• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Musicaroo

Learn to Make Music Like a Pro

  • Home
  • Singing
    • Learn To Sing Better
      • Best Online Singing Lessons
      • 30 Day Singer Review (Free Trial Available)
      • Christina Aguilera Masterclass Review
      • Roger Love Singing Academy Review
      • Singorama Review
      • The Vocalist Studio Review
    • Microphone Buying Guides
      • Best Mic For Live Vocals
      • Best Mic For Recording Vocals
      • Best Mic For Rap
      • Best USB Mic For Vocals
      • Blue Yeti Vs AT2020
      • AKG C414 XLII Review
      • Audio-Technica AT2035 Review
      • Neumann TLM 103 Review
      • Rode NT1-A Review
      • Sennheiser e945 Review
      • Shure SM7B Review
    • Best In-Ear Monitors For Singers
    • Preamp Buying Guides
      • Best Mic Preamp For Vocals
      • Avalon VT-737SP Review
      • Behringer XENYX 1202FX Review
      • DBX 286S Review
      • Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Review
      • Grace Design m101 Review
      • Pre-73 Jr Review
      • TubeOpto 8 Review
      • Warm Audio TB12 Review
  • Guitar
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Baritone Guitars
      • Best Bass Guitars
      • Best Bass Practice Amps
      • Best Combo Amps For Metal
      • Best Electric Guitars
      • Best Metal Guitars
      • Best Electric Guitar Amps
    • Bass Guitar Reviews
      • Fender American Performer Review
      • Gretsch G2220 Review
      • Ibanez GSRM20 Review
      • Squier Bronco Review
      • Sterling Ray34 Review
      • Yamaha TRBX 504 Review
    • Guitar Reviews
      • ESP LTD Eclipse EC-256 Review
      • Jackson JS32 Review
      • Les Paul Studio LT Review
      • Ibanez Gio GRX70 Review
      • Ibanez Prestige RG5120M Review
      • Squier Bullet Strat Review
      • Sterling MAJ100 Review
      • Synyster Gates Custom-S Review
      • Yamaha Pacifica Review
    • Guitar Amp Reviews
      • Bugera Infinium V5 Review
      • EVH 5150 III EL34 Review
      • Fender Mustang LT-25 Review
      • Fender Super Champ X2 Review
      • Line 6 Spider V 20 Review
      • Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 Review
      • Yamaha THR10II Review
    • Learn To Play Guitar
    • Tips and Advice
  • Violin
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Electric Violin
      • Best Violins For Beginners
      • Best Violin Bow
      • Best Violin Case
      • Best Violin Rosin
      • Best Violin Shoulder Rest
      • Best Violin Strings
      • Best Violin Tuner
    • Reviews
      • Bunnel Clearance Violin Review
      • Bunnel EDGE Review
      • Bunnel NEXT Review
      • Bunnel Pupil Violin Review
      • Cecilio CEVN-2 Review
      • Cecilio CVN-300 Review
      • Cremona SV500 Review
      • D Z Strad Model 101 Review
      • Mendini MV500 Review
      • NS Design WAV5 Review
      • Ricard Bunnel G2 Review
      • Yamaha SV-200 Review
      • Yamaha YEV-105 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • Trumpet
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Trumpets
      • Best Pocket Trumpet
      • Best Plastic Trumpet
      • Best Trumpet Mouthpiece
      • Best Valve Oil For Trumpet
      • Best Mic For Trumpet Recording
    • Reviews
      • Allora MXPT 5801 Review
      • Bach TR300H2 Review
      • Carol Brass CPT-3000 Review
      • Eastar ETR-380 Review
      • Jean Paul TR-430 Review
      • Jupiter JTR710 Review
      • Mendini By Cecilio Review
      • Mendini MPTL Review
      • Sky Band Bb Review
      • Yamaha YTR-2330 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • DJing
    • How To Become A DJ
    • Equipment For Beginners
    • Learn To DJ
    • Set Up DJ Website
    • Get First DJ Gig
    • Grow DJ Career
  • Great Music
    • Bands Like…
    • Great Songs About Things
    • Song Meanings
    • 27 Great, Forgotten 90s Songs
    • Best Karaoke Songs (Easy To Sing And Sound Like A Star)
    • Songs To Sing To Your Girlfriend
You are here: Home / Violin

How Does An Electric Violin Work? (It’s Actually Really Cool)

January 31, 2022 By Camila Leave a Comment

How Does An Electric Violin WorkElectric violins can look pretty bizarre.

But there is nothing unusual about the sound.

A good electric violin produces a beautiful sound. It is every bit as usable, playable and enjoyable as an acoustic violin.

But how do they pull that off?

How does an electric violin work exactly? How does it make such a beautiful sound, without the use of a resonant chamber?

Keep reading to find out exactly how electric violins function, plus everything else you need to know about these instruments.

Table of Contents

  • 1 How Does An Electric Violin Work?
    • 1.1 What Is An Electric Violin?
    • 1.2 How An Electric Violin Works
    • 1.3 Difference Between Electric And Acoustic Violins
    • 1.4 Multiple Types Of Electric Violin
      • 1.4.1 The Silent Violin
      • 1.4.2 The Concert Violin
    • 1.5 Reasons To Choose An Electric Violin
      • 1.5.1 Practice
      • 1.5.2 Budget
      • 1.5.3 Greater Range Of Choice In Terms Of Aesthetics
  • 2 How Electric Violins Work: Final Thoughts

 

How Does An Electric Violin Work?

In short, electric violins can use magnetic, piezoelectric, or electrodynamic amplifiers.

A violin with a magnetic amplifier requires the use of violin strings with a ferromagnetic core. There are several models of single-core amplifiers on the market, although violins have a very small space for magnets due to the smaller size of the resonator box.

electric violin shaped like dollar sign

One of the more non-specific amplification systems uses the violin strings themselves as a linear amplifier element. The only limitation is that the strings must be made of electrically conductive material.

Let’s go more into details, beginning with a closer look at the instrument itself. This is important in order to fully understand how an electric violin functions.

 

What Is An Electric Violin?

An electric violin is a violin that has a built-in sound amplifier. It refers to an instrument that has a resonator box made of solid material (wood, etc.) in which an electric amplifier is installed.

The electric violin is also called “amplified violin” or “electroacoustic violin”. You’ll also see the term silent violin. Read our article “What Is A Silent Violin?” for more.

Solid-body electric violins usually have a non-traditional, minimalist design in order to reduce the weight of the instrument. Recently, materials such as Kevlar, glass, and carbon fiber are being used in the manufacturing process.

They are often seen as “experimental” instruments. They are far less common than electric guitars or basses.

There are many variations of the standard design, such as thresholds, additional strings, string tuning mechanisms, or “baritone” strings that sound an octave lower than normal strings.

Acoustic violins with five strings are also becoming more common. Therefore, it is not uncommon for electric violins to have five, six, seven, or more strings.

 

How An Electric Violin Works

beautiful woman playing electric violin

A common concern with electric violins is the way they work and just how different they are from traditional violins. Violinists worry that they just can’t match the sound and playability of a standard violin.

But that just isn’t true.

It is true, however, that electric violins differ considerably from acoustic violins.

In fact, as you may expect, an electric model has many similarities with other electric instruments, like the electric guitar.

Both produce a very faint sound on their strings. This is normal, considering they don’t work as an acoustic violin would.

When you use a classical violin, the hollow body amplifies the vibration that occurs in the strings and that the fingerboard receives. This causes the sound to bounce back very quickly and be transmitted into the sound you can hear.

In the case of electric violins, and just like with electric guitars, the body is hollow. It does not amplify the vibrations of the strings, meaning they are barely audible.

Instead, the pickups capture the slight sound that the strings emit. It is then sent in the form of electromagnetic signals to the amplifier, which reproduces the sound. The use of pedals can add the sound, distortions, effects, or reverbs that you want.

 

Difference Between Electric And Acoustic Violins

A quality electric violin will perform at the same level as a classical one. They can play countless musical pieces and have unquestionable sound quality.

But unlike classical violins, they come in a variety of styles and colors. Although derived from the classical structure of the instrument, electric violins have certain differences.

First of all are the aesthetics. The designs and colors are very varied. You will find pink violins, white violins, black violins, and many more.

bearded man playing electric violin
Bearded violinist plays intently on electric violin, isolated on a black background

Because it has an electronic signal, the electric violin does not need a soundboard. The reverberation, effects, or distortions are done electronically, as in the case of an electric guitar. This allows manufacturers to play with designs and create very particular violins.

In this category, we will also find silent violins, which are designed so you can practice whenever you want without disturbing anyone. They are made to emit very little sound. With the door of your room closed, practically no sound makes it out.

Another difference is that electric violins can have 5, 6, or 7 strings. The extra strings are usually a low C string with 5 strings, a low C and a high B or high B for 6, and a low C, low F, and high B for 7.

In addition, the design of the electric violin is usually determined by the luthier in question. That is, they do not pursue a standard structure. If you start looking into this instrument, you will find many different models, colors, and sizes.

 

Multiple Types Of Electric Violin

This instrument has a peculiarity: it has two subcategories. They are classified into silent violins and concert violins. The difference between the two lies in the sound.

 

The Silent Violin

This type of violin is ideal for those who need to practice the violin, but do not want to disturb family or friends. It is great for beginners, students, or hobbyists.

Its most distinctive feature is that it has enough volume for you to hear it while you practice and nothing more than this. In addition, the instrument has an electronic output. This means you can connect headphones, so you can hear yourself much better while playing.

 

The Concert Violin

This is a violin that is ideal for concerts or places with more space and acoustics. Unlike the silent ones, concert violins are characterized by a much more powerful sound.

The rest of the specifications are usually the same as the silent violin, but with a higher price. Of the two types of electric violins that exist, this is the one meant for violinists with a medium or professional level.

 

Reasons To Choose An Electric Violin

electric violin in concert

By the time you decide to take the plunge and learn to play the violin, you may find yourself a bit undecided as to which type to choose. There are many good reasons to go with an electric model.

 

Practice

If you want to practice at any time, even at nighttime, you can do this either with a silent electric violin or with a concert electric violin by connecting headphones. Either way, you get to keep practicing without worrying about disturbing others.

 

Budget

At the entry level (beginner, student, amateur) you will not notice much of a difference. You will find classical and electric violins for $100, $500, $1,000, or $5,000, all with very good features. So let’s move on to the next point.

 

Greater Range Of Choice In Terms Of Aesthetics

If you are looking for fun, minimalism, design, color, extravagance, etc., then electric violins are your thing. This is perhaps the biggest selling point for this type of violin.

Higher levels of creativity in terms of aesthetics and sound are guaranteed with the range of models, brands, materials, and designs on the market.

For example, there are glass electric violins. That is something you definitely won’t see with traditional violins.

 

How Electric Violins Work: Final Thoughts

Electric violins work in the same way an electric guitar works. They use electronic pickups to capture the slight sound produced by the vibrating strings and transmit it to an amplifier that makes it audible to everyone.

This differs from a traditional violin in that those have hollow bodies, and their hollow resonant chambers work to amplify the vibration of the strings.

In other words, electric violins replacer the resonant chambers with an electronic pickup. This means that electric violins are every bit as good as their acoustic counterparts. They’re just different. It is basically very similar to the differences between an electric and an acoustic guitar.

Like this? Please share...

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

You Might Also Like

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

Types Of Electric Guitar Bridges

Types Of Electric Guitar Bridges (Which Is Right For You?)

Should You Learn Acoustic Before Electric

Should You Learn Acoustic Before Electric Guitar? (Benefits Of Each)

Multi-Effect Pedal Vs Individual Pedals

Multi-Effect Pedal Vs Individual Pedals (Which Is Best For You?)

How To Make An Electric Guitar Sound Metal

How To Make An Electric Guitar Sound Metal (For Different Styles)

How To Connect Guitar To Computer

How To Connect Guitar To Computer (A Simple Guide)

Footer

Important Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclosure

Search

Disclosure

Some recommended products may use affiliate links. musicaroo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

*Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates

Copyright © 2023 · Musicaroo · All rights reserved.