Please bear with me because I am very new at this, and I may have some of the terminology wrong.

Fist of all I would like to learn how to play the violin. A friend of mine let me use his violin, and it is over 40 years old. I am a 22 year old female and I am 5`7", but this violin seemed huge to me. I have been searching on the internet, and it seems that the 4/4 is just a standard size, and his shouldn`t have seemed that big to me. I have looked on the size charts and according to my arm length I would need a 4/4. The problem with that violin wasn`t just that the neck seemed to long, but mainly it was the width (circumference) of the neck/fingerboard. I could not hold it properly and get my fingers to reach all of the strings to play the proper notes.

Please help me, I was just wondering if this is a common problem, and what size of violin should I be looking to purchase?

Thanks & God Bless !!
Cary Ann

When I put a violin under my chin, it feels like a toy because its so small. Maybe it was because I play viola.

I believe you would need a 4/4
I`m 15 and I`m short and I use a 4/4, in fact everyone at school uses a full size
The violin takes time to get used to. Did you use a shoulder rest? Because for some people, without the shoulder rest, it makes the violin seem longer and more difficult to press.


Its so difficult to switch from viola to violin (as in a few seconds) The violin feels sooo tiny after play viola and when I play viola, my fingers are always too small a distance apart.

You likely need a 4/4...but it might take a little while to just get used to playing it...

...they are hard to find...but there is a 7/8 size that`s a little smaller...if you have very small hands, you might find it more comfortable...

Defintely 4/4!

It`s just a matter of getting your elbow under the violin, you won`t have any problems once you know what you`re doing.

Liz