What is the Best Violin for a Beginner?
Violins, Violas, Cellos and Basses all come in fractional sizes. The violins in this photo are, from L to R, 4/4 (full size) to 1/32.
For beginning string instrument learners there are 3 items to consider when selecting a first instrument, regardless if it is a violin, viola, cello, or bass.
Instrument Size
Instrument Construction
Instrument Set-up
Why do size, construction, and set-up matter?
SIZE
String instruments, unlike band instruments, come in fractional sizes. This is particularly useful for children as it allows them to develop proper technique and grow with the instrument rather than grow into the instrument. The picture below shows the difference between a 4/4 (full size) violin on the left and the 1/32 violin on the right. In case you’re wondering, there are some 3-year-olds who start taking violin lessons and the 1/32 is appropriately sized for them. For adults and most kids in high school, a 4/4 violin will likely be the correct size, but not always. Cello, which is the second most popular beginner instrument at our shop, also goes up to a 4/4 full-size, although the smallest cello you will likely find is a 1/10.
For beginners wanting to play viola or bass there are some quirks for the sizing of these instruments to be aware of. First, violas are different from the other strings in that they are measured in inches. For example, a 14” viola is roughly the same length as a 4/4 violin, but violas also come in lengths of 15”, 15.5”, 16” and 16.5” and all are considered “full size”. The second quirk is related to basses, a full-size bass is a 3/4. It’s rare to find a 4/4 as they are just too large for most people to play.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY
For literally hundreds of years the materials for a quality string instrument have been pretty much been decided and agreed upon by instrument makers: Maple, Spruce and Ebony. Maple is used in the back, ribs, neck and scroll. Spruce is used for the top. Ebony is used for the fingerboard, pegs and tailpiece. Each of the woods has been chosen for the particular application based on its unique properties. Ebony, for example, is used on the fingerboard because it is a very hard wood. If you were to have a soft wood on the fingerboard, the strings would dig into the fingerboard over time and result in poor sound quality. In fact, even ebony fingerboards need to be “planed” from time to time for playability’s sake. There are other materials that can be used in a quality instrument but the three we mention here are BY FAR the most commonly used.
Violins and violas, due to their smaller size, can be made of these materials and still be relatively affordable instruments. Cellos and basses are a different scenario. Due to their size, cellos and basses made from carved maple and spruce can become very expensive and are more prone to accidental damage. For these reasons beginner cellos and basses are often constructed out of plywood. Our Academy 200 Series entry level cellos and basses are constructed out of plywood but have been hand-graduated on the insides. These graduations allow our entry level cellos and basses to mimic the sound/tone of more expensive, fully carved instruments. (Luthier Lesson: graduated tops and backs of string instruments are what help to amplify the sound coming out of the instrument, it’s roughly the same concept as the cone on a speaker.) We also carry a hybrid model, Academy 250, of our cellos and basses which have a plywood back and ribs with a carved top. Regardless of the material used for the body of the cello or bass it is crucial that the fingerboard is made from ebony.
PROPER SET-UP
The last thing to look for with a string instrument is the set-up. The set-up refers to the strings, bridge, nut and fingerboard. All of these parts of the instrument need to be in tune (pardon the pun) with each other to enhance the playability of the instrument. If any of these items are not adjusted correctly it can result in playing wrong notes, poor tone, buzzing, etc. All set-ups should be completed by a trained luthier, these are not adjustments that should be made by a beginning player. In fact, most professional players rely on a luthier to make instrument adjustments.
As you play you will likely notice that the set-up will start to change, the bridge may start to lean towards the neck, or the strings are getting closer to the fingerboard. These are natural changes due to the tension of the strings. It’s important to keep an eye on these changes and not let them get out of control. At Baroque Violin Shop, we offer FREE maintenance for all of our rental customers so we can keep their instruments in top condition.
What is the best violin for a beginner?
Put Simply, the best violin (viola, cello, or bass) for a beginner is one that is rented from a reputable shop
Not only will you be more confident that the instrument will meet the 3 criteria above there are also other benefits associated with renting an instrument as opposed to purchasing:
COST - Rather than invest in the purchase of an instrument, renting provides flexibility and offers a lower price point to get started. For example, our rental violin retails for $950 but can be rented for $16/month or $160/year, that is a sizeable difference in out-of-pocket cost.
EASE OF UP-SIZING - Most beginners are elementary aged students who are not fully grown and will likely need to start on a smaller size string instrument before going to a full size. In the case of our rental program, we offer free exchanges to the next size instrument and the rental cost stays the same with no need for additional paperwork. Also, as you can imagine there is less of a resell market for fractional size instruments, so if you were to buy a ½ size string instrument you may have a hard time selling it to recover your costs.
CONSISTENT QUALITY - Our goal is to provide a high-quality student rental that delivers exceptional value. Offering poor quality rentals would be detrimental not only to the students and teachers, but it would go against everything our shop was founded on.
INCLUDED REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE – There are luthiers in the world for a reason, not only do they make the instruments, but they also repair and maintain them. They are a resource not only for beginners but also for professional musicians. Our rental includes, at no cost, repair and maintenance so that your instrument is always set-up properly and provides the maximum in playability.
RENTAL CREDIT – Our shop, as well as many others, offers a rental credit program. Rental credit means that your rental payments build over time and can be used towards the purchase of a new full-size instrument. This is a great benefit for those beginners who become intermediate/advanced players or who just want to keep playing because it makes them happy. You get a return on your rental investment and can use it to invest in a forever instrument. Each shop runs their program differently and we encourage you to read through the details of any rental credit program so you can be sure you are maximizing your rental credit opportunity. For example, our rental credit program is the sum of all pre-tax rental payments and the rental credit can be used for up to 50% of the cost of a new full-size instrument.
Is there a scenario where it makes sense to buy an instrument for a beginner?
The only scenario where it makes sense for a beginner to purchase a string instrument is if they are sized into a full size instrument. As we said, it is difficult to sell fractional sized instruments and you may find yourself with an instrument you don’t need. We also recommend purchasing an instrument of quality from a reputable shop and discussing with them the cost and availability of luthier services. This way you know what to expect beforehand and there are no surprises if, and when, something needs to be repaired or adjusted.
We strive to be transparent and want to provide customers with our best recommendations, please let us know if you have any questions about instrument rentals or purchases.
For more details about our rental program please visit our Rental Page.