What is a 1/2 size violin? (nmc)

[jaycat]

Thinking of taking up the fiddle . . . I am seeing ads for 1/2 and 3/4 size violins . . . are they really that small? Seems like a true 1/2 size violin would be pretty tiny.

Thanks!

[sblock]

Gee, haven't you tried Google? This is just the sort of thing you can look up online very easily, and answer your own questions. Look here, for example: http://www.fiddleheads.ca/shop/violi...size-chart.htm And no, of course they are not 1/4 the length. They might be closer to 1/4 the volume, though.

Anyway, if you're a full-grown adult with normal-sized hands, it's best to get a full-size violin from the start. The others are meant for young children with smaller hands (11 years and under), as they grow.

[Jeff Mando]

Anyway, if you're a full-grown adult with normal-sized hands, it's best to get a full-size violin from the start.

Naw, get a viola, now that's a man-sized violin!

[multidon]

No, the fractions are not literal, obviously. The terminology is misleading. A full size violin (4/4) is meant for most high schoolers and adults, and denotes a violin with a 14 inch body length. Each fraction brings the body size down approximately an inch, thus, a 3/4 size has around a 13 inch body and a 1/2 size around a 12 inch body. The 3/4 is commonly used by middle school age students, and the 1/2 by upper elementary. These are of course broad generalizations, since children grow at different rates. I taught middle school orchestra and still had some students still on 1/2 size. I would try to transition them all to full size before the end of eighth grade, if they were big enough for it. Most were, a few weren't and were still on 3/4 going into high school but only if they were smallish.

If you measure your arm length, measured with a measuring tape, is 23 inches or longer (from your neck to your palm), you need a full size. 21 or 22 inches, 3/4. 20 to 21 inches, 1/2 size. There also used to be such a thing as a violin with a 13 1/2 inch body, called a 7/8 or "lady's violin". These have fallen out of favor and are quite rare nowadays.

[yankees1]

Half the size of a full size violin !!

[mandroid]

scale length.. Suzuki method training starts at about kindergarden age
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method

piccolo mandolins are made too .. a higher C G D A, than the mandolin..

[jaycat]

Gee, haven't you tried Google? . . .

What's that?

[darrylicshon]

I started on a full size one when i was 11 years old

[sblock]

What's that?

Ah -- THERE's you problem!

[CarlM]

What's that?

Google it

[Hany Hayek]

3/4 violins are for 10 years old. It's not a guitar with a 65 cm scale, in which case I would recommend a 3/4 with 59 cm scale.
The violin has 33 cm scale so for a mandolin player it's just perfect. Remember that Italians in the romantic era used to play a few years the mandolin before taking up the violin (I think). Paganini played a few years the mandolin.
In any case I do encourage you to go for a 4/4 violin, getting the correct intonation will be the challenge, you'll miss the frets.
I would also recommend a teacher to get you started, the way you hold it and the way you hold the bow is everything.

[Folkmusician.com]

An adult can play a 1/2 or 3/4 violin, but you really do want a 4/4 which is fairly small for the average adult male to begin with.

A fractional size violin never sounds as good as a full sized instrument. Even a good quality small violin will not have great tone.

[Charles E.]

Just wait till you see a 1/16 size. Now those are small.

[Bill Clements]

I'm guessing you may have already looked here, but also Elderly has a nice selection.
Good advice given about finding a teacher. Have fun!