Silent Violins - The Violin Goes Electric

Change comes slow in the classical music world. Thus it seemed silly to most to even consider the idea of silent violins. Let's face it, when you buy a violin you are looking for things like volume, resonance and tone. With an electric violin you get none of the above, until you plug it in.

Music changes quickly. Traditional thinking does not. Long after the first electric guitar was invented, those in the classical music industry would have nothing to do with the electric violin. The electronic age of music was, and to a certain extent, still is viewed with disdain. And to some, the electric violin is nothing more than another feeble attempt of technology to invade upon tradition.

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Slowly but surely that way of thinking is shifting. Once people understand that the electric violin will never actually replace the acoustic version, they become a little more accepting. Especially once they finally hear the sound. People in the jazz and rock world have been quicker to adjust. They are not threatened at all. In fact, they embrace the unique effects this instrument can produce. And they enjoy the convenience as well.

In actually, the term silent violins is not exactly correct. The strings vibrate and violin strings vibrate more than other instruments. That vibration causes some sound. Think in terms of playing an electric guitar that is not plugged in. The sound is there, but it is quiet enough that you can play late at night in an apartment with paper thin walls and still not disturb your neighbor.

And the cost is another benefit to the electric violin. You can get some of the best on the market for a relatively low price. Remember a quality acoustic violin is a handmade and intricate instrument. The time involved in making one can be great. You are paying for the sound, and also the craftsmanship and time. The result is that some instruments cost in the thousands or even more. A good electric violin will only cost you in the hundreds of dollars. And if you like to experiment, you find numerous interesting effects that you can add to the sound. Synthesizers can give you a realistic tone associated with an acoustic model. But you can also add distortions, reverbs and more. Really, there's no end to the number of things you can do or the fun you can have with an electric violin.