A Parent's Guide to Sizing String Instruments
The first obstacle that you are likely to encounter as you enter the world of string playing is the array of instrument sizes! A little like footwear, string instruments come in a variety of lengths, somewhat bewildering to the uninitiated, and the sizing of an instrument is just as vital as a correctly fitting pair of shoes, for both comfort and ease of playing!
Hopefully, a suitable teacher has already been found for the beginner, and their advice is the most obvious place to begin! Each will have their own opinion and method of working out the best size instrument for the individual, and are usually happy to advise on this. If a teacher’s advice has not been sought, then your local reputable string instrument dealer or music shop can help, the best being those that have a dedicated string specialist and a good range of instruments for sale. Many will also have a reasonably priced rental scheme, useful when considering the growth rate of a learner that starts on a smaller sized instrument and will need to upgrade in both size and value every few years!
It is probably advisable to avoid buying from a retailer or any other source that purely sells online, unless the make, model size and setup of the instrument have already been determined! Often what may appear to be a bargain will turn out to be not fit for purpose. Many could have ill fitting bridges, pegs that are unable to turn properly, strings that do not ring true, and a bow that may be warped! By the time these faults have been rectified, it will probably work out far more economical to visit a reputable dealer for an instrument! Unfortunately, we’ve seen so many players who have given up through no fault of their own, due to a poorly fitted or setup instrument that feels and plays poorly.
Next, we come to the issue of sustainability! A well-made instrument, if treated correctly, can last for decades, if not centuries! The better-quality instruments are easier to part exchange during an upgrade in either size or quality, use valuable resources such as wood in a far more environmentally friendly way and will not become part of the throw away culture that many modern cheap and badly made ‘violin shaped objects’ tend to. Consider quality second-hand, an older but better-quality instrument is often a better investment, and it can then be taken to a dealer or luthier for a proper setup and new strings. Financially, environmentally, and ethically, it is advisable to source any instrument from a known reputable source and think of the long-term sustainability of your purchase decision.
The four orchestral bowed strings – violin, viola, cello and double bass – have different considerations when it comes to selecting the correct size for the player, so each is approached separately.
The Violin
The range of sizes that violins are available in can be quite daunting to the prospective purchaser, with the choice extending incrementally from a 1/32 up to the full-size instrument. In short, the choices are 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4, with other specialist sizes available if you search hard enough!
There are a number of different ways to correctly size a violin but the most popular way is to ask the learner to hold their left arm out, palm facing upwards and place the violin against the neck on the player's left shoulder. The player should then be able to curve their fingers around the scroll of the instrument - the carved curly decorative end of the violin beyond the peg box - with their middle finger ending up resting within the peg box! The player’s arm should not be completely straight but have a slight downwards bend at the elbow. This should give a fairly accurate indication of the most suitably sized instrument. Another method is to turn the violin upside down, place the chinrest end of the violin in the player’s armpit, whilst their arm is extended out with the palm facing downwards, and have the player curve their fingers around the scroll and into the pegbox again! This method usually results in a smaller violin being chosen, but facilitates the player being able to negotiate the full range of the fingerboard on each string with greater ease! Other considerations are the span of the player’s hand – can they place their fourth finger down easily with a curve in it whilst in first position? – and the depth of the players shoulders! The weight of the instrument is also important, as an instrument that is too heavy will impose physical restrictions on the player.
The length of the bow is also something to check, as many players may find that the corresponding bow is too long for them to be able to use effectively!
With both the instrument and bow, it is better to err on the side of caution and choose the smaller size, rather than going for one with ‘growing room’! This is where Rental can be particularly useful; take the smaller size initially and upgrade in size later.
The Viola
In general, all the considerations that apply to choosing the correct size of violin also apply to the viola! Violas however, are generally a larger instrument, so once the player can handle a larger size successfully, there are still some basic guidelines to use! What can confuse the uninitiated or first time buyer is the sizing which is in inches rather than fractions as 12”, 13”, 14”, 15”, 15.5”, 16”, and 16.5” and just because you play a 4/4 violin does not mean you need the largest viola!
With instruments ranging between slightly larger than a full-sized violin to those somewhat excessive and unwieldy, both length and weight will be important considerations when making a choice! The player's handspan will also dictate how large they can go. The player must be able to play on the C string with their fourth finger with ease whilst still in first position! Violas can also have deeper ribs than the violin, and therefore the length of a player’s neck can make some instruments difficult to play.
So that you can determine the best size match, violas are best tried out before renting or purchasing!
The Cello
Cellos, like violins and violas come in a range of sizes, the most regular ones being 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4. As the cello is played sitting down, an appropriately sized chair should be used when fitting a cello to the player. When sizing, the players legs should bend at a 90° angle and the cello should be placed between the player’s knees with its body's upper rim resting on the players chest at the sternum, and the upper part of the cello will rest on the thighs. The top right-hand peg - that of the C string – should be near to the player’s left ear with the neck a few inches from the shoulder, and the corners of the lower bouts should be resting against the knees. If the C string peg is in line with or below the player’s chin, then the cello is probably too small.
Taking a student’s hand span and finger length into account are also vital when correctly sizing a cello, with the first and fourth fingers spanning a major third comfortably on each string in first position. Having a teacher or string specialist present when sizing will help with this. Arm length is also a consideration, as a player with a wide hand span but short arm length may struggle with their bow arm on a larger instrument.
Again, bow length is something to check, with some players finding a corresponding bow too long to use! It is always better to err on the side of caution and choose a smaller size rather than one with ‘growing room’! Rental is incredibly popular with cellos, due to their cost being considerably more than smaller string instruments such as violins or violas.
The Bass
Double Basses also come in a range of sizes beginning with the mini basses at 1/10, and moving on through 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4. Most large adults use a 3/4 rather than a 4/4 sized bass. Like violas, larger sized basses can vary widely in dimension, and need to be fitted to the player specifically.
Whilst it is probably easiest to have a bass teacher with you when choosing an appropriate bass size for a player, but if one is not available then as a guide is that when the player and bass are both standing next to each other, the bridge should be roughly the same height from the floor as the players right hand. The nut of the fingerboard should also come to about the eye level of the player. The player should also be able to reach the end of the fingerboard with ease.
Bass bows are available in two styles, French and German. Each is held differently, and it is best to confirm with your bass teacher the type of bow they expect you to have.