Most likely , the first makers of violins took ideas from three kinds of current instruments . They are the rebec , in use since the 10th century , the Renaissance fiddle , and the lira da braccio . Most likely the first makers of violins borrowed from three types of current instruments : the rebec , in use since the 10th century ( itself derived from the Byzantine lyra and the Arabic rebab ) , the Renaissance fiddle , and the lira da braccio ( derived from the Byzantine lira ) .