Jonathan Khor
Learning a new instrument is indeed exhilarating and confusing. If you've just bought your first violin and aren't sure what to do next, don't panic. You have come to the right place.
Because we understand how it feels like there’s a sea of things for beginners to have, we invited Jonathan Khor, a local professional violinist and music educator, to help us narrow down just what you'll need to get started.
After all, it's always a good idea to inquire about your instructor's preferred essentials and their favourite brands, right?
6 Essential Violin Accessories a Violinist Should Own
Table of Contents
One of the most important things every beginner must have in their violin case is a bow rosin. And of course, nothing beats Gustave Bernardel Rosin. It increases the friction of the bow against the strings and amplifies the sound of the violin so much that one would think the user had paid a few thousand dollars more for instrument.
Features
This premium-grade light French rosin can be used on the violin, viola, or cello and is recognised for its purity and lack of bubbles. It is made of high-quality selected pine tree galipots. For simplicity of use and longevity, the product is additionally packaged in a high-quality cloth wrapping within a strong wallet.
Performance
This product is highly regarded as a top-quality rosin among professional string players. And because it does not build residual powder and is suitable for synthetic and nylon bow hair, it’s loved by many professionals and beginner musicians. So if you're seeking an inexpensive rosin that enhances your tone brilliantly, Gustave Bernardel Rosin is the way to go.
Beginners and professionals alike often struggle to find and maintain the appropriate speed when playing the violin. So, if you’re working on your rhythm or speed, a metronome tool is a need.
Features
The Cherub metronome is a great tool for a violinist as it will help the musician to play at a consistent tempo or speed so that you don’t inadvertently speed up or slow down. It is powered by a winding mechanism which means it doesn’t need a battery, allowing you to use it anytime you want.
Performance
The metronome's adjustable tempo ranges from 40 to 208 bpm, giving players a variety of options to hone their rhythmic abilities. Keep in mind that the “tick-tock” sounds are quite loud. However, since your violin can be loud too, you want to be able to distinguish the beat from your instrument.
Do beginners need a tuner? The answer is a firm and undoubted yes. It's essential to have a tuner to make sure your violin stays in tune. If you're considering buying one, the KORG Chromatic Tuner might be your best pocket-sized tuning solution.
Features
The CA50 tuner has a small, compact form and high-precision tuning capabilities. Plus, it provides musicians with an enjoyable tuning experience through its clear and easy operation. A needly-type metre is displayed on the LCD screen to rapidly and precisely display the correct note. Thanks to the easy-to-read display, your violin will always stay in tune.
Performance
What’s great about this tuner is its calibration function. The fact that this function supports a variety of concert pitches is another reason why professionals recommend it to beginner violinists. This tuner can be adjusted in 1 Hz units in the range of 410 to 480 Hz, allowing more flexibility to fit the tuning to a song or key.
Maintaining a proper posture while holding a violin must be hard for a student or a beginner. This is why the expert suggests using the FOM Violin Shoulder Rest to ensure that you can play the violin for an extended time without discomfort.
Features
The simple reason for every violinist beginner to have shoulder rest is to help hold the violin. It features both height and width that can be adjusted, with adjustable curvature up to 90 degrees to prevent the instrument from slipping. It is also made with high-quality plastic with a composite foam surface, to provide you with extra comfort as possible.
Performance
Because it is crafted with high-quality material, it is recommended by senior professional violin players to those who have just begun learning. Every violinist adores it since the pad is comfortable on the shoulder and reduces shoulder stress. Therefore, the FOM Violin Shoulder Rest might be something to think about if you're looking for one.
Have you ever played the violin and the violin string broke out of the blue? Even worse, you are left with no spare strings for your next session. This is something that happens to every musician, so it’s best to prepare multiple sets of Synwin Violin Strings.
Features
The Synwin string set is the best for giving violinists a pleasing tone when playing the violin. With multiple sets of strings to choose from, your next play won't be interrupted as you can change it in no time. This string also features a moderate tension ball end, to give a more stable tune when the string is played.
Performance
Because this violin string produces a more pleasing note when played, users love using it and recommend it to all beginners. As violin strings can break unexpectedly, it is safe to keep 2 or 3 complete sets of strings in your violin case. So, even if you’re practising or playing in it an event, you can always have a spare set of strings to change.
Practising the violin when there’s no one home won't be a problem. But if you have other people living under the same roof, it’s best to have this violin mute. It will help to dampen the sound of your violin when you’re practicing those less-than-perfect scales.
Features
Experts highly recommend this violin mute since it is made of high-quality material, has a five-prong design, and works with 4/4 violins. It is an essential tool for those who want to practise the violin without disturbing others. The best part about this violin mute is how simple it is to set up—just place it on top of the bridge and you're all set!
Performance
Users adore this violin mute because it makes the violin sound mellower and smoother. Aside from that, this violin mute has a superb muting effect that doesn't even compromise the instrument's high-quality sound and clear tone. Although using a violin mute can help dampen sound, it's not recommended to do so constantly.
FAQs
- Is violin hard to learn? What should I know before learning the violin?
According to Jonathan, the violin is the most difficult musical instrument to learn. Despite so, that doesn’t mean one should give up on their dream to become a violinist. It’s just that it takes a lot of discipline to play the instrument. If you can commit and don’t mind practising a lot to produce a good result, that already makes you a good student and player. So, by all means, give it a shot.
- What size of violin do I need?
The violin size depends on the age and height of the learner. For adults, full-size violins would do perfectly. But for children between the age of 5-12, Jonathan recommends they go to a music shop with their parents or guardian and try holding different violin sizes. The shop owner or salesman should be able to recommend which is the perfect size.
- How do I confirm that the violin I picked is a perfect size?
Pursuant to Jonathan’s tips, to determine which violin size is appropriate for you, measure the distance between your neck and the centre of your left-hand palm. When holding the violin at the neck, users should straighten their left hand and if the violin scroll reaches the middle of the left palm, that is the maximum size they can use.
- When should I put new strings on my violin?
It is contingent on how frequently you play the violin. Strings should be changed every 9 months ideally, although Jonathan suggests every 3-6 months if you play every day. If the strings are dusty, rusted, or sound dull, you should consider changing them.
- What should I not do with my violin?
Never clean the violin and the violin bow with water
- You will not only ruin the varnish but also the wood if you do so. Because the adhesive is water-soluble, it may cause seams to open, necessitating professional repair.
- The best approach to maintain it clean is to use a very soft cotton or microfiber cloth to wipe off the rosin and dust each time you finish playing.
- If it becomes too dirty to clean, take it to a reputable violin shop for a thorough cleaning.
Don’t leave your violin in extreme temperatures
- String instruments, like violins, are best preserved under moderate temperatures.
- The temperature should be between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius, and the humidity should be between 40 and 55 per cent.
- Extreme weather has the potential to loosen pegs, produce unpleasant whistling sounds, and encourage the formation of cracks.
- Reminder: Always keep your violin and bow in their case when not playing.
Keep your instrument in its case when going from a cool to a warm environment. The quick temperature shift may disrupt the tune or cause the glue to come loose.