Aside from guitar, the violin is one of the commonly used string instrument these days. This is also called as fiddle according to experts, this is the smallest yet it has the highest pitch in the family of violins amongst string instruments. Before buying this musical instrument, it is essential to know its types and violin sizes so that users won’t find it too big or too small for them especially the children.
There are 2 types of violin – the acoustic and the electric. For beginners, it is best to use the acoustic violin but for advanced learners, they can use the electric which produce sharper sounds once there is a signal output for electronic devices.
When buying a violin, there are a few guidelines since users need to be comfortable with the violin size and the violin bow sizes. There are different violin sizes that are appropriate for children of a certain age range and even in adults. By looking over the internet, there are violin sizes chart which serves as a reference to buy the right kind of violin. Today, there are 9 different violin sizes with 1/32 is the smallest while 4/4 is the highest. Here are the appropriate violin sizes for children depending on their age and the violin size for adults.
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1/32 is the smallest violin size and it measures about 13 inches. This is suitable for children from the age of 2-3 years old;
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1/16 is best for children ages 3 1/2 to about 4 years old;
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1/10 can be used by children at the age of 4. In the violin sizes chart, this size measures up to 15 inches;
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1/8 is best for children at 5 years old and the violin size inches is around 16 inches
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1/4 is the 4th biggest size and this can be used by children from age 6 to 7 years old;
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1/2 violin size is ideal for those at the age of 8 to 9 years old;
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3/4 is the second largest in all violin sizes. This measures about 22 inches and is suitable for children from the age of 10 to 11;
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4/4 is the biggest size in violins and this is suitable for users 11 years and above. This measures about 23 inches or more and a lot of violin sellers call this as the “full size”.
Aside from the violin sizes, it is also crucial to select a violin size by just feeling it. Remember that the instruments are meant to be played so they need to be comfortable with it. By feeling the body of the violin, plucking the strings and even the design would dictate how much the musician likes the violin.
Lastly, doing a scroll test before buying a violin depending on the violin sizes is also recommended. The scroll test is done by holding it with the left hand (if you are right handed) or right hand (if you are left handed). Then hold it upright until the scroll. If the left hand can wrap the around the scroll’s curve and if while doing so, there is a level of comfort and even with bending the left arm, then the violin is the perfect fit for the probable owner.