Buying violin accessories? Give yourself and your violin a treat.

Violin Bows

As you improve, or if you are an experienced player you will want a better bow. Bows can affect the quality of the tone as much as the violin. They can make a huge difference to how easy it is to play your violin. The balance and weight of the bow are really important.

You can get different sizes of bows, for example small ones for small kids!

Also, fine bows are like fine violins – very expensive and sought after! You can also buy special bow cases.

An afterthought is that putting bows in the category of violin accessories is probably wrong, since they are an essential part of the kit. You can't play your violin without one.

There are also different combinations of cases. You can buy double violin cases, violin and viola cases or even violin and mandolin cases. Professional musicians will often want double cases.

My personal favourite is a BAM case which I can carry as a backpack.

Shoulder rests

You can also go half way – using a folded cloth, or cushion for the violin.

If you opt for a shoulder rest there are lots of different types. Get one that you find comfortable and that fits your violin well.

I like Kun shoulder rests.

Violin Rosin

You will need rosin – or your bow will slip and you will get hardly any sound. Their are different quality rosins and also different colours. Light rosins are said to better in hot countries and dark rosins for colder climate.

Violin Tuner

You must be able to tune your violin. I use an A tuning fork and tune the rest of the strings by ear. If you are experienced you can probably do this. It has the advantage of needing no batteries!

But its not so easy for a beginner and you can buy lots of tuners quite inexpensively that will let you tune all your strings accurately and with little fuss.

Click here if you want to read more about violin tuning and different types of tuners.

Violin Strings

Your violin will most likely come with strings which are well suited to it. They will need replacing from time to time. You should restring at least once a year and more if you play a lot.

Strings have quite different sounds and different strings suit different violins.

You might also like a separate e string.

Violin Music

What takes your fancy? Traditional? Classical? Bluegrass? Jazz? Blues? Free online music? Indulge yourself.

Violin Sheet Music at Sheet Music Plus. Music for beginners to experts. Solo and ensemble music, play alongs, methods and more. Shop now!

Violin Bridge

Your violin will have come with a bridge (at least I hope so!). If you are keen - you can buy a better one! Like most violin things - bridges come in different qualties and you might want to try a nicer wood sometime. It can make quite a difference to the sound. It can also make the violin easier to play. For example a bridge that is too flat will mean that you hit strings when you don't mean too. Its important that the bridge is well suited ot the fingerboard.

Soundposts

You can also have your soundpost replaced. Softer of harder soundposts can change the sound and different woodssuite different violins. Its a job for a professional though unless you know a lot about violin making and set up.

Chin rests

Chin rests come in different heights, weights, sizes and woods. I like to keep my violin as light as possible so I have a nice small ebony chin rest. Rosewood is nice too. Wooden violin accessories such as chinrests and tailpieces can all improve the sound.

Tail pieces, pegs and endpins

A nice tail piece can finish off a violin. You can get decorative tailpieces which can add to the look. You can alsobuy tailpieces with or without fine tuners.

Better quality violins often come without fine tuners - that's becausethe violinist will probably be able to tune by ear and on the pegs - which will be a good fit making tuning easy!!At least in theory. But many professional violinists like to have fine tuners too. It can save a lot of hassle.

Same with violin pegs and endpins. You get some nice ones with little inlays and even gem stones (if you are rich!). Not worth doing on a lower qualityviolin though.

Violin pickups

For those budding band players, or those who want to record, you might want a violin pickup. These can be fitted to your violin quite easily and you simply plug in. The violin plays fine with one fitted.

Metronomes are useful for keeping in time!! I have to admit its one of my least favourite violin accessories although I suppose they have their uses!

I'd also add a recording device to the wish list - particularly if you play by ear. They are great for recording tunes that you might want to learn. Take one down to the session in the pub. They are also a good learning aid. You can record yourselfand play back. They don't lie and can concentrate the mind wonderfully.

Good for the soul treats?

Try fiddle CDs and downloads. I highly recommend listening to as much violin music as possible. I believe - like a language - the more your soak it in - the easier you can make it come out onto the instrument! I also find it encourages me to play. As soon as I put on a cd or mp3 I can't resist getting my fiddle out to play along.

Or what about some violin gifts such as mugs, t shirts, art or photographs. Violins are so beautiful you should take every opportunity to have them around you - in whatever form!!! Feast your eyes on their marvellous shapes and colours!!!!

There are also quite a few violin accessories you might like to buy to take care of your violin such as violin and string cleaners, peg grease etc.

Click here to read all about violin care but remember to come back to violin accessores!.

Go on. Feed your passion!



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