The Best Violins for Beginners

Which Violin Should You Start With?

This is less a question of age and more a matter of size, as it depends on the length of your arm. For adults, the 4/4 size is almost always the right choice. Another important factor is playability. String height and the fingerboard are ultimately more important than the tonewood, as is clean workmanship.

Our Recommendations for Violins up to £350

Getting started with a reasonable instrument for under £100 is rather difficult, although exceptions include violins from Monzani or Fame.

Violin Sizes

The size of the violin is crucial. Choosing the wrong size leads to poor posture, which can ultimately cause frustration while learning and intonation problems.
Here is a tabular overview:

Note: These are general guidelines. The most important factor for choosing the right size is arm length (measured from the base of the neck to the wrist with the arm extended sideways). When in doubt, it’s better to choose the smaller size.

Playability of the Violin

Many inexpensive sets fail not because of the wood, but because of the setup. A properly adjusted instrument will sound better than a more expensive one that is poorly set up. Beginners benefit from:

• low, clean string action
• a properly dressed fingerboard
• a correctly fitted bridge
• smoothly turning tuning pegs
• a properly positioned soundpost

How Should a Violin Sound?

Of course, a £150 violin will not sound like a £3,000 instrument. However, beginners do not need a “warm concert tone,” but rather a clean and responsive sound.

Our Recommendations for Violins up to £500

With a violin in the £300–500 range, you’ll have a very solid starting point for beginners and advancing players alike.

The Electric Violin

The electric violin is an alternative to the classical violin if you want to play modern sounds. Its tone can differ completely from that of a traditional violin, especially when using effects units. Here you can learn everything about the electric violin