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Hi guys,
My name is Steve and I live in Australia. Ive been contemplating about learning the violin for quite a long time so now think ill start that happening. Im an... Intermediate? guitar and bass player. Played the drums in school,and would love to continue it but my baby is loud enough atm. I dont play much anymore due to other commitments (I hit the gym,learning swedish and have a 10 month old baby). But one of the main reason I dont play is i broke my left index finger when i was in primary school (im 30 now) and i cant play quite a few chords, or for long periods playing certain music ( e.g when i tried to learn Clapton) without getting alot of pain there.
I love classical music as my grandad was a pianist and a champion accordion player. My uncles were brilliant on the guitar along with my brother. I think i got whats left of the talent pool haha.
I love my heavy metal, rock music. Ive found alot of northern European metal absolutely thrilling and a nice change to what mainstream play.
Id love to play violin more from the metal scene but im sure id love to learn the classical music if i was to keep at it.
I think id be looking at more the conventional accoustic violin, as thats what i fell in love with.
Excuse the long introduction but i feel its important so you guys know where im heading haha.
If i have missed something please note this :).
Steve
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Welcome @perrin_07 !
I've a sort-of similar background to yourself (the guitar to violin transition) apart from the fact that I left it another full 30 years !!! Hahahaha
What I will say is that I now play the violin (fiddle music generally) on a daily basis, and, in connection with the damaged finger - sure - callouses build up although nothing to the extent they would when playing guitar - but - I'll tell you what - when I DO pick up one of my guitars I find I can only play for about 20-30 minutes before the finger-tips start to hurt again....
It seems that folks have different approaches to this - some like to really press the violin strings hard to the floor, others prefer a light-touch. I guess I'm somewhere in-between. In fact there is a school of thought that you don't actually need to press the string until it actually hits the fingerboard (its got to be very, very close and as a beginner, maybe not the sort of thing to aim for).
The whole point of my wittering on about this is that I'm sure you'll find it much less painful on the damaged left index finger than you would on guitar.
Success in your violin quest ! You're gonna love it ! 
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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hey mate,
thanks for the input. I remember reading another post you had for a new person which was very interesting.
Its not the end of my fingers, im used to playing guitars and dont have issues there. I played bass so a bit stronger still haha. Its more the left index knuckle bends fine, but certain chords are a massive stretch for it.
With how hard you need to press the string, it was obviously very important on guitar as it can mean a clean note or a harmonic sound. So it sounds like it plays a different role on a violin.
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Is their a particular violin you guys recommend for a newbie?
I can really only order online due to where i live as there is little to no music stores around here.
I havent really put a budget on it but id say under $150 au which would include the bow and case and anything else i would need? And shipping to Aus.
Steve
Regulars
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Welcome to the forum, Steve 
). But do take a look on fiddlershop.com even if only to look at the violins in your price range and to read reviews, and to watch Fiddlerman's video reviews. It'll help you get an idea what's out there.☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
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perrin_07 said
Is their a particular violin you guys recommend for a newbie?
I can really only order online due to where i live as there is little to no music stores around here.I havent really put a budget on it but id say under $150 au which would include the bow and case and anything else i would need? And shipping to Aus.
Steve
Hia again Steve,
I can't specifically recommend any particular model - although I am VERY happy with my FiddlerMan Concert - however - it's somewhat above your anticipated price-range at around $440 (USD). It is certainly a very fine "beginner-to-intermediate" instrument.
I should also say that I exchanged a number of emails with Mike at FiddlerShop before committing to the purchase, just discussing what my playing level was (basically raw beginner at the time) and what my background in music was, and where I wanted to "go" with the fiddle... all very helpful, with no pressure. I made the decision to purchase the Concert myself. And certainly for the type of music I prefer to play, I can see it being a life-long companion. After 2 years daily playing, I do however just sense that there is "more to come" from a more expensive instrument, and yes, I'm tempted to upgrade - but - honestly - I don't need to (yet) ... besides - I'd have to really justify fiddle number 5 to my better-half... hmmm..... (Oh - all my others are cheapos - 110 euro EV, an old, worthless 1980's Chinese SkyLark restrung as a viola, and a 3/4 fiddle from e-bay just to mess around on (luthier-wise)
I know for a fact that several members here have models in your anticipated price range ( check out the Cecilio models in the FiddlerShop ) so they will be better armed than I to give you feedback.
The only other thing I would add is that IF you are real serious about this, it might just be worthwhile (if finances permit) aiming for "the best you can possibly afford" - you're obviously a musician already, you're not just "trying out the violin as a first instrument" and so on. It may be worth a bit of further thought if cash permits....
(Oh - I am NOT for a moment suggesting there is anything wrong with the $100 - $150 Cecilio models - I was "just looking to the future" - just as I myself am after my two or so years with the FM Concert and understanding that "there is more to come" from a better instrument.... That's really all I meant by that... It is as they say "horses for courses" )
And OK to your other post - I see what you're saying about the finger - yup - and Mandy above (post 5) pretty much concurs with my own experience - unlike the guitar the amount of finger pressure can be almost minimal, taking pressure off that knuckle joint, and, in any one position on the neck ( 1st, 3rd etc ) the amount of stretch required is quite different from what you may have to do on the guitar to finger multiple stopped notes for chords. Much less movement required - the "biggest stretch" would be reaching across all strings to finger on the G, and generally, you'll be using that finger "more or less" in the same position on each string (normal, 1/2 tone low or 1/2 tone high)
Anyways, good luck and keep us advised on your quest !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Welcome Steve:
I say buy the best violin you can afford. I have violins from 59 to the 2000 range. I can say that I could have learned to play on any of them.
Again welcome... Can't wait to hear more of your journey.
Cheers and Happy shopping.
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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cheers for the responses guys!
I was actually watching fiddlerman review some of the violins on here. I think i watched 4 of them (the cheapest to the $2k range), and noticed the $1200 violin seemed to appeal to me (but obviously waaaay out of my price range haha).
Yeah, i understand what your saying about buying the best i can get, but factoring in exchange rates (if buying overseas) and then postage may actually half what you can pay in the states essentially.
At this point in time, i wont be able to devote hours upon hours of practise to it, due to the little one and my gym/ learning swedish hobbies but ill still be able to put in quite a bit of time to it. So for me, a $300+ one isnt quite financially doable right now.
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I do not know what is available in Aus., but you will need to shop there as shipping would eat up your budget. Here in the US I would suggest that the Mendini 500 would be the high mark of what you can afford selling at $150. The best selling violin at Amazon is the Mendini 300 at $66. The $29 Crescent is also worthwhile. Online you can find a clip on pickup called "Cherub" for $3 which will work for you. A chinese company sells "Opera" synthetic strings for $5 that will work.
What you will find is that when you get your fingers moving quickly, the violin will not be able to keep up (it will not respond fast enough), but that is down the road, these are good enough for you for now,,,and they sound good too.
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Welcome to the forum perrin_07,
Happy to hear that you are going to take the plunge. Anything I can do, just let me know.
Look forward to an update.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Cheers!
So i have ordered a violin and now waiting the standard 2 weeks to arrive from America.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Men.....0356253955
the one in black I have ordered.
I looked at alot of your videos on the cheaper violin spectrum which was really helpful fiddlerman!
Thanks for the help MrYikes. I thought I replied to this. But i looked at all the violins you mentioned and ended up getting a mendini
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Great for you.
Good luck with receiving a decent one.
I have unfortunately had real bad luck with the cheap Mendini violins, especially with the pegs, tailpiece and sound quality but if you can get everything to work, it's a very inexpensive way to get started.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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