Types of Violins

Yola Dabrowski is a chiropractor residing in San Jose, California. Although not currently practicing, she independently consults for other chiropractors and healthcare professionals. Yola Dabrowski earned her bachelor of science in biology from the University of Michigan, and in her youth, she was a member of the Detroit Youth Symphony Orchestra, playing piano, oboe, and violin.

Many violin novices assume all violins are the same, with the difference only in size. While this is true, it is not the only way to classify violins. Smaller violins made for children are known as the fractional violin, with the smallest being the 1/16th, usually for children around three to five years of age.

Violinists recognize the baroque violin as the forefather of the modern/classical violin. The first standardized violin made in the 16th century, it has a shallower angle and neck.

The classical violin, sometimes referred to as the acoustic or modern violin, has higher string tension and a long, slender neck coupled with a chin rest. It is the benchmark for assessing other violins.

The electric violin produces sounds electronically. There are different types of this violin, and they all need an amplifier. Semi-electric or semi-acoustic violins produce sound acoustically using an amplifier. The Stroh violin, otherwise called the violinophone or horn violin, uses a horn instead of a sound box.