Q&A for How to Play the Violin

In general, ensure the size is right for you, as this cannot be changed and is essential to comfort and your ability to play. Purchase the best quality you can afford; if money is tight, perhaps look at second hand ones but be sure they’re in good condition. Visit a reputable music store with assistants familiar with violins and ask them for help with holding different violins to see what is most comfortable for you; even better if they can play them for you, to allow you to hear the sound, or take along your new music teacher! Finally, there are “best of” lists for violins--do an online search and read a few of these, as the choices vary according to where you live and the authors’ own preferences.

The violin is one of the harder instruments to learn to play well. Perfecting the technique, sound and developing your own personal style takes a few years of regular and dedicated practice. You also need a willingness to correct yourself constantly until you produce a fine and melodious sound without effort, a stage which takes a lot of effort to reach! That said, with determination, constant practice and the ability to visualize your end goal of playing well, it’s most doable.

In the realm of stringed instruments, the guitar is considered by many to be easier for beginners to learn to play than the violin. The larger strings of the guitar, and the manner of holding it, make it easier as a beginner to both play and hold than the violin. However, both instruments require dedicated practice and a willingness to challenge yourself in order to play well. Then, beyond the fact a guitar is often easier for a beginner, to play a guitar really well as you advance, you’ll find the techniques as tricky and refined as those of the violin.

It is possible but this is a particularly difficult instrument to learn without the advice, instruction and guidance of a good teacher who can adjust your posture, finger positioning, bow techniques, etc. It will be much harder for you to know that you’re doing such things correctly if trying to teach yourself. While it’s not impossible to teach yourself, it’s recommended you at least get a violin teacher for the beginning lessons, then perhaps continue the self teaching portion when you have the basics solidly sorted.

That depends on how much time you spend practicing. The more you practice, the better you will become. Usually it will take one to two years of constant practice and dedication to become "good" at playing violin, and longer to become "excellent". But it also depends on talent, having a good ear for the music and being willing to practice a great deal each day.

Since your violin is new, chances are your bow is new too. That means it will not be rosined. Without rosin, there is no 'grip', resulting in a soundless outcome. New bows tend to need lots of rosin, so be expected to rosin for at least 30 to 40 strokes! Then, you can test the bow to see if it needs more rosin or not.

While it is possible to play without a chin rest, it's not ideal. Chin rests give good support as you play the violin and help to protect your neck muscles as well. Try your local music shop, they should carry chin rests, or check online resources.

This is a more advanced technique that your teacher or somebody should show you in person. To tune a violin you can use either the pegs or fine tuners. Lots of beginners have fine tuners on their violins. As you buy more expensive violins, many will only come with one fine tuner.

Figure out a time and place where you can practice without people around you. Eventually, after enough practice, you're more likely to be willing to play in front of others. If you can't find a time or place to practice privately, try playing around people who won't criticize you too harshly, but will give you constructive criticism instead.

It is not necessary to have a teacher, if you have the resolve to focus and work towards it.

You cannot repair a broken string; you'll have to buy a new one. Putting new strings on a violin should be taken care of by a professional unless you have done it before.

The bow is an essential aspect to the violin, and learning to play properly with this is essential. Many begin by practicing with pizzicato (playing without the bow), but you should learn how to tension and use the bow properly, considering that most pieces for violin require the bow.

An easy way to get a free violin is by joining a music class at school. They will give you a violin to take home and practice.

A violin (not too expensive, maybe $100 to $200), a bow (should come with violin), rosin (might come with violin), tuner (I use the snark clip-on tuner; about $10), a method book, and a soft cloth to clean your strings.

Obtain regular tape, not the transparent type but the opaque, strong type of tape. Cut it into thin pieces and tape it on certain notes that you need to learn; have the teacher show you precisely where each relevant note is located for taping.

There are many YouTube videos that teach you how to play the violin, but not all of them teach the most efficient ways to play the violin, like a teacher would. Using YouTube can still help you learn how to play the violin though.

Rub your bow with the rosin five to eight times from the top to the bottom.

Not really. Anyone can learn an instrument, and you tend to develop more of an ear for music as you learn.

Learning vibrato is recommended at least at 3 years of experience. You'll need quite a lot of patience.

You should at least check the tuning before every play session, especially if playing with others. Minor variations in tuning are guaranteed to occur due to variations in temperature and humidity, as well as just jostling as you carry your violin around. When you play with others, your instrument needs to be tuned to match theirs, so that the music doesn't wind up sounding discordant.

You don't have to learn one instrument to learn another instrument. They are all different and you will learn the new instrument from scratch either way. Knowing one string instrument might make learning another a little easier, but there's no need to learn more than one if you don't want to.

No, you are never too old to learn, especially if you take lessons. You should definitely give it a try.

Keep playing this note. Since it's a new violin, chances are the strings are new too and you need to break them in. After a while, the strings will be adjusted!

Not really. I found a container of rosin in my great-great-grandfather's basement, and I use it on my violin today.

It depends on your standard and your stamina. If you are a beginner, start with 30 minutes a day. Once you are more advanced, you can start practicing for an hour or more.

A lot of times, it is because the body isn't used to being in that position. You can get a chin rest for it and it can help.

You can get a tuner. Consider downloading a tuner app on a phone/tablet for a violin, and when you play it will tell you if you are playing too high or too low.

Often people apply too much rosin, which can make the bow hairs slippery and cause them to lose their grip on the strings of your instrument. It also depends on how much pressure you apply with the bow. Firm pressure should make a loud, rich sound. If you apply too much or too little pressure, though, you'll often get that scratchy sound.

It should be fine, as long as your friend agrees to it. Just be aware that it might not work out, as she is not a trained instructor.

Make sure that your elbow is at the correct level when you do string crossings, and also make sure you are not putting too much arm weight on the string or being too close to the bridge.