How to Play the Violin

Although you can play the violin by plucking strings, it is best to learn how to use the bow. This can be difficult in the beginning, and a bit awkward, but after some practice you should be able to learn, and make some music with your violin and bow.

The violin might be considered one of the dialects of that language. Featured largely in classical music, the violin, or fiddle, is a four-string instrument tuned in perfect fifths. It is related to the double bass, cello, and viola in construction and sound, though it produces the highest in pitch of that family.

The violin traces its roots back to the early 1500s in Italy. There was a time when violin makers, called “luthiers,” introduced a number of quality instruments to the market. Some noted manufacturers from that period, like Stradivarius, are still recognized today as representing the highest level of violin craftsmanship.

Once the violinist knows how to hold the violin, they can learn about fingering the notes. Violins do not have frets such as those found on guitars; players must practice and train their ears until they know exactly where the notes are on the fingerboard. There are four positions on the violin; the first position is furthest away from the player’s face and sounds low-pitched notes. The fourth position produces the highest notes and is further up the neck. The strings are tuned, from lowest to highest, G, D, A, E. Violinists can play open strings, which means they play a string with out pressing on it, or they can change the tone of the string by applying pressure.

Use a pitch pipe or a piano to tune your violin to G - D - A - E. (”E” is the top space on the treble clef on your sheet music. “G” is below the second ledger line of the treble clef.)

Wrap your left hand around the upper body where the neck and fingerboard extend from the instrument.

Place the base of the violin and the black chin rest below your chin.