catch the best possible sounds. However, there is no need to worry for good sounds if you play an electric violin or you are playing with a pick-up.

Bridge

In various angles of curvature you can find the bridge of the violin. Due to the small angles you can more easily play double or triple stops (It means playing two or three strings meanwhile). Nevertheless, you can hit the right notes easily thanks to curved bridges without scraping across a wrong string.

Classical violinists prefer violin with more curved bridges. However, fiddle and country players give the priority to the flatter bridges. To space the strings out evenly enable ridges that are a part of the bridge. E-strings with good quality usually have a small plastic tube wrapped around the string. This is located over the bridge and don’t allow the thin E-string to cut into the wood.

Check Out Our Best Violin Bridges Reviews

Fine Tuners

You can find the fine tuners either on the four strings or on the E-string. It is recommended for beginners to start with violins having four fine tuners, as in this case the possibility of breaking a string while tuning is less likely. Fine tuners play a role of a screw that presses down the lever and then tightens the string. Reaching to the end of the screw, a fine tuner should be unscrewed entirely. After that the peg should be tightened before you will use a fine tuner.

Tailpiece/Endpin

At the bottom of the violin the strings are attached to the tailpiece by the endpin or end button. The latter is a small button on the violin that rubs against the players’ neck.  It is the closest part of the violin to the chin of the player.

Chin rest

Another additional invention regarding violins is the chin rest. It supports the player while playing the instrument. This is one of the most important violin parts, since it helps the violinist to hold the violin and accordingly it enables the player to move his/her left hand freely up and down the fingerboard.

Parts of the bow

Hair

The part that touches the string while playing is called hair. Generally it is made out of either a horse hair or some synthetic material. It is important to ensure that the strands are well-rosined to make sound. In case the bow of the violin is not well-rosined, then you will face such kind of errors like slipping on the string, producing softer whisper-like sounds and so on.

Frog

The violin part where all mechanics of the bow meet is called a frog. It is the part of the bow that the player holds.

Screw

The hair is tightened and loosened thanks to the screw which is situated on the end of the frog. When the screw is completely unscrewed on the end of the frog, then the frog comes off the bow, although it is totally easy to reattach. It happens as the screw which is tightened stretches the hair of the bow close to its end and hence increases the tension of the hairs.

Stick

Another part of the bow is the stick. Generally the main stick is made of wood, and sometimes with a metal core. It is eye-catching that the stick should be bendy and supple to be able to support the loosening and tightening process of the bow hair.

The beginners should know that a good bow should be light and it must have a balance point. The latter is the place where you can balance the bow on one finger around a quarter up the bow from the frog. This balance point plays a significant role as it enables the player to perform advanced technical movements like spiccato. It is the movement when the bow bounces off the string between each note.

Pad

When holding the bow, the player gets assistance by the pad.

To sum up, we should state that before making up your mind to play this or that instrument you should find enough efforts and desire within you to learn every detail concerning you beloved instrument. It is a shame for any musician to be unfamiliar with the instrument they play. Thus, all beginners had better learn these parts one by one and never feel the shame of not recognizing any one of the violin parts.

The post Violin Parts – A Guide for the Beginner Violin Player appeared first on Violinio.

It takes lots of consideration before making the leap into the final purchase of this, let’s face it, cool electric instrument.

Searching on the Internet can often leave you empty-handed, and you may even end up more confused after you’ve search many pages and electric violin models.

Luckily, we have compiled some of the most basic but important information about electric violins to make the process easier for you.

Here you can find information on some of the most popular electric violin models on the market. We have taken the time to research these models by scouring and implementing information from:

• Buyer Reviews
• Online Violinist Forums
• Expert Input/Opinions

We have analyzed and compiled this information so that you don’t have to. You can make your decision much easier and dedicate your time to becoming more familiar with your new model.

Electric Violins That We Recommend

Factors To Consider When Choosing Electric Violin

Courtesy of Paladin27

The most important options for a violin will vary depending on the player, but there are many features that should make everyone’s list in terms of importance.

Identifying these factors will not only help you narrow down your search process, but it will also ensure you get the most out of the experience upon initial purchase and in the long run.

Budget:

Planning ahead of time within your budget will help you in choosing the best electric violin. You should set a specific price range to help you narrow your search and make the process much easier.

The price range can vary greatly for acoustic models from less than $100 to over $100,000 for the finest antiques, but the range for the best electric violins isn’t nearly as wide.

You can expect to pay around $100 for a cheap electric violin up to around $5,000 for the finest models. You can group the available electric violin models into several price groups:

Under $500 Group

When buying your first electric violin, you must remember to allow room in your budget to also purchase a quality amplifier, pickup and effects processor.

You can spend around $250 on an affordable instrument along with the quality extras to get the enjoyment of playing electric in addition to the reliability of an affordable model you own instead of having to rent.

$500 to $1,000 Group

Shopping for violins between $500 and $1,000 allows your options for quality to open up much more.

Violins in this range can help you save from the most expensive models, but they still offer a quality that is good enough for skill practice or performance. Features in this price range are relatively limited, but wood and paint esthetics are adequate though plain.

Instruments in the range are mass produced, but you can find reliable brands such as Yamaha that are known for high-quality assurance standards. These instruments are impressive in tone and ability to play.

$1,000 to $2,000 Group

Electric violins in this price range will show even more attention to appearance, build and extra features.

Some may consider instruments in this range to be the best values the electric violin market has to offer. The difference is measurable.

This is because the models in this range are suitable enough for professional performance or even recording. They are a step above lower-priced instruments in terms of design and ability to produce impressive tones.

Models in this range include the Yamaha SV-200 with its equalizer dial and dual-piezo pickup, Bridge violins with carbon composite bodies that produce a rich tone, Aurora 4 and 5-string models made of transparent acrylic with colorful LED lights and the NS Design NXT with the innovative JackPot potentiometer just to name a few.

You can also find the handcrafted Vector Prodigy that offers the benefits of unique appearance from personally-grown wood as well as the acoustic sounding tone that comes from meticulous design and construction.

$2,000 to $3,000 Group

Electric violins beyond the $2,000 range are without a doubt of professional quality. These models are most likely hand-crafted with advanced design components and features.

They offers detailed and fully expressive tonal execution with their available pickup designs. Models in this range include the Vector Prodigy Pro, NS Design CR and Stratton Skull handcrafted models among others.

$3,000 and Beyond Group

Electric violins priced at $3,000 and above are more rare with especially beautiful wood patterns, veneers and finishes.

In this price range, there is little difference in improvement of build, pickup or tonal quality over the electric violins in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. The cost comes not just from the highest in tonal and build quality but also a combination of exceptional function and visual art.

These models act as great conversation pieces even when not in use as performing instruments. Custom finished ZETA and Fourness models, Wood Violins Vipers and Jordan violins are popular models in this category.

Needs

Once you have determined your budget, you should also assess what you need from the violin. Some people may just want a model they can use to practice with quietly, but others may plan to use their electronic violin for performing as a hobby or professionally.

Some people may want a reliable violin that they can use for practice initially and eventually develop into a serious performance instrument.

Some models are suitable for just one of these purposes over the other, but many models are capable of serving both purposes equally as well. Fortunately, there are various styles to choose from to suit all of these needs.

Courtesy of Stevie-B

Practice Models

Depending on your environment, any violin you use primarily for practice should be used with headphones. This is to show consideration to those around in addition to allowing you to fully focus on the sound and development of your skill.

Many electric violin models have headphone jacks already built in, so they can easily be used as practice instruments.

Those without headphone jacks can still be used with headphones, but they will require the use of additional equipment such as amplifiers or effects processors that have their own headphone jacks built in.

Performance Models

Courtesy of Bill Grolz

Many high-end electric models work well for recording and performance, but you may want a more advanced model depending on how serious your recording and performance goals are.

In these instances, it is better to invest in a fully capable unit with a strong and even output. More ambitious violin use will warrant a budget of at least $1,000 and beyond.

Those less expensive models can be adequate in some performance settings, but it is better to go for the most reliable quality when it counts in addition to avoiding the need for superior amplifiers and other enhancements to improve the sound.

Acoustic Electric Hybrids

Courtesy of Eric Golub

Acoustic-electric violins are separate from electric models in that they are actually acoustic violins that feature permanently mounted pickups.

They vary greatly in wood quality, body, pickups, tone control and inputs/outputs. These styles may be appropriate for those looking to play acoustic styles with amplification in order to preserve the richness of tone with acoustic violins, but they are less suitable for louder full band performances as they may present issues with feedback.

Using effects with these violins may also cause feedback problems, so it is better to use a general solid-body instrument to provide a more predictable output at any volume.

Fretted Violins

Frets on violins allow the player to add guitar techniques for style or to master a particular sound. They also help simplify chord patterns for the left hand.

Frets act as a visual guide on the fingerboard in addition to providing absolute pitch when playing in loud settings where maintaining pitch can be more difficult.

MIDI Capability

MIDI-capable electric violins can be used to trigger MIDI tones when used with computers, control synthesizers, record MIDI tracks and transcribe notation. MIDI-capable models can only be used with certain types of MIDI equipment depending on their output type.

Tone

The tone of the violin may be considered by some to be the most important aspect of the instrument. How one perceives the tone may depend upon their personal preferences, but some electric models are made to sound more like acoustic violins compared to others.

Courtesy of James Marvin Phelps

The tone of the violin becomes much more natural sounding with more complexity and better pickup technology as models go up in price range. For most players, it is generally a good idea to start with an electric violin that possesses a tone that matches their preferences for an acoustic instrument.

The tone can always be altered through effects and EQ, but it is best to have an instrument with a standard tone that is already pleasing in order to be completely satisfied with the violin.

As an important aspect of a violin, an ideal tone can be one of the most difficult qualities to capture in a model. It may be best to try out different styles and share the sound with a colleague or superior violinist that can help you pick one that pleases you.

Jordan, Stratton Skulls, Vector Prodigy Pro and Wood Violins models feature a Barbera bridge that provides a bright and vibrant tone while the ZETA Strados pickup offers a more edgy sound. Bridge Violins, Fourness, Yamaha and standard Vector Prodigy violins are often warm and rich in tone with a very natural sound.

Models from the NS Design CR series feature on-board knobs for treble and bass modification that allow the player more tonal control and the ability to switch from neutral to bright to rich and dark tones easily.

Look & Feel

The look and feel of the violin can be just as important as its ability to play for some people. You want a model that you feel comfortable bringing to all settings, but it should also be impressive. You also need a model that you can adapt to and hold comfortably again and again.

Courtesy of Paladin27

Design

One of the most exciting features of electric violins is the versatility they present in appearance. Many models have outrageous designs that capture the attention of others, but some people prefer instruments that are more traditional in appearance.

Even though unique designs may have their more outrageous appearance, they still offer the same standard measurements and performance of acoustic models.

Popular models with extreme designs include the Sabre, Stingray and Viper models from Wood Violins, the Vector Prodigy, the Keebler Warhorse and models from NS Design. Models that are available with more traditional appearances are available from brands such as Yamaha, Bridge and MSI.

Even among these types, there are many colors and finishes available to provide a bold color even with a more traditional build.

Ergonomics

Courtesy of Tim Regan

Factors such as the size, shape, weight, chin rest and shoulder rest all contribute to the ergonomics of a violin. Many electric violins are designed to allow the player to use their preferred shoulder rest with total comfort.

The Viper model from Wood Violins and the Warhorse from Keebler use a shoulder strap system that allows the user to play hands and neck free.

NS Design models have adjustable shoulder rests, and the SV-130 model from Yamaha requires the Kun shoulder rest which is included.

Weight is also an important factor that should not be overlooked, and many electric models are noticeably heavier than their average acoustic counterparts.

Other models may weigh much more, but their weight is handled more easily because the load is carefully balanced on the shoulder.

Most electric violins weigh a bit more than typical acoustic models, but the difference isn’t usually too noticeable. Some of the lightest electric models include the Yamaha SV-250 and 255.

Making the Decision

Players of all skill levels and styles may need help in upgrading to or initially purchasing new violins. Use the electric violin reviews available here as much as you can to help you determine the type of violin that will suit your purpose the best.

If you have gone through this much of our site, then you are more than likely equipped with much more information than you had before and much more than the typical electric violin shopper.

You have already examined the most important factors that distinguish electric violins and decided what you need in each factor.

After deciding which characteristics are the most important to you, all you have to do is narrow down your choices by determining which models match up well with the specifications you chose for each category.

Consider each factor on an individual level until you can find the available models that meet many or all of your preferences. Weigh all of your options before doing further hands-on research.

Learning about the ideal models that match your needs is the beginning, but you will be much more satisfied in the long run after actually getting your hands on them and testing them out.

Spending less time searching for a violin gives you more time to start playing it, so make the process easier and buy your perfect model as soon as you can.

The post Best Electric Violins & Buying Guide appeared first on Violinio.

Good instruments allow you to develop much more naturally whereas violins of less quality can hinder the playability and make development much harder.

Here you can find details on the best violin brands, violin reviews, electric violin guide and much more. Also this site provides all the necessary information you need to make an informed decision before purchasing a violin for you or your child.

Our Top Recommended Violins