Can I self-teach the violin?

I learnt the violin for about 10 years, wouldn't recommend self-teaching unless it's absolutely the only option. Although, I don't know of any self-teaching material so I couldn't make a complete judgment. You need to get violin technique exactly right from the start, to which there are many aspects, otherwise it can become a pain later on. And if you want to actually become good, don't be half-arsed in practicing (which is easy to do if progress is slow, even if you are enthusiastic).

I think I'll buy the violin for university find someone who can teach me. Is a shoulder rest and tuner worth buying?

No. Self teaching any instrument as a complete beginner is a bad idea, but the violin is one of the worst. It will not work for you.

You totally can my sister did and she is really amazing at it now but she is very musical.

Well if you look at it this way, the violin didn't just appear from nowhere. Somebody did create the violin and the way it should be played. Are you saying the person who first played the violin is the only living being who could and will ever self-teach the violin successfully? Some faith in the human capacity wouldn't go amiss.

No. Self teaching any instrument as a complete beginner is a bad idea, but the violin is one of the worst. It will not work for you.

Self teaching is quite easy, if he has one or two lessons in which he's taught to hold the violin. I violently disagree on the second point; the violin is quite an easy instrument to play competently, as far as my self teaching piano and playing saxophone, both to grade 8, will allow me to compare (piano self taught till I took grade 4), if you're not completely tone deaf. Do you play?

OP; don't listen to this guy; spend a month learning to read notes, get a month's lessons to learn basic technique, and you will be set, and your progress will be proportionate to your effort.

Oh I'm sorry. I knew I had 11 years of experience playing the viola and dealing with people playing string instruments from every conceivable background, but I didn't realise that I was talking to someone who has grade 8 piano! You are clearly an authority in this matter. Having seen that you play the piano and saxophone, I will in future consult you on everything I ever say about music due to the fact that I cannot possibly hope to know what I'm talking about compared to you.

Now that I've finished being sarcastic I will explain. You are a tool. You don't know anything about string instruments. You don't play one. You probably don't know a lot of people who do. I have learnt one from scratch and I will tell you, even with a highly competent teacher the technique required to make it sound good does not come easily. The piano sounds good from the outset and the basic techniques are fairly simple. The same is not true of the violin. It normally takes a year or two before it doesn't sound completely awful, and that's when you have a teacher who knows what they're talking about. Of all the musicians I have ever spoken to on this issue, the almost universal consensus has been that upper strings are the hardest instruments to self teach, and the worst in terms of setbacks you will teach yourself by doing so.

Well Done, that is a good achievement in the next 7 years or so (if you keep it up), you'd have pretty much mastered the violin

I really don't know where to begin. Where can I buy the violin? What book did you use, do I need any accessories? Do you know of any specific youtubers I could look to?

Also how old are you?

Thanks! x

I'm 19 and I've always wanted to play the violin since I was a child but was never given the opportunity. Now an adult I want to re-kindling the things that I've longed to do before I regret it. I can't afford violin lessons and the nearest teachers are centuries away, however, I am willing to put in a lot of effort into teaching myself the violin, I'm not naive I know it'll be very difficult but I'll determined to put the work in. Do you of any books/sources I could use to give me a boost in the right direction? Do you know of anyone who has self-taught the violin, did they succeed?