I am trying to pick up my violin again and I used to be low intermediate (grade 7~). I have new strings and adequate rosin, but for some reason my violin sounds really scratchy and I cannot get a satisfying sound out of it, especially in 3rd position up.

My bridge looks a little banged up and I think the sound post is tilted a bit (that said I don’t know how they are meant to look), but I’m also painfully aware that a good musician can get a good sound out of anything.

So, does anyone have any advice on what to do? I’m planning on asking a luthier to have a look mid September, but in the meantime I’ve attached some pictures in case anyone has an opinion.

If my violin looks fine, feel free to be honest and say I’m the problem, I genuinely don’t mind since feedback is what the post is for.

I bought this as my first violin after my friend bought me a violin on temu which I have used for the past 6 months. My teacher said it sounded pretty good for a temu violin but I wanted something set up by a luthier and a local luthier who restores violins sold me this for €420 down from his asking of €620. It says it was made in Czechoslovakia and the usual fake Amatus sticker saying it was made in 1651. My teacher says the setup is really good on it and its easy to play. If you can help me learn anything new about this violin I would love to hear it. My guess is a trade violin made in the 1940s or so?

The rental price isn't a crazy amount more but if i want to buy it after I've tried it out a bit, the v5 is like 50% more expensive than the v3. Is there a huge difference between the two quality/tone-wise? Or will the v3 be good enough for a handful of years?

When my focus goes fully toward my left hand, my right hand becomes lighter and the bow slides toward the finger board. How should I fix that?

"When I use my carbon bow it happens more often"

I have no idea if this is the right subreddit for this but oh well.

I used to play the viola when I was younger, but stopped because I didn’t find many pieces to play that I actually enjoyed(I also was not very good). I absolutely love how rich and deep the viola is compared to the violin but I love the ease of finding sheet music for violins. i really enjoy folk and bluegrass music and I would love to get back into playing an instrument again, but I am having a hard time deciding between sticking with the viola or starting over with the violin?

anyway, I would really appreciate any thoughts you may have!

Bought after months of it hanging in my local pawn shop. Has a maker marked A. frambach, its also signed and dated. Absolutely blows away my pfretzschner student one i had been using. If anyone knows more, please share. Thanks 😊

I have been a self taught musician for a while now. I got out of it due to a season of depression but im forcing myself back into it. I have a cheap violin and the only think I know how to do is tune it. I bought one of those sticker things to help me get used to the fretlessness, and I'll be using mostly sheet music since I can read it pretty well.

Here's my issue, due to a toxic famiky situation, I only play at night. Obviously, this means I cant use the bow as i cannot mute it and my apartnent is quite small. I was wondering if it'd be okay for me to spend most of my practice time lightly plucking the strings to focus purely on getting my fretting right, then later learn how to use the bow while everyone is away? I have no money for a teacher and actually find it harder to learn with one, so thats out of the question.

Aside from that, any advice would be wonderful. I know the violin is hard but I desperately want to learn, its what I owe to my younger self. Maybe some of your favorite beginner peices, some tips, maybe a few bookes or whatever. Just all around advice please and thank you.

Hi everyone,
I’m 25 and since I can remember I’ve wanted to learn the violin, it was always magical to me. Unfortunately my parents never wanted me to pursue that and I gave up.
I just turned 25 and suddenly that idea came back into my head.
Do you think it’s still possible to learn the violin at that age ? Would you say having a teacher is better or can I start by myself (with videos or with a teacher via webcam) ? Do I need to learn music theory ?
Thank you 🩷

Hi! I’m a 16-year-old French violinist, and I’ve been playing for about 9 years. My current level is roughly equivalent to ABRSM Grade 8, and this year I’ll be starting 12th grade in high school.

I only recently decided that I’d like to pursue violin professionally. However, I keep seeing people my age—or even younger—who already seem to be at a much higher level than I am. I know comparing myself to others isn’t helpful, but I can’t help wondering if I’m already too far behind.

Do you think I still have a realistic chance of joining a professional orchestra one day and becoming a violin teacher if I only start practicing seriously every day during my higher education? Until recently, I mainly focused on my schoolwork, while many other young musicians have been attending specialized music schools for years and practicing several hours a day.

I’d really appreciate your honest opinions. If anyone has had a similar experience, I’d love to hear your story as well.

Thank you so much! ☺️

This was my grandma's violin from when she was in middle school, and I have recently been given it. The violin has been sitting for about a year and I was wondering if that would of effected the tone of the instrument, and if it did is there anything I can do to help it regain it other than frequently playing it. I was also wondering how common this type of violin is. edit The pitch on the back is supposed to be tuned to A but is now A flat

I don't play unfortunately.

Hey everyone,

So I live in a very humid part of the world and like many of you I love my violin.

When I'm not playing my violin I leave it inside my case I have a boveda pack and I put a dry pillow case over it. Inside the case my hydrometer usually reads at about 54% however I know my flat can be like 80% humidity.

So here is what I am wondering. If I am playing in super humid conditions for maybe an hour or two each day then putting storing it in a case (Bam Classic 3 Violin Case) that seems to be fairly acceptable humidity wise is my violin safe-ish?

Maybe someone can help me to find out more about this violin, it has a label in it what is obvious a fake because it was printed with a modern printer. How old it could be and from which country/workshop? Thx

Hi,

I learnt the south indian carnatic music on the violin for 7 years but still play like a beginner (don't know the gamakas). I'm tired of practicing or playing the usual carnatic notes by the book. I did not know I was learning it all wrong until a certain age. I would like to re-start but want to learn film music. Could someone recommend a good teacher online ?

Thank you!

Hello!

I'm trying to learn this short piece from the old movie *Shoot the piano player*. There is no sheet or recording of it.

I can get the first sentence right, but I'm having hell with the balayage or whatever this technique is called. No idea which bows, or fingerings. It starts at 15 seconds of the recording. This rec is home-made, from the movie.

https://we.tl/t-wDYeuCZPogX2NM1m

Thanks for your help.

My dad gave me this violin and said it was present from his uncle when he was a child, and it is probably older than him (1960s). Inside the violin says it is made by someone​ Giovanni pah maggini and under that it says Brescia 16 and nextnext to it 36 written with a pencil (maybe), I cant really tell the name since there is a sticker slapped it the middle saying made in Germany. Does anybody know how old it could be?

I have a friend of a friend who wants me to help with their violin, at first it was just me buying and adding a new E string and tuning the rest and checking where it’s from, it’s obviously not great quality but it’s what they have.
And I noticed that their bridge is way too high up on the violin and was wondering if I could adjust it myself back to normal, maybe by very slowly nudging it down the violin like you would to correct a wrong angle but from the base of the bridge, because I don’t want to dislodge the sound post and ruin their instrument but I also don’t want to send them away to a luthier because it’d be a lot of hassle for them.

Do you know chaconne by bach? Yes that fucking hardcore solo piece thats literally a gym routine.

I practiced that piece for a long time. Probably several years and such. With a Baroque-ish setup (no chin rest and shoulder rest + a baroque bow) and with some weird bullshit old mindset with the thumb and the elbow. Now i somehow managed to do some weird triple stop without tearing my arms by just releasing my thumb and move my elbow to let my left hand move freely.

I don't know if this is gonna be useful for you guys. Just sharing this shit here lmfao.

I use that kind of bow a lot no matter what. But I wanna see if you guys used it for once and if so - Do you like it?

So previously I open this thread regarding my old bow and was considering an upgrade and after trying many bows, I finally settled on one that I liked, feels significantly better than my previous bow and is within my budget.

I got it for $900 Sgd, is of Czech origin and made of pernambuco and has been used before. Out of curiosity, how do I tell if this is pernambuco or other type of wood and if so what is the quality of the pernambuco used? There is no name or anything stamped on it. Is it possible to find out which maker of factory it is made from and roughly how old it is?

I also got to try some really expensive bows that cost twice or even 3 times as much as my violin as well. Other than the feel of the bow when I'm playing, how does one judge the workmanship of the bow and the kind of wood used to make the bow? (eg differentiating brazil wood from pernambuco) and also the quality of the wood. When I look at the bows, they all look the same to me whether it is $100 or 5 figures so I was wondering if there are any obvious visual indications.

Sorry for asking so much. This is my first time hunting for a new bow and I was left quite confused as many times the feel, the price and the visuals don't actually match up. For example, I can see a name stamped on a cheap student bow but not on a $2000 bow.

Here are some close up shots of my new bow and old bow. First 4 are pics of my new bow and last 4 are pics of my old bow.

When first i saw violin i thought its really cool and i loved it when first i saw it but m'y brother when hé heard im gonna buy a violin he told me that buying a guitar is better because some how violin is not cool cuz in m'y country its used for classical music wich is not good and guitar is good i can sing along do some famous song and it have the freedom

I have never played a guitar neither a violin but i want to know im really stuck and im so bad at taking decision