The Violin is a stringed instrument. There are two kinds of stringed instruments: plucking and bowing. Plucking instruments, like harps and lyres, were around long before the bowing instruments.

Violins have origins that come from Asia with a good example being: The Mongolian Murin Huur. The present form of the violin is from 16th century Italy, in the towns of Vince and Genoa, historically both had strong trade ties with Mongolia. Before the violin reached Italy, China, India and other Middle Eastern countries had already developed the Mongolian Murin Huur into three different bowing instruments. The Erhu was developed in China, the Esraj in India and the Rebab was developed in the Middle East.

Like other classical European instruments, the violin has four strings. The four strings on a violin is tuned with pegs to perfect Fifths, from left to right as held in a plying position with the left hand: G, D, A and E. Violins come in many different sizes for adults to children under under three. The largest violin is 4/4 or Full Size Violin. A full size violin is recommended for violinists age 11 Years and above or those with an arm length of 23.5 inches and up.

The following chart is violin size recommendations based on violinists age and arm length.

3/4 - 9 to 11 years old with an arm length of 22 to 23.5 inches.

1/2 - 6 to 10 years old with an arm length of 20 to 22 inches.

1/4 - 4 to 7 years old with an arm length of 17.5 to 20 inches.

1/8 - 3 to 5 years old with an arm length of 17 to 17.5 inches.

1/10 - 3 to 5 years old, with an arm length of 15 to 17 inches.

1/16 - 3 to 5 years old. with an arm length of 14 to 15 inches.

A finely made violin smaller then 1/2 size is rare or does not exist.

A violin will cost about $100USD and can cost as much as $4,000USD depending on quality and size.

The violin produces a soothing sound, an instrument that I, personally, enjoy playing.