Depending on the level of interest that the new violinist has in the instrument, it’s hard to determine which is the best beginner violin.
Perhaps your elementary school child has a friend who plays and they decided it would be fun to learn. In this case, the best choice is a less expensive violin since their interest is surface level.
A beginner with more serious musical intentions might want a more expensive violin. They will appreciate the quality and can sell it once they decide to upgrade.
Below, we have options for both scenarios. Whether you want to spend more or you prefer to spend less, check out the top choices for beginners along with some tips on what to look for as you browse.
Things to Consider
Before you select a violin, consider the following:
- Starter Kit. Violin starter kits are great for those who have no idea where to begin when it comes to selecting a violin.
They help introduce you to the care and violin essentials until you learn more about the instrument and develop your own personal preferences.
- Strings. Sometimes a change of the strings can make a huge difference in the sound of the violin, so if you spend money on one and aren’t pleased, then ask an expert which strings you might try and the different sounds that they produce.
our best violin for beginners picks
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D’Luca Meister Beginner Violin Outfit Specs
The D’Luca DL-45012 Beginner Violin Outfit comes in ½, ¼, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, ¾ and full sizes. It’s an ebony fitted violin that comes with a light and durable case, a bow and resin to keep the bow working perfectly.
The bow is made from Brazilwood and has an ebony frog and genuine Mongolian horsehair. It’s a handmade violin with a solid spruce top as well as maple back and sides.
This violin has a varnish finish with inlaid purfling and an ebony chin rest, pegs and fingerboard. It also has four nickel fine tuners to make tuning easy.
This violin comes in at just under $160.00 depending on the size you order. Luckily, there are so many sizes that if you are looking for a violin for a child to start learning on and you decide you like these violins, you can easily move up to the bigger sizes as your child grows.
That’s incredibly convenient considering how well-priced these violins are. Typically, these kinds of instruments can go for $1000 or more so it’s always wonderful if you can find one you like that fits the average budget better.
Pros
- The D’Luca violin is a very solid instrument, which is important because typically instruments are known to be rather fragile.
- Because violins don’t take much to leave a scar or knock them out of tune, especially if you’re purchasing a violin for a child, it’s always good to get one you know will be a little bit tougher than usual.
- The kit comes with a lot of additional pieces so you won’t have to worry about purchasing a case or rosin extra. You always have the option if you find something you prefer but the add-ons that come with the kit will certainly do the trick otherwise.
Pros
- With any product that you order online, it’s important to keep as much information as you can. Things like payment and shipping confirmations as well as warranty information can be very useful in the event that the violin arrives broken in some way.
- While these violins have been widely appreciated, a few customers have discovered things like scratches on the violins or bows that or broken or break quickly after they are received.
Stentor 4-String Violin
As a highly recommended beginner violin by teachers and violinists, Stentor 4-String Violin really has something to offer. It’s made of high-quality tonewoods — carved solid Spruce on the top and carved Maple for the back and sides. This ensures that the sound is powerful with better projection.
Aside from the body, the scroll has a remarkable cut. The inlaid purfling is also worth mentioning because it adds to the stunning details of the violin. The golden brown finish perfects the picture for the traditional look of the instrument.
It has composite alloy tailpiece with integrated adjusters and ebony pegs. You’ve got ebony fittings, tuning pegs, and fingerboard, as well. The fingerboard, particularly, feels sturdy, since ebony is durable.
Since the adjusters and tuners are good enough, I would like to note that it has D’Addario Prelude steel strings. The violin stays in tune for weeks, but first, you have to break them in. New strings will still stretch over several days.
Pros
- A superior instrument in terms of construction and finish
- Playable and produces a nice tone
- The bow is of good quality and solid
Pros
- Issues with strings snapping
- There’s a need for small adjustment of the bridge
- Fittings are made of low-quality ebony
Mendini MV400
With lively design and color, you’ll expect that Mendini MV400 Violin could offer you lively performances, too. With a vibrant and bright tone, you’ll want to play more. This is a full-sized beginner violin, which is perfect not just for kids, but for adults to learn on as well.
It’s easy to learn, play and extremely easy to handle. In fact, I love playing it for hours because of the adjustable shoulder rest. Though it seems cheaper, it still gives comfort to me while playing.
The MV400 by Mendini is a solidwood violin with hand-carved spruce top and hand-carved maple for the back and sides. The varnish finish and the purfling make it an exquisite-looking instrument. With his violin’s comfort and its looks, you’ll surely stand out on stage with your beautiful performance.
The built-in fine tuners, alloy tailpiece, and the ebony pegs keep the strings intact, so they stay in perfect tune.
Pros
- Plays remarkably well and I enjoy playing it
- Shoulder rest is extremely comfortable
- Construction is great and excellent
Pros
- A bit weak rosin
- It’s quite painstaking to tighten the strings and tune it for the first time
- Bow feels cheaper, so I replace it with a new one
Mendini MV500+92D Violin
Another great full size violin is the Mendini, a more cost-effective option that isn’t lacking in quality.
This solid, hand carved spruce violin has ebony fingerboard, pegs and chinrest, the Cecilio 92D chromatic string tuner with metronome and two bows.
While it may not be the best violin for beginners who want a serious entry-level piece, it is great for those who want a full size violin without making a serious investment.
Pros
- Sound is perfect, not too bright nor too dark
- Easily holds the tuning for weeks, even if used daily
- Ebony pegs, fingerboard, and chin rest, seems a solid construction
Pros
- Extremely small, so it’s uncomfortable
- Bridge seems thicker than other models
Bunnel Pupil Violin Outfit
The best beginner violin on our list is the Bunnel Pupil full size violin, designed for students who will eventually need to change to a professional violin as they improve.
While this is an entry-level student violin, it is certainly not lacking in quality. It features 100% ebony fittings (fingerboard and pegs), hand carved maple bridge, hand-rubbed oil-based finish and is pre-strung with D’Addario Prelude strings.
The bow is made of a genuine Brazilwood and Mongolian horsehair with mother of pearl accents.
It also comes with the case that has a hygrometer so you can track the moisture level inside. Padded straps, extra strings and a cleaning cloth are also included!
Pros
- Produce pleasing tones, warm and rich
- No need to set it up, playable right out of the box
- It has impressive resonance
Pros
- Some small players may find it hefty with 7lbs weight
- It’s pricier than other violins with the same specs
Buying Guide for the Best Beginner Violin
If you would like to find the perfect beginner violin, consider some of the guidelines found in here. Here is a quick look on how to find your perfect beginner violin.
Tonewood
We highly recommend looking into the tonewood, which has to do with the quality build of the violin. However, tonewoods vary from one product to another, being maple sides, backs and necks and spruce tops as the common ones.
For example, spruce is a favorite for soundboards for its density and stiffness. Its density can make for a better resonance versus porous woods.
Size
Check the size of the violin. Do not go for a too big instrument. Or else, choosing the improper size can affect technique. It may also contribute to back, neck and arm pain or injuries.
There you have some of the things to check when buying a good beginner violin that you need to know for reference.
How to Choose the Best Violin for Beginners
There are different factors to consider when selecting a beginner violin:
Sizing your Violin
If you are older than 11 years old, then you will need a standard-sized beginner violin, which is 4/4. Children will require something smaller, which can be measured with the help of a violin instructor.
Quality
There are different kinds of tonewood that make the violin sound the way it does. I highly recommend that you get soundboards made of spruce and ebony fingerboards for a stiff and dense sound, made of quality handiwork and quality material for the violin to last for a longer time.
Price
Consider how much your budget is for a violin. A good beginner violin is usually made of lower-quality and made for students who aren’t sure of playing it for the long-term. These range between $100 to $400, which is a good price already.
