I'm looking for some advice as I know nothing about strings. I'd like to learn the violin (and I'm considering it for the grade 1 challenge) but to be fair to my partner, I'd need to use the Yamaha Silent system. I've two main questions:

1). Can you perform on an electric violin when taking the ABRSM grade exams?

2). Is the Yamaha system suitable for a beginner and if (in my dreams) I develop into a competent player will it be reasonably easy to transfer to an acoustic violin?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

My school have 3 electric yammy violins which I rarely use as I dislike them intensley. There is really no advantage to them unless you plan to do some crazy stuff like using effects, in which case by all means use one. Acoustics offer much, much more, musically, and I don't think learning on an electric would be wise as you wouldn't learn all the annoying habits of an acoustic which you must get to grips with, but are easy to hide on an electric. I you're thinking about learning without being able to hear yourself properly, again, it's not a wise idea! Intonation is much harder on violin when you start out than any other instrument.

1) I doubt it, but don't hold me to that.

2) Sort of answered that, but I think transferring onto an electric is very easy, like I said, it seems to cover up some problems.

How about a mute?

Hi Allannah,

a few months ago I had a play on a silent viola in Chappells and to my ear it was no quieter than playing my own viola with a practice mute. So I spent a fiver on a practice mute. For me the flexibility of being able to use a regular instrument in ensembles and the high cost of a silent instrument meant that the regular viola worked out better.

Don't know if that is of any use to you, good luck with your choice.

Lis

Thanks for your comments. This is now going to show my ignorance ..... I didn't know it was possible to 'mute' a violin. How does this work?

From what's been said, it seems that I need to avoid the electric path and concentrate on learning on an acoustic violin.

Just pop into any music shop and ask for a mute. It sits on the bridge of the violin and I guess stops the vibrations a bit. You can still hear a bit of what you're playing but it's not enough to annoy neighbours.

There are a few different types of mute available. Don't buy one of the small round ones that covers the two central strings on the bridge - this is an orchestral mute and won't produce enough of a mute effect if it is practise you are looking at. You want a practise mute, it's like a rubber comb that sits across the top of the entire bridge and cuts the sound produced dramatically - however your violin will lose a lot of harmonic quality when you play with it on - it will sound quite flat.

I also think you should use an acoustic instrument and a mute - I don't think there is much to be gained by starting on an electric one.

Good luck!

Allan

OK. Thanks for your help, everyone.

There are 'practice mutes' available...they are made out of metal and caps onto the bridge of the string instrument. Not so expensive, and it plays like an electric instrument with the practice mute on.

I've never tried an electric violin, though I feel perhaps it's one of the things I should do before I die...

I have a Yamada electric violin. It is lovely, and makes a change to the acoustic, but I must admit the overall quality of sound of the acoustic is better. But the electric is a lot of fun and does sound great!!!

If I do decide to buy an acoustic violin, can anyone suggest a good make to look out for? Also a rough price for a beginners violin? I've been looking at eBay, but apart from knowing that I want to avoid the ones from China, I don't know the first thing about any of the other manuafacturers.

I think the Chinese ones are not so bad now as they had a reputation for being in the past.

There has been a lot of advice previously on the forums for buying violins (tyr doing a search?) which generally boils down to you get what you pay for, but most of us can't afford a Strad , and that the Gliga's are very good value.

BTW if you are interested in a Gliga, Liz at Elidatrading does a nice line (She's not allowed to say that, but I think it's OK if I do). Several people here have Gliga's who I am sure will concur.

Absolutely, Janexxx

If you're going for a Chinese one...try Morrison, they're pretty good as I've got one for myself...goes up to Dip level and it's only $450 HKD (someone do the caculation for me.... )
C grade is good enough.

I recently saw (and heard) a 6-string electric violin - F C G D A E strings. Wow!

Hmmm...bet that's outside my budget. But bet it's wonderful too.

oh so it goes even lower than the viola??

With that, the examiners can torture us with 5 octave scales and arpeggios

Oh but there's an idea, it would make 3 octave ones a whole lot easier. Wonder if they do a violin with a B string (ouch that would shrill!!)

I would concur with everyone who's said this.


You can also get metal practice mutes.


Absolutely - I have a Gliga viola and it's scrummy