Learn About Music Instruments

I’ve had seven years with Piano playing, five on clarinet and one year on Guitar. I now want to take up the Violin as a hobby/side instrument. I probably won’t be taking private lessons on it, but rather teaching myself through books and the like.

Is the notation dramatically different? Are fingerings easy to memorize or are they difficult? Moreover, how much can I expect to pay for a decent quality violin?

kay im a violinist and it is rather easy to learn and you really shouldn’t have a problem ive been playing for 5 years and i taught my self and now im doing concerts so if i can do it you sure can use Essential elements books. you learn well with those

and really your gonna have to dig deep in ur pocket if you want somthing with a great tone….
about $500-800
so yea and buying extra things like
strings
bows
rosin
cloths
books
sometimes peg lube
tuner

What makes different violins adaptable for various uses? What is different about a pro concert violin, from a solo violin, what other archetypes of Violins are there? What’s the difference between Stradivarius’ f-holes from Guarneri and Amati?

I would go some of the good violin sites and ask a professional luthier

I’ve been able to read music since I was 6 and I’ve played guitar and bass for 8 years. I taught myself Piano, and I play Drums, so I can keep tempo in my head. My only problem is that I’m not sure if I can get used to not having any frets. I refuse to buy a violin with frets, as I think its cheating, and not truly mastering the instrument. Any suggestions for a good beginning violin? I’m only 4 ft 11 in, so I have really tiny hands too. Thanks.

There’s no such thing as a "Violin with frets." I’m not sure what you’re referring to.

The violin is difficult, but can be learned if you have patience and a good teacher. It takes a year to get really good sound, as a rule, and about five years to master all the basics.

Regarding your size, you will need to get a fractional violin; violins come in not just the full size (4/4), but 3/4, 1/2, etc..all the way down to a 1/32.

I’ve been able to read music since I was 6 and I’ve played guitar and bass for 8 years. I taught myself Piano, and I play Drums, so I can keep tempo in my head. My only problem is that I’m not sure if I can get used to not having any frets. I refuse to buy a violin with frets, as I think its cheating, and not truly mastering the instrument. Any suggestions for a good beginning violin? I’m only 4 ft 11 in, so I have really tiny hands too. Thanks.

There’s no such thing as a "Violin with frets." I’m not sure what you’re referring to.

The violin is difficult, but can be learned if you have patience and a good teacher. It takes a year to get really good sound, as a rule, and about five years to master all the basics.

Regarding your size, you will need to get a fractional violin; violins come in not just the full size (4/4), but 3/4, 1/2, etc..all the way down to a 1/32.

How to reduce the squeaking sound to make the violin sound better? Does applying too much rosin cause this? I watched plenty of homemade violin videos on youtube, they all have the "ga ga ga" sound. (Yes, I do realize not enough practice or a cheaply made Violin may also be the cause, but please do not note them in the answer.)

The squeaking sound is, in my experience, usually caused by pressing too hard with the bow.Too little rosin wil make the bow slide around on the string but I’ve never heard of too much.Try this. Hold the violin in playing position. Hold the bow in the correct grip, and just rwst it on the strings, with no pressure.Draw the bow gently across the strings. It should sound a clear note. Repeat, pressing a little harder on the bow, until it starts to squeak. Then u know how much pressure is too much. Hope this helps

Sunday I finally picked a new violin that suited me, and it’s great and everything, but the pegs are so stiff that I can’t tune it myself. I either have to have my teacher or the upperclassman that sits next to me tune it, and I’d like to know what to do?
I have skinny hands?
I don’t know, it’s just that even if I put my Violin on my lap and try to turn the pegs with all of my strength, I just can’t do it. I could do it easily on my old one though.

Is there something wrong with your hands?

If not, it’s just practice. Nothing to do with how stiff the pegs are. If the person next to you can tune it, you can tune it. Just be careful and gentle.

How to reduce the squeaking sound to make the violin sound better? Does applying too much rosin cause this? I watched plenty of homemade violin videos on youtube, they all have the "ga ga ga" sound. (Yes, I do realize not enough practice or a cheaply made Violin may also be the cause, but please do not note them in the answer.)

The squeaking sound is, in my experience, usually caused by pressing too hard with the bow.Too little rosin wil make the bow slide around on the string but I’ve never heard of too much.Try this. Hold the violin in playing position. Hold the bow in the correct grip, and just rwst it on the strings, with no pressure.Draw the bow gently across the strings. It should sound a clear note. Repeat, pressing a little harder on the bow, until it starts to squeak. Then u know how much pressure is too much. Hope this helps

I am interested in buying a violin to start learning to play, but I dont know what to look for.
I am looking for a 4/4, I just need to know what kind of quality and how to identify it.

It really depends are you a junior player? you should read how they are constucted to get an idea

http://www.centrum.is/hansi/

the acoustics of a violin

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/violin/

there is a shopping guide that is very professional

http://www.Violin-world.com/

Is sound the different? Or how long it’s going to last? What makes a violin a good violin?

The quality of the violin depends on the quality of the wood used and the workmanship. Having said this, if you use top notch wood but the luthier is so so, you will get a so so product and vice versa.

The better the wood, the better the sound will get with time because the wood vibrates and eventually, the tone improves due to the quality of the wood.

A cheap violin for practicing is the way to start and eventually, buy a very good one. You will appreciate a more expensive violin because your ear will have gotten use to the cheap Violin. Because you are able to play better, you will notice the sound, the response the playability almost instantly.

Enjoy

I was asked by a neighbor to play Violin as background music for their parent’s anniversary party. I haven’t accepted or refused yet, I told them that I would think about it. I personally do not think that a solo violin is good background music. What do you guys think? If you think that this could work, do you know any advanced pieces for the violin that would be good for background music?

Violin plays best with an orchestra or another instrument.
But if it’s just a simple party, who cares. Probably the noise of the party will cover your violin sound anyways. I remember once in a birthday party, someone had a string quartet playing some background music. Everyone was so busy chatting and laughing and no one bothered to listen.