Are you looking for easy violin songs? So easy you don’t have to spend twenty minutes just trying to figure out what the notes are? Do you just want to play an easy song without feeling like you need to take a course in music theory? Then I’ve got the songs for you! Not just any songs, the easiest violin songs ever, with no note reading required!
Why Play Easy Violin Songs Without Note Reading?
Some teachers might snub their noses at playing songs without actually reading the notes. Is that cheating? Absolutely not. In fact, when I start students, no matter their age, I spend several weeks doing songs just like these easy violin songs. Why? Because with violin there is so much going on! Keep your left wrist straight! Higher on those 2nd fingers! Bow pinky curved! Straight bow! It’s frustrating enough as it is. So why make it more complicated with note reading? Spend some time on easy violin songs. Focus on the basics of playing. And when you want to add in note reading, it won’t totally rock your world.
Even if you have been playing for a while and you are comfortable with note reading, these easy violin songs look hard when you look at the sheet music. But once you simplify it into violin tab, you’ll find it’s not that tricky.
How Does This Tab for Violin Work?
Musical tablature indicates fingerings, not notes. So the numbers in these easy violin tablature songs indicate the finger number. The letters indicate which string to play on. For instance: A: 10 D: 312321 means you would play 1st finger then open string all on the A string, then play all the other finger numbers on the D string.
All numbers are using the “normal” finger pattern in which the 2nd finger is next to three. If the finger needs to be lower or higher it will be indicated with an “L” for lower and an “H” for higher. Low 2s will be right next to 1st finger. High 3s will be right above where 3rd finger normally is.
How Does the Rhythm Work in Violin Tab?
Well…it doesn’t. That’s the one drawback to this easy violin tab. There’s really no way to indicate rhythm. It’s best if you know the song. I’ve tried to space out numbers that are longer notes. Some numbers have a dash afterward to indicate a longer note. Other than that, listen to these easy violin songs to know how slow or fast to play the notes on violin!
Also check out my easy violin Christmas songs using this this type of music notation.
Easiest Violin Songs EVER
I try to start with the easiest songs and work my way down to more challenging ones. Try them all!
Dashes after notes mean to hold that note longer (usually hold that note for the same number of dashes)
Hot Cross Buns Violin Music
Any String: 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 0
Mary Had A Little Lamb for Violin
Any String: 2 1 0 1 2 2 2-- 1 1 1-- 2 2 2-- 2 1 0 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 0--
Boil Them Cabbage Down
A: 2222 3--3-- 2222 1--1-- 2222 3--3-- 2211 0--0--
Ending: E: 3230130 A: 320120. E: 3
Chicken on A Fencepost
Parentheses means play those notes faster.
A: (3333) 33 E: 10103 A: (3333) 33 4310 (3333) 33 E: 1013 4310 A: 333
D: (3333) 33 A: 10103 D: (3333) 33 4310 (3333) 33 A: 1013 4310 D: 333
Frère Jacques
The last “AEA” is open A string, open E string, open A string.
A: 0120 0120 234-- 234-- E: 010 A: 320 E: 010 A: 320 AEA AEA
Au Clair De La Lune
A: 0001 2--1-- 02110----
A: 0001 2--1-- 02110----
Old MacDonald for Violin
D: 3330 110-- A: 1100 D: 3---0 3330 110-- A: 1100 D: 3---0
D: 3330 3330 3030 3310
D: 3330 110-- A: 1100 D: 3----
Happy Birthday for Violin
L2 means low 2nd finger. Place the 2nd finger right next to the 3rd finger.
D: 001032-- 001043-- 00 A: 31 D: 321-- A: L2 L2 1 D: 343--
London Bridge
A: 010 D: 3234-- D: 123-- 234--
A: 010 D: 3234-- 1--4-- 2 0---
Jingle Bells
Any string: 222-- 222-- 24012---- 3333 3222 21121 4
222-- 222-- 24012---- 3333 3222 4431 0----
Can-Can
D: 0 0 1321 A: 0 0 01 D:23 1 1 1321 0 A: 3210 D: 321
D: 0 0 1321 A: 0 0 01 D:23 1 1 1321 0 A: 0 D: 12 0 0
French Folk Song
Hold the notes with dashes for three beats
A: 333 222 123 0---
D: 333 222 111 0---
D:012 012 012 3---
D: 123 123 123 4---
A: 321 0
D: 3210 1 0---
Ode To Joy
Parentheses means play those notes faster.
D: 2234 4321 0012 211-- 2234 4321 0012 100--
D: 1120 1 (23) 20 1 (23) 21 01 G: 1--
D: 2234 4321 0012 100--
Three Blind Mice
I’d like to thank my student, Marae, who helped me figure out a lot of the following songs and gave me some great ideas for new violin songs. Thanks Marae!
A: 2 1 0 2 1 0
A: 4 33 2 4 33 2
E: 0 3 3 212 3 00
E: 0 3 3 212 3 00
A: 3 2 1 0 2 10
Star Wars Easy Violin Music
H3 means high 3rd finger
D: 111 A: 0- -4--321 E: 3-- 0--A: 321 E: 3-- 0--A: 323 1----
D: 111 A: 0- -4--321 E: 3-- 0--A: 321 E: 3-- 0--A: 323 1----
D: 112-- 2 A: 3210 0121 D: 2 H3
D: 112-- 2 A: 3210 4-- 1--
D: 112-- 2 A: 3210 0121 D: 2 H3
D: 11 4 3 L2 1 0 G: 3 H21 D: 1
D: 111 A: 0- 4-321 E: 3- 0-A: 321 E: 3- 0-A: 323 1-
D: 22 A:3 1 0
Hey Diddle Diddle
Listen to Hey Diddle Diddle here (you can play along with this version)
A: L2 E: 0 2 0 (do this 2 times)
E: 00 A: 3 L2 3
E: 00 A: 3 L2 3
A: 3 E: 00 L2 L1 0 A:3
E: 0 1111- 01-2 3-
E: 3 4 4+(stretch) 2 1 0 1 A: 3 2
Do You Want to Build A Snowman Easy Violin Music
D: 3 3 3 0 3 A: 1 0 1
D: 3 3 3 0 3 A: 1 0
D: 3 3 3 0 3 A: 1 L2 1 D: 3
A: 1 L2 1 D: 3
D: 3 3 0 3 A: 1 3
A: 33 L2 1 L2 3 D: 3
D: 3 A: 0 1 3
A: 0 1 0 D: 3 A: 0 1 4
D: 3 3 3 0 3 A: 1 0 1
D: 3 2 3-
A: 3 43 11 101 L2 1- L2 0 3 1 D: 3 1 4 0 0 A: 0- 4 3 L2 1 0 1 L2 1- D: 2 A: 1 1 L1 H2 E: 1
A: 4 H3 4 0 1 L2 1 D: 3 A: 4 3 D: 3 0 A: 2 1 0 D: 3
I’ll be adding more easy violin songs with tab so check back frequently. Let me know which ones you would like to see!
Happy Practicing!