Electric violins are cool looking instruments for sure; but, how easy is it to get started playing one? You may have a lot of questions about playing the electric violin before getting started. This post will answer 14 of the most frequently asked beginner questions about the electric violin.
If you’re a beginner thinking about buying an electric violin you may be curious about its potential advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of the pros and cons of electric violins:
Pros:
- The electric violin is a versatile instrument. Effects can be added to the sound of the electric violin with an effects pedal or a loop pedal.
- Electric violins can be used for “silent” practice. You can play without an amp or plug your headphones in to achieve this.
- It is easier to achieve a decent sound on an e-violin than it is on an acoustic violin.
- It’s great for showmanship during performance. Some electric violins light up as they are played.
Cons:
- Expensive price tag – electric violins can be quite expensive. Buying a cheap electric violin is not a good idea. Additionally, you will have the added expense of buying an amplifier.
- You have to have a place to plug in your violin in order to hear it at the desired volume.
- If you are trying to achieve the traditional sound of an acoustic violin heard in classical music, the sound of an electric violin will not be the same.
- It’s heavier than an acoustic violin.
Table of Contents
Is An Electric Violin Good For A Beginner
If you want to play an acoustic violin someday, an electric violin is not good for a beginner to learn first.
The bowing technique for playing the electric violin is significantly different from that of the acoustic violin. For example, the angle of the bow and your arm, the pressure needed to bow, speed, and aspects of contact are all different for bowing an electric violin. To avoid having to “unlearn” bad bowing techniques, you should learn to play using an acoustic violin.
Learning on an electric violin will also affect your playing posture. Some electric violins don’t even require you to hold the instrument with your neck while playing it.
Additionally, some electric violins have frets (which are not found on acoustic violins). The presence of frets hinders you from training your ear to intonation.
If you choose to learn on an electric violin, select an instrument that is as physically similar to an acoustic violin as possible. Also, try to develop playing skills that can be transferred to playing an acoustic violin.
If you just want to learn to play the e-violin for fun, there’s no reason you shouldn’t go for it!
Can You Learn Violin On An Electric Violin
You can learn violin on an electric violin; however, you may not want to.
Beginning your journey into learning to play the violin is difficult for most, and starting on an e-violin is generally not recommended for a few good reasons.
First, sound from an electric violin is produced in a different way than the sound from an acoustic violin. When you’re learning violin, one of the primary things to master is the production of tone. You cannot produce a tone on the electric violin in the same way you can on an acoustic violin. To get a true feel for how sound is produced on a violin, you should learn on an acoustic instrument.
Another reason learning on an electric violin is discouraged has to do with your future opportunities to play. If you have aspirations to play with an orchestra, you will need to be able to play an acoustic violin. If you start playing on an electric instrument, you will have a significant learning curve to make the switch to an acoustic violin.
Additionally, the electric violin is usually heavier than a traditional violin. Again, if you plan to play in an ensemble, you will need to be able to play an acoustic. It is best to be used to the weight and feel of an acoustic violin before switching to an electric one.
Also, bowing techniques for electric violins are very basic. You will not be able to learn the more complicated bowing techniques on the electric violin that you will need as you advance on the acoustic violin.
Is Electric Violin Easier Than Acoustic Violin To Learn
Learning an electric violin is easier than learning an acoustic violin. The playing techniques for the e-violin are simpler and it is easier to produce a good sound from an electric violin because of the amp.
Learning to play an acoustic violin is more difficult because acoustic violins are more sensitive to small changes in technique. Additionally, acoustic violins require more advanced techniques to produce a nice tone.
Do You Need To Know Acoustic Violin To Play Electric Violin
You do not need to know how to play the acoustic violin in order to play the electric violin. The only requirements for someone who wants to learn how to play the electric violin are an amplifier, an electric violin with a bow, and a cable to connect the amplifier to the violin.
Although you don’t have to know how to play the acoustic violin first, it will certainly be helpful. If you are able to play a traditional violin you will have the advantage of knowing how to read music, knowing proper posture and bowing techniques, and knowing where to finger the notes on each string.
Is It Easy To Learn Electric Violin If You Play Violin
Compared to learning to play a traditional violin, learning to play an electric violin is easy. The electric violin is much more forgiving when it comes to producing a decent sound from the instrument.
Being able to produce a nice sound from the instrument will generally motivate people to continue to practice and become proficient violinists.
Can You Use a Guitar Amp For An Electric Violin
You can use a guitar amp to play an electric violin without a problem.
However, you will probably want to EQ the amplifier differently to play with a violin than you would with a guitar. You may want to turn the bass up and the treble down when switching from the guitar to the violin.
What Do You Need To Play Electric Violin
There are a few basic items that are needed to play the electric violin:
- the instrument
- a horesehair bow (can be the same bow you use with your acoustic violin if you own one)
- a 1/4 inch jack cable
- an amplifier (see here on Amazon)
- rosin
Some optional items that you may want to have include the following:
- preamp – a pre amplifier prepares the signal for further amplification; it can also boost a low signal or clean up a signal so that it sounds better coming through the amp
- headphones – you can plug headphone into the instrument so that the sound from the instrument can be heard through them
- effects pedal – these are used to add sound effects or to improve the tone of the electric violin (check prices on Amazon)
- loop pedal – these are used to create time-based effects such as reverb, delay or chorus (check prices on Amazon)
Do Electric Violins Need Rosin
Electric violins use the same types of strings used on an acoustic violin. Therefore, these instruments require the same type of horsehair bows and rosin to produce sound.
Do You Need An Amp For Electric Violins
You need an amp for electric violin if you want your instrument’s sound to project.
If you are practicing and want to minimize the sound of the instrument, you can do so without an amp.
How Do I Connect My Electric Violin To My Amp
Connecting your electric violin to an amplifier is simple. You plug one end of a jack cable into the instrument and the other end of the cable into the amp.
This video demonstrates this process on a Yamaha e-violin:
Can You Play Electric Violin Through An Acoustic Amp
Using an acoustic amp with your electric violin is not recommended.
Acoustic amps are not made to handle the sound of electric instruments and can damage the amplifier.
What Is the Best Amp For Electric Violin
Selecting the best electric violin amp depends on what you plan on doing with it. Here are some factors (set out fully in the video below) for you to consider when choosing your amp:
- What is your budget? You need both a good instrument and a good amp; be sure to divide your budget in such a way that you can buy both.
- How loud will you need your violin to be? The size of the amp you will need depends on how big your audiences will be. Are you playing in big venues with large audiences or are you just using the amp to practice at home?
- How will you be transporting the amp? If you will be transporting the amp by hand, the weight of the amp has to be a consideration.
- How many inputs do you need? You want to be able to use one amp for everything you need to be amplified. If you are with a group where multiple instruments that will need to be plugged in or you will need to plug in a microphone or you want to add effects, you need inputs for all of those things.
- How many outputs do you need? If you want to send the different instruments that are plugged in to the amp separately, you need separate outputs for each one.
- Does the amp need to have sends and returns?
- Do you want built-in effects?
- Do you need battery power? Adding battery power to the features of an amp adds expense and weight so this should be something you need not just something you want.
- Can the amp handle 1-5 megaohms of impedence? Make sure the amp can handle the high impedence you’ll find with an electric violin.
- Can the amp voice the electric violin in a way that is pleasant? Most guitar amps are voiced to make a guitar sound bright. Violins already sound bright so you want to make sure the amp can be voiced in a way that is not too bright.
How to Chose the Best Electric Violin Amp [Video]
Can You Play Electric Violin With Headphones
If your violin has a headphone jack you can play it with headphones. This is a great option for practicing your instrument without disturbing your neighbors.
How Do You Play Violin With Headphones
To play an electric violin with headphones, you simply plug the headphone cord into the headphone jack found on the instrument just like you would with a CD player or your cellphone.
Can You Hear Electric Violins
You can hear electric violins. Without an amp, the violin will sound muted but it can still be heard.
Conclusion
Electric violins are often seen as an alternative way to get into violin playing. Whether you’re considering giving electric violin a try or you’ve already decided to make the switch, I hope you found this article helpful.
