The violin requires quite a bit of dedication and practice. Learning the proper way to use the bow is like learning a separate instrument. And of course, it sounds horrible until you can actually play.
If you go with a stringed instrument, I'd choose the guitar. It won't take a fraction of the time to actually start sounding decent compared to the violin, and you're fingers would already be able to fret notes if you decided to take up the violin later.

konata, do you still have your guitar or access to one?

I don't have any instruments - my guitar experience was 50 years ago

I have some acquaintances who are accomplished musicians who play multiple instruments including violin, guitar, bass.

When I'm ready to buy something, I'm sure they could probably help me out. But I don't have anything at the moment. My wife has a uke.

I was going to post some easy music that you could actually play (on a six string guitar) in a very short period of time to help you gain confidence and have some fun.

I'm 67 now and started guitar at age 10. I'm at the age that arthritis has started in my thumbs and it's making it a bit harder to play. I play probably an hour a day. I only play my own songs at this point, and continue writing new ones. I'm up to about 55 songs now. All that said.....give it a shot, why not? You're more motivated now than as a kid. Lower your expectations though, you're not going to sound like a pro and play Vivaldi well as a beginner! But you can get better! Regarding uke.....a good friend who is a gigging road musician told me, when I mentioned I might pick up a uke, "all of music will appreciate if you don't take it up".

Something not yet mentioned, but hinted at by OttoSIG...can you sing? Being able to sing on key, and developing the ear to know when you are not, goes a long long way to helping learn an instrument. Plus, if you can sing along with your playing, at least well enough to not drive people from the room, it goes a long way to building confidence and motivation. Many people start singing in church, hymns in the congregation, then join the choir. Singing along with your favorite songs is good too. Of course, practice, practice, practice.

Learning the notes on a violin is easy but time consuming and relies a great deal on muscle memory.

Learning the bow is a totally different thing. Anyone can learn the notes but playing them properly, softly, gently, hard, slow, fast, in time and everything in between is where the artistry comes in. The bow is similar to an artists brush. It is what makes the music.

Thanks all. It's just for fun. But given some self awareness of limited aptitude, needed some help to better understand expectations.

I'll still attempt the violin, come what may. But I'll probably avoid cello / bass and opt for something with frets. Along the way, find time for piano, harmonica and the uke (cuz my wife does it)

My friend started the Violin in retirement.

He never played an instrument before.

He is progressing slowly but consistently.

If you want to do it you can.

It is more dedication than anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I've never tried a bowed instrument. Does the bow make violin more difficult? Or still just the chording complexity (especially w/o frets)? Both?

I really have my heart set on playing some Four Seasons someday. Maybe my mind needs to speak up more.

You don't play chords on the fiddle. You can play two notes at once (double stops) but not chords. There are no frets on a violin, so that is harder. I also think bowing is harder. In short, they are very different, but getting a good sound of of a violin is harder.

Ukelele is similar to guitar - the strings are arranged differently, but it is similar.

Now, for me, a mandolin is easier than guitar. The strings are all the same tonal distance from one another (all fifths), and that makes learning where to fret notes easier because on a guitar there is one string that is a different musical distance from the others in standard tuning.

Learn 5 or 6 chords on a guitar and you can play a good bit of country music. That will make it enjoyable and then add a chord or two at the time. Then learn to pick a little.

I started playing guitar right after the Beatles hit Ed Sullivan in 1964. I bought a used guitar and started teaching myself. I probably started performing in schools and bars a few years after. I also played some keyboards. Fast forward a number of years and I bought a $250 ukulele. Easy after guitar since all the chord shapes are the same.

In today’s world, a zillion YouTube videos can take you where you want to go. By the way, the ukulele is a blast.

When looking for a violin I can start to learn on and also grow into, research suggests that a new violin is ranging from about $350 (Stentor) to $1200-1500 (Yamaha). May come with a bow but I'm treating a bow somewhat separately.

I'm finding some used violins online from $400 - $1000. Suzuki, Scherl&Roth and some Romanian made.

Used can be a great deal or risky. For me, since I have no experience, no idea what to look for, no expert to bring with me (since the used offerings are about 1.5 hour drive away in more metro areas), probably on the more risky side.

I'm vested - I want to learn to play. I may never be good but want to try with earnest.

The used ones like the Scherl sound nice and seem about $1000 new. Half price in good condition sounds like a good deal and something I could grow into.

But I have no idea how to assess condition. If the current owner plays it and sounds good, is it good to go? Or should stay away from used and just buy something new from a local store who will stand behind the purchase if something is wrong? I'd probably then start off with a $300 Stentor (vs a $1200 Yamaha).

I'd recommend renting a mid-level student violin rather than buying. The bottom price point is not going to be terribly satisfying. Find a decent violin shop and go talk to them.

Have them demonstrate several different instruments at different price points. When you think you know your price point, have them demonstrate several of that model. Each one will sound slightly different and will play different. Hopefully the sales person is interested in helping you out and establishing a relationship rather than just pumping another sale.

If you rent, you can usually apply the rent towards a purchase.

Shops will sell used instruments as well as new ones. The good news is that if you buy a used instrument you can usually sell it later without losing much if any money.

If you buy from a shop, they usually offer a good trade-up in the future. So if you spend $1k now, you can trade in the instrument in the future and get the entire $1k applied to another instrument.

At any particular price, you will get a better bow if it is carbon fiber than wood. The cheapo bows are not worth bothering with at all! At the higher price points, yes the wood bows are best, but now you're in the $1k++ kind of prices. A used bow with good hair will be a big improvement over beginner grade bows.

Have the shop demonstrate a few bows on the instrument you are wanting to buy/rent.