I play cello and I am wondering how hard it would be to play violin...?

I play the cello and have played for 5 years, I am not really good, but I'm decent, I am wondering how hard it would be for me to learn to play violin. I wouldn't get lessons though I would have to teach myself.

Let me know what you think and if you have ever tried doing anything like this ;)

I dont see why one would be much different than the other. They are both bowed stringed instruments that tend to play single-note melodies. Violin parts are faster, but cello strings are bigger and the notes are farther apart, so if you want, go for it.

you'd most likely be able to play it, but how well? The distance between the notes are different. The thumb isn't used for upper octaves on the violin. Out of experience, tones on a violin are less forgiving than a cello. Give it a try, have fun!

Harder. I don't mean to be discouraging, but there is no place to hide in the sonorities of the violin. Anything that comes out of it is pretty much your fault. The resonance of the cello's relatively lower tones provides more cover for the non-virtuoso. Both are beautiful instruments however, so my hat is off to you if you give it a go -- you might even find the violin fits your hands better than the cello.

They both have 4 strings, are tuned in fifths and have a bow. Almost every other thing is different.
The concept of fingering is different from the violin, as is the key in which the music is written although that shouldn't be a big problem.
My guess is that you don't have a lot of profit from your cello playing, apart from your musical experience.
Allthough this one can also be negative. You tend to be less forgiving according to intonation if you already play an instrument.
My Cello teacher (I studied Cello in the conservatorium as extra string instrument, when I was in the conducting class) used to say "Put cotton in your ears. Don't listen to yourself to much, you can't correct intonation to much when just starting. First the bowing and fingering has to be fluid."

If you like it, try it. But my guess is that it isn't easy.
Good luck and most of all, enjoy music (playing)

I think you will be shocked how difficult it is to get a decent sound out of a violin compared to a.cello. I learnt cello for six months before going back to the violin. (I thought the cello vibrato was harder to do then violin vibrato)
Yes, they are both string instruments but the violin is much less forgiving.
Having said that, I think you would enjoy it. I also suspect it would help your cello playing too.
I strongly recommend that you get lessons for the first six months ; how you hold the bow and the violin is so important. As is performing a full bow stroke ; you will need help with this.

I helped teach a beginner string camp this past summer. The children who were learning the violin were able to play open strings -with a good bow hand, and proper posture-, within 2 weeks.

In the same 2 weeks, the beginner cellists not only mastered the proper posture/bow grip, but were also playing whole songs, with fingers, and were starting rudimentary shifting exercises.

...this is an indication as to how the *basics* of a violin, primarily the posture... is harder to achieve than the cello. Good luck, have patience, and I'd suggest somehow getting a teacher, if only for a few lessons, just so you learn the basics... properly.

Don't switch to the DARK SIDE!!!!

I must have played the cello for about 5 years before trying out violin too...

and I don't mean to scare you away or anything, but let me tell you, it is very very frustrating at first. After having achieved a suitable and even beautiful sound from the cello, it is extremely frustrating to not be able to achieve that same tone quality on the violin.

however, you should definitely go for it. If you persevere, and don't give up on yourself, then I'm sure you can be a magnificent musician on both cello and violin. (which would absolutely awe everybody)