According to the "scroll in palm" method a 3/4 violin would fit me as the full size was a big scretch in order for me to fit my hands round the scroll. I was wondering if i shouild stick to a 3/4 or opt for a full size? IS the quality of a 3/4 that horrible that ppl prefer not to use it?
sorry Im a beginner.
I'm approx 145 cm talls. and my arms are short and I wont be growing any more . heeh.
I'm a guy who is 5'0'' tall so my arms are pretty short, but I have no problems with a full sized fiddle. I can't quite get my fingers around the scroll but I've had no difficulty with the size of a full sized instrument.
My mom was 4'8'' tall, and she played a full sized violin professionally.
I think that the sizing rules are mainly for kids; for adults there's a lot more flexibility in size.
If you really don't feel comfortable with a full sized fiddle, you can find good ones in 7/8. A 3/4 fiddle is almost certainly going too far and there aren't many quality fiddles in that size.
Since you're a beginner it's going to be hard for you to tell if the fiddle is the right size, because holding any fiddle feels awkward in the beginning. I'd recommend giving a full-sized fiddle a chance and maybe look at a smaller one if you really feel the size itself is a problem for you.
My student violinists (middle school orchestra, ages 11-14) look forward to "upgrading" to a full-size instrument. About half of them have completed the journey. A 3/4 sized fiddle sounds 3/4ths as good as a full-sized one, IMHO.
If you hang around fiddle festivals and some shops in the Midwest USA (and presumably other places) you can find full size fiddles which have 3/4 size necks grafted on to them. My main fiddle is a Neuner that someone had done this to quite some time ago - nice little fiddle. I did this to minimize wear and stretch on my hands from playing fast ornaments for hours on end (I have small hands too). From the sound, you wouldn't know it's just a little smaller.
That said, if you've got good technique you really shouldn't have any problems - my same small hands also play a 16 3/8 viola.
I guess it just depends. I'm also 4'8" and when I play a full size (which I tried for several months) my arm is straight out with no bend in the elbow at all. It's really hard for me to play for long without getting sore, plus fingering the notes is more difficult because I can't arch my fingers far enough over the fingerboard with my arm straight out. My hands are really small and my fingers are correspondling short. My teacher recommended going to a 3/4 to avoid muscle problems. I've been told that my 3/4 is more like a 7/8ths but I don't know what the measurements are for either of those. Anybody have those? I'm curious as to what my fiddle really is
I've had people make comments about 3/4's never being as loud or good sounding as full size fiddles. But honestly, what are small people supposed to do?? I had one made after saving up the money and it sure seems loud enough to me. I guess you need to choose which is more comfortable.
Christine, while teaching kids over the years, I've seen some terrific 3/4 fiddles, every bit as tonally rich and loud as most better full size fiddles. It's not as though Irish sessions are for Strads and Amatis only....
I say go with whatever size fits your physiology, and find the best instrument in that size that you can afford. Having one custom made, as you did, seems like a great approach to the situation.
3/4 violin for me?
3/4 violin for me?
According to the "scroll in palm" method a 3/4 violin would fit me as the full size was a big scretch in order for me to fit my hands round the scroll. I was wondering if i shouild stick to a 3/4 or opt for a full size? IS the quality of a 3/4 that horrible that ppl prefer not to use it?
sorry Im a beginner.
I'm approx 145 cm talls. and my arms are short and I wont be growing any more . heeh.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by chicken
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
I'm a guy who is 5'0'' tall so my arms are pretty short, but I have no problems with a full sized fiddle. I can't quite get my fingers around the scroll but I've had no difficulty with the size of a full sized instrument.
My mom was 4'8'' tall, and she played a full sized violin professionally.
I think that the sizing rules are mainly for kids; for adults there's a lot more flexibility in size.
If you really don't feel comfortable with a full sized fiddle, you can find good ones in 7/8. A 3/4 fiddle is almost certainly going too far and there aren't many quality fiddles in that size.
Since you're a beginner it's going to be hard for you to tell if the fiddle is the right size, because holding any fiddle feels awkward in the beginning. I'd recommend giving a full-sized fiddle a chance and maybe look at a smaller one if you really feel the size itself is a problem for you.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Marklar
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
My student violinists (middle school orchestra, ages 11-14) look forward to "upgrading" to a full-size instrument. About half of them have completed the journey. A 3/4 sized fiddle sounds 3/4ths as good as a full-sized one, IMHO.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
If you hang around fiddle festivals and some shops in the Midwest USA (and presumably other places) you can find full size fiddles which have 3/4 size necks grafted on to them. My main fiddle is a Neuner that someone had done this to quite some time ago - nice little fiddle. I did this to minimize wear and stretch on my hands from playing fast ornaments for hours on end (I have small hands too). From the sound, you wouldn't know it's just a little smaller.
That said, if you've got good technique you really shouldn't have any problems - my same small hands also play a 16 3/8 viola.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by reenactor
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
I guess it just depends. I'm also 4'8" and when I play a full size (which I tried for several months) my arm is straight out with no bend in the elbow at all. It's really hard for me to play for long without getting sore, plus fingering the notes is more difficult because I can't arch my fingers far enough over the fingerboard with my arm straight out. My hands are really small and my fingers are correspondling short. My teacher recommended going to a 3/4 to avoid muscle problems. I've been told that my 3/4 is more like a 7/8ths but I don't know what the measurements are for either of those. Anybody have those? I'm curious as to what my fiddle really is
I've had people make comments about 3/4's never being as loud or good sounding as full size fiddles. But honestly, what are small people supposed to do?? I had one made after saving up the money and it sure seems loud enough to me. I guess you need to choose which is more comfortable.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by soft black stars
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
Christine, while teaching kids over the years, I've seen some terrific 3/4 fiddles, every bit as tonally rich and loud as most better full size fiddles. It's not as though Irish sessions are for Strads and Amatis only....
I say go with whatever size fits your physiology, and find the best instrument in that size that you can afford. Having one custom made, as you did, seems like a great approach to the situation.
# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Will CPT
Re: 3/4 violin for me?
I agree with Cheshire. You play what you feel fits right. I'd try for a full size eventually, but until you feel ready, stick to what you got now.
# Posted on April 16th 2007 by fiddler Winch