5 Spooky Violin Songs for Halloween (Free Sheet Music)

Nothing quite says “spooky Halloween songs” like a lone, slightly out of tune violin. Classical music is full of some really macabre pieces, but trying to find some that sound good on a solo violin is…well…not an easy walk in the graveyard. However, I’ve scoured the classical music repertoire for 5 spooky violin songs that are perfect for Halloween. I wish I could call these songs “easy” Halloween violin songs, but alas, all creepy songs are in minor keys. That’s just the way of life. And minor being slightly more torturous than major keys, these spooky songs can get tricky.

If you’re struggling with minor keys, check out my scales course here where I explain minor keys in detail!

Unfortunately, some of my favorite Halloween pieces from classical music couldn’t make it on to my list of Halloween violin songs. Simply because they were a nightmare to transcribe. But please listen to these wonderfully macabre pieces from the classical music world. No Halloween playlist is complete without them.

1. Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain: Classic creepy Halloween song that will make you harken back to Disney’s “Fantasia.”

2. Verdi’s Dies Irae.

3. Mozart’s Dies Irae. Mozart’s entire Requiem (his final composition) is worth a listening to, especially on a dark, stormy night.

4. Berlioz’s Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath from Symphonie Fantastique. One of my favorites. Complete with tolling church bells. Epic.

Okay, let’s start off with the easiest Halloween song for Violin!

While I love creating these violin arrangements, they do take a considerable amount of time to notate, arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you want to download and print all of this music (and much more), you can with my Online Studio Membership, where you’ll get access to all of my courses and my Sheet Music Library (a collection of over 200 easy, intermediate, and advanced violin songs). Learn more about becoming part of my online studio here!

1. Theme from Mahler Symphony No. 1 (Free Violin Sheet Music)

This theme is like a twisted, sinister version of Frere Jacques. During the real symphony, it’s played by a bass solo and it is EPIC! Listen to the entire movement—it’s both ominous and beautiful!

I transposed this spooky violin song to E minor to be easier to play on the violin. Like Frere Jacques, it can be played as a round, so grab your fellow ghouls and have a grand time. Just have the second person always start two measures behind the first person.

2. In the Hall of the Mountain King Free Violin Sheet Music

Our next Halloween violin song is a classic creepy tune. We’re in E minor again so enjoy LOTS of D sharps! What is that weird little marking on the second to last measure, you say? That’s tremolo. It means play right at the tip of your bow and make your hand tremble like you’ve just seen a ghost. Voila! Tremolo!

3. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Violin Music

Okay, let’s face it. Bach’s famous organ piece, Toccata and Fugue in D minor is not exactly what I would call an “easy” Halloween song for violin. Take one look at an organ’s gaping mouth of keys and pedals waiting to devour you and you’ll realize there is no possible way to easily transcribe an organ piece for violin. However, I have tried, my faithful followers. I have tried.

This is an abridged version, if that’s not obvious. We’re in D minor now….I can’t believe I just typed that. Of course we’re in D minor! You don’t need me to tell you that!

The good news about this spooky song is that it is free-flowing and rhapsodic. Think crazed maniac in a cape pounding on the organ at midnight and you’ll get the right vibe. So take your time and enjoy!

4. Montagues and Capulets Violin Sheet Music

This piece has to be one of my absolute favorites in classical music. It’s deliciously sinister. A single violin can’t really match the grandeur and power of this piece when played by a whole symphony. So please, listen to the real version and crank up the speakers.

I’ve transposed this into E minor for ease of playing on the violin. I also had to bump some of the notes down an octave to keep it in first position. However, if you’re ready for third position and a little more challenging music, I’ll give you the “expanded” edition of this piece as well.

5. Danse Macabre Easy Violin Sheet Music

No list of Halloween songs for violin would be complete without this wonderfully creepy violin piece by Saint-Saens. Unfortunately, I had to keep it in the key of G minor, so you’re going to have to deal with two flats.

Danse Macabre means “Dance of Death” and as you’re playing it you may feel like that’s exactly what you’re doing. Let me talk you through this madness.

I’ve divided the song into different sections. This piece is also rhapsodic, so pick and choose which ones you want to play. If some are harder than others, just leave them out.

The A section has a lot of open strings. If playing double stops is bothering you, just play the top notes.

The B section is definitely the hardest. Take your time. You’ll have lots of “low 1s” for the B flats and “high 3s” for the G sharps.

C section is easier and more like a demented little waltz. I love this part. Lots of accidentals, but nothing too paranormal.

The D part is the final section and it pretty much recaps the A section.

The good news about this Halloween song for violin is that, even if it’s slightly out of tune, that just adds to the spooky vibe. So enjoy those slightly out-of-tune notes!

How to Play Swallowtail Jig on the Violin (Free Sheet Music)

Swallowtail Jig is perhaps one of the most famous of all Irish fiddle music jigs. It’s peppy and dance-like but also has a distinctive minor quality, which I think adds to its allure. If you have been wanting to learn how to play Swallowtail Jig on the violin, this song of the month is for you!

During this lesson you’ll learn an E minor scale in 6/8 time to match Swallowtail Jig. Learn tips and tricks to make the E minor arpeggio a cinch.

(If scales are confusing you, check out my guided scales course here.)

Then we’ll talk through several practice items to make Swallowtail jig easy on the violin. I’ll also show you some ornaments, slides, and turns you can add in to make this jig sound great on the fiddle!

If you want to play Swallowtail Jig as a fiddle duet, scroll down for an easy duet part!

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Swallowtail Jig Free Fiddle Sheet Music With Warm-Up Scale

Here’s the free fiddle sheet music for Swallowtail Jig, along with the warm-up E minor scale and arpeggio.

Download the free Swallowtail Jig Sheet Music and Warm-Up Scale Here

Swallowtail Jig Fiddle Duet

Grab a friend or play-along with me! The fiddle duet for Swallowtail Jig is pretty easy so you can play-along with the main part even if you’re not quite ready to tackle all those notes in the real jig. Plus, playing Swallowtail Jig as a duet is tons of fun!

Download the free sheet music for Swallowtail Jig Violin Duet Part Here

Watch the Video Lesson and Play-Along tracks below!

Easy Stephen Foster Songs for Violin (Free Sheet Music)

Stephen Foster wrote over 200 songs in his short life. I’ve picked out 7 of my favorite Stephen Foster Songs for violin. You’ll find all 7 of these Stephen Foster songs are relatively easy for violin since I transposed the sheet music into easy key signatures for the fiddle. Scroll down for free Stephen Foster fiddle sheet music, but first…

Who Was Stephen Foster?

We’ve all heard of “Camptown Races” and “Oh Susanna” since we were children. You’ve probably become familiar with some of his beautiful tunes like “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” or “Beautiful Dreamer.” Stephen Foster may be one of America’s most popular songwriters, but his short 37 years were filled with contradictions. He’s known as “the father of American Music” even though he never took any formal composition courses. Many of his songs feature Southern themes even though he only visited the South once. His compositions remain popular today and are played on nearly every instrument in both classical and country settings. You might argue he’s the most successful American songwriter, and yet, he had no formal training in music and taught himself to play the many instruments he knew.

I love those contradictions. I think they add to the beauty of these simple, yet timeless tunes.

Let’s jump right in and talk about my 7 favorite Stephen Foster songs for violin!

All of these songs are available for download on my Sheet Music Library as part of my online studio membership. Click here to learn more.

Camptown Races for Violin (Free Sheet Music)

Let’s start with the easiest Stephen Foster song for violin, Camptown Races.

Camptown Races is in the key of G major, which means you’ll have “low 2s” on the A and E strings. If you can do 4th fingers on the A string for those E’s, great. That will save you a string crossing. If not, using open E is fine too.

(If you’re confused about key signatures and low 2s and high 2s and all that confusing fingerboard “stuff,” check out my scales course! Trust me, it will all make sense!)

Join my membership to download the Violin Sheet Music for Camptown Races.

Oh! Susanna Free Violin Sheet Music

Next up on our list of easy Stephen Foster songs for violin, “Oh! Susanna.” I’ve always enjoyed this song since I’m from Alabama, although I’ve never played banjo. This song doesn’t have a lot of “gotchas.” It’s in the key of D major, the favorite key of every violinist. So sit back, and enjoy playing this easy Stephen Foster fiddle tune!

Old Folks At Home (Swanee River) Free Violin Sheet Music

“Old Folks at Home,” a.k.a “Swanee River” is another easy Stephen Foster song for violin. You’ll notice a lot of repletion which makes this an easy fiddle tune. Once you get that first line down, you’ve got most of the song learned. We’re in D major again so that mean’s “high 2s” on the D and A strings.

The only thing to note is that you should “swing the 8th notes.” I could have written this song with the 8th notes written as dotted 8th/16th notes, but that would have made it look more confusing. If you know this song, you’ll recognize that the 8th notes in that first measure aren’t all equal. You’ll need to swing them, which means making the first 8th note longer and the second 8th note shorter. Long-short-long-short. Sometimes hearing the rhythm in your head is so much easier than seeing all those dots and extra lines when it’s printed.

Enjoy this easy violin tune!

Angeline the Baker Violin Sheet Music

Angeline the Baker is a classic Stephen Foster tune for fiddle. It’s popular in bluegrass playing for good reason. Once you get this fiddle tune down, you can really let it fly. It’s in D major so after you’re through repeating it as many times as you like, just play a “D” at the end you’ll be set.

Beautiful Dreamer Free Violin Sheet Music

Now we’re getting down to my real favorites. I think Stephen Foster’s slow, lyrical songs sound absolutely breath-taking on the violin. Add a little vibrato and you can turn this simple song into something that can literally make you shed a tear.

(New to vibrato? Check out my vibrato course here!)

Let’s talk about the few “gotchas” in Beautiful Dreamer for violin. First off, look at that C# in measure 4. That’s probably the most awkward note in the song. It’s a “high 3rd finger” on the G string. Stretch for it, no I mean really stretch for it! It’s usually higher up there than you think. I wouldn’t worry about 4th fingers for those D’s that bookend the C#, just play open D. But use the open D to allow you the time to stretch for that C#.

We’re in C major which means low 2s all around. And those long tied notes? Yep, just asking for a little vibrato!

Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Free Violin Sheet Music)

Another one of my favorite Stephen Foster songs that sounds absolutely beautiful on the violin. This lyrical tune is smooth and flowing and perfect for vibrato practice.

Alright, let’s talk about Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair for violin. First off, I really struggled with what key to put this fiddle tune in. G major is the best fit for the left hand but I hate that first note is on an E. You have two options, neither of which are great. Start on an open E, but just don’t play it super loud or it will sound shrill. Or play it with a 4th finger on A. But take your time. Set up the 4th finger and test it by lightly plucking before you play with the bow.

Since we’re in G major, your finger pattern will be “High 2, High 2, Low 2, Low 2.” That’s my mantra for G major: high 2s on the G and D strings, low 2s on the A and E strings.

Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair is very free-flowing with a lot of ritards and fermatas (where you hold the note for however long you see fit—like the first note). Imagine yourself singing this song and you will instantly hear where you need to slow it down and speed it up again.

Other than that, sprinkle in some vibrato and enjoy!

Hard Times Come Again No More Free Violin Sheet Music

Lastly on our list of Stephen Foster fiddle tunes, my absolute favorite, “Hard Times Come Again No More.” I think this one always gets me because the lyrics are so poignant and memorable. Add to the lyrics the heart-wrenching, plaintive quality of the song and you have a timeless classic.

This song always makes me realize, no matter how bad I think I have it, I really don’t have it that bad. It takes me back through the years and makes me imagine all the heart ache of previous generations. It makes me incredibly grateful for the wonderful quality of life I enjoy.

I’m not a great harmonica player. In fact, I know two songs and this is one of them. But I love playing it on harmonica. It fits the instrument so well. (Side note: don’t ever try to play harmonica while flying on a long cross-country by yourself a couple thousand feet in the air. I’ve tried it. Not a good idea…)

Let’s get into “Hard Times Come Again No More.” Like the song says, this is a dirge. You can let the rhythm ebb and flow, no need to be super exact. Think of it like an a cappella singer and you’ll paint the right picture. I like to add a little ritard at the end of each phrase (before the rests) for a nice semi-ending before continuing on. We’re in good ole D major here so you can focus more on bow and tone quality for this slow, lovely tune.

I hope you enjoyed these lovely Stephen Fosters songs for the violin. Let me know what other songs you would like to see.

~Happy Practicing!

How to Play Shenandoah on the Violin (Free Sheet Music)

This month, learn how to play a beautiful American folk song on the fiddle, Shenandoah! Shenandoah is tricky since it’s slow and there’s some difficult tied notes. Watch the video for my tips on how to practice tied notes.

I’ve also included an easy violin duet part for Shenandoah so if you’re just starting out, or if you want to enjoy some nice harmony, try it out!

Want to get the song of the month sent right to your inbox? Sign up for my newsletter below. (You’ll get some free goodies too!)

Download the Shenandoah Violin Sheet Music and Warm-Up Scale Here

Download the Shenandoah Violin Duet Part Here

Watch the Video Lesson Here!

Happy Practicing!

How to Play Red Haired Boy (Jolly Beggar Man) on the Violin: Free Sheet Music

This month’s song is an old traditional Irish fiddle tune that is also a popular bluegrass favorite: Red Haired Boy, also known as the Jolly Beggar Man.

This tune has the typical swinging dotted 8th note rhythm of the hornpipe. In this rhythm, the eighth notes follow a pattern in which the first eighth note is slightly longer than the second eighth note.

Some violin players find the notation of dotted eighth notes and sixteenth notes quite overwhelming to read. Sometimes it is simpler to see the song in plain eighth notes and add your own “swing” to the eighth notes. I’ve included two version of the fiddle warm-up and song in this month’s song of the month so you can pick which one you like!

Click here to download The Red Haired Boy free violin sheet music!

Watch the video lesson and play-along tracks for Red Haired Boy below.

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How to Play Aura Lee on the Violin: (Free Sheet Music and Violin Lesson)

Aura Lee Violin Tutorial and Play-Along Track

I hope you enjoy this month’s song, Aura Lee, an old tune from the 1860’s.

Watch the video lesson below to learn the tips and tricks for playing this beautiful song.

Want to get the song of the month sent right to your inbox? Sign up for my newsletter below. (You’ll get some free goodies too!)

Download the free sheet music for Aura Lee here.

Watch the Video Lesson and Play-Along Track Here!

Scottish Fiddle Tunes Free Sheet Music

If you’re a violinist and fan of the Outlander series you’ve probably also fallen in love with the soundtrack, which features some great traditional Scottish fiddle tunes. As soon as I heard these songs, I had to grab my fiddle and give them a try. You’ll find there are some tricky sections and some difficult rhythms, but if you’re familiar with the soundtrack, you can let your ears guide you. Here’s the free sheet music for three of my favorite Outlander fiddle tunes.

Helpful Resources

• Best Fiddle Books

• Best Beginner Violin Books

• Scale books

• Hymn books

• Top 10 Violins For Beginner and Intermediate Players

While I love creating these violin arrangements, they do take a considerable amount of time to notate, arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you want to download and print all of this music (and much more), you can with my Online Studio Membership, where you’ll get access to all of my courses and my Sheet Music Library (a collection of over 200 easy, intermediate, and advanced violin songs). Learn more about becoming part of my online studio here!

Skye Boat Song Free Fiddle Sheet Music

Outlander’s theme song is undoubtedly one of it’s most beautiful and haunting themes. It also sounds great on the violin. The original song hails from the 19th century and the original lyrics deal with some events that actually take place in the series.

Skye Boat Song is in 6/8 time, so the eighth note gets the beat. I like slurring the first three notes of every measure for a nice smooth melody, but feel free to experiment without any slurs. Just make sure you use very small bows for those single eighth notes at the end of the measures, otherwise you’ll find you’re always getting trapped at the tip or frog. 

Here’s a beautiful recording by Katy Adelson that I love!

Join my membership to download the fiddle sheet music for Skye Boat Song here.

Clean Pease Strae Free Fiddle Music

This song is fast! But don’t let that keep you back. The notes and rhythms are relatively easy. Start off slowly at first and as you speed it up, remember to use less bow to keep it under control. I would aim for the middle of the bow which will make all those string crossings a lot easier. 

Remember your key signatures. You’re going to be jumping back and forth between a “low 2” on the E string and an alternating “high 2” and “low 2” with those C naturals and C sharps on the A string. I threw in some accidentals to make it easy to remember!

Join my membership to download the fiddle sheet music for Clean Pease Strae here.

Coming Through the Rye Free Fiddle Sheet Music

My personal favorite fiddle tune from Outlander is Coming Through the Rye. I love playing it slowly for the first verse and then speeding it up for the second. Notice at measure 17, it’s the exact same melody and notes as the first measure, just in faster notation. 

There’s also a lot of opportunity for ornaments in this gorgeous tune. Like I said, I like playing the beginning really, really slow. Enjoy making a beautiful tone and add in some vibrato if you can. I also like adding the open D string with the A string notes and the open A string with the E string notes.

For that little symbol on measure 15, add a little turn. Just go B, up to C# and back to B before going on to the A. You can add in these turns other places if you like. I also like including some slides into the important notes. 

When it gets going fast, just remember, small bows! 

Join my membership to download the fiddle sheet music for Coming Through the Rye here.

Happy Fiddling!

5 Best Violin Concertos for Beginner and Intermediate Players (Free Sheet Music)

After you’ve been playing for a while and feel comfortable with first position scales and basic rhythms, you’re probably ready for a longer, more demanding piece. These student concertos for the violin offer the perfect balance of playability and musicality to challenge your technique. All of these concertos are in first position, but don’t be fooled. There’s plenty here to challenge you and take you to the next level of your playing!

Now there are lots of free student violin concertos in the public domain. I find that many of these really easy violin concertos don’t offer a lot musically. They sound like a collection of first position notes, not a real piece of music. The following beginner violin concertos are concertos I actually teach to all of my violin students. They offer beautiful melodies and sweeping harmonies while being approachable to beginner violinists.

Let’s get started!

1.Rieding Concerto in B Minor, Op. 35

Gorgeous, sweeping melodies invoke a dark and stormy night on the English countryside. At least that’s what I see! This student violin concerto is all in 1st position, but it features quite a few accidentals and quick 8th note passages. The second movement is in 6/8 time is lyrical and beautiful and the final 3rd movement is a flashy, rollicking bit of fun!

When to learn Rieding Concerto in B Minor?

I teach this concerto when students are in the middle or towards the end of Suzuki Book 2. You will want to be familiar with the common key signatures in 1st position and have a good grasp of bow technique.

Download the free PDF Sheet Music for Rieding Violin Concerto, Op. 35 Here!

2. Adolf Huber Student Violin Concerto No. 4, Op.8

This lovely concerto is all in first position, allowing you to work on musicality while working on first position. It offers a nice blend of flowing melodies and quick 16th notes passages. The ending features several double stop passages which sound difficult and flashy, but offer an easy introduction to playing two strings at once. This is a great student violin concerto that is approachable but still has plenty of technique to build your playing.

When to learn Huber’s Student Violin Concerto No. 4?

You’ll want to be fairly comfortable and fluent in first position. I teach this student concerto after Rieding B minor and somewhere around the end of Suzuki Book 2 .

Download the free PDF Sheet Music for Huber Student Violin Concerto, No.4 Here!

3. Leo Portnoff Concertino in E minor, Op. 13

For students who like the dark, luscious sound of Romantic era composers like Bruch and Rachmaninov, this student violin concerto hits pretty close to the mark, all while staying in first position! Some of my students dislike the typical “happy” sound of student violin concertos. I always direct those students to this concerto.

When to learn Portnoff Violin Concerto?

This concerto works well for students at the end of Suzuki Book 2.

Download the free PDF Sheet Music for Portnoff Violin Concerto in E minor Here!

4. Seitz Student Violin Concerto No. 2, Opus 13

This violin concerto is a beginner standard. It’s completely in first position but offers plenty to master, including a cadenza, more challenging double, triple, and quadruple stops, trills, and more. The second movement is absolutely gorgeous and is one of my favorite slow movements from the long list of student violin concertos. The second movement (Adagio) is actually a little more approachable than the first movement, so it’s a great place to start.

When to learn Seitz Student Concerto No. 2?

Part of this concerto is actually in Suzuki Book 4 (but it omits the beautiful 2nd movement, why?). However, I think this concerto is in many ways easier than some of the songs in Suzuki Book 3. If you want to master first position before dabbling with third position, this is a great concerto for you.

Download the free PDF Sheet Music for Seitz Student Violin Concerto, No.2 Here!

5. Hans Millies Violin Concertino in D major

This concertino is in the style of Mozart, making it one of my absolute favorite student violin concertos. I get so excited when I get to teach this piece because very few student violin concertos offer the real “Mozart” sound. But this one does! It’s all in first position. While it doesn’t seem as challenging as Seitz No. 2, this concerto is on another level in terms of musicality. It takes a more refined approach, light bow strokes, and an attention to small details. If you love the Classical style, you’ll love this concerto!

When to learn Millies Violin Concertino in D major?

While I normally wait to teach Millies after Seitz No. 2, and around the time students are playing Suzuki Book 3, you could learn this concerto earlier if you are a big fan of Mozart or if you want a concerto with a more “mature” sound.

Download the free PDF Sheet Music for Millies Violin Concerto in D major Here!

Easy Songs from Classical Music for Violin (Free Sheet Music)

If you are learning to play the violin or teaching yourself to play violin, you probably love these classical favorites. You don’t have to be a master to play some of the best classical pieces for violin. I’ve transcribed some of my favorite themes from classical music so it’s easy to play for violin students. Enjoy playing along with these classics!

*Sign up for my free course, 3 Bad Habits That Are Killing Your Progress!

While I love creating these violin arrangements, they do take a considerable amount of time to notate, arrange, edit, test-play, and upload. If you want to download and print all of this music (and much more), you can with my Online Studio Membership, where you’ll get access to all of my courses and my Sheet Music Library-a collection of over 200 easy, intermediate, and advanced violin songs. Learn more here!

The Planets: Easy Jupiter Violin Sheet Music

From the Planets by Gustav Holst

This luscious theme is by far one of the most gorgeous, epic themes in all of classical music. It’s great for practicing long bows and bow control. 

Join my membership and download the sheet music for Jupiter here (plus get a tutorial on how to play this song along with play-along tracks).

Also Sprach Zarathustra Easy Violin Sheet Music

By Richard Strauss

This is the iconic theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Feel free to play along with any orchestra recording, it’s in the same key signature.

Download the violin sheet music for Also Sprach Zarathustra by joining my membership!

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Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, 4th Movement Easy Violin Sheet Music

By Antonin Dvorak

This symphony is a ton of fun to play. It starts off with the “Jaws” theme before it really gets going. Play along with any recording. It’s in the same key, however the whole symphony isn’t included in this transcription. The long rest of measures isn’t exact (it’s just for fun). But after the development of the symphony you can pick up again and play the ending.

Join my membership and download the violin sheet music for Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 here.

Sibelius Symphony No. 2 Easy Violin Sheet music

By Jean Sibelius

This is another slow, gorgeous theme. One of my favorites!

Join my membership to download the easy violin Sheet Music for Sibelius Symphony No. 2 here.

Vivaldi Spring from the Four Seasons Easy Violin Sheet Music

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is one of the most iconic classical pieces for the violin! Spring captures everything that is lovely about playing violin. Try your hand at an easy version for Vivaldi’s Spring I created in D major. If you are ready for the real key signature, give E major a try!

Join my membership to download the easy violin Sheet Music for Vivaldi Spring here.

Join my membership to download the real E major version that matches the actual piece here.

In the Hall of the Mountain King Easy Violin Music

Okay, this might not be “easy” but it is an easier violin version of Greig’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” Use Low 1s for all those sharp open strings. Play that second to last measure tremolo!

Join my membership to download In the Hall of the Mountain King Violin Sheet Music here.

Canon in D Easy Violin Sheet Music

Nothing needs to be said about this classic violin piece.

Join my membership to download Canon in D Easy Violin Sheet Music here.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir De Florence Movement 3 Sheet Music

This is an epic piece for the violin! Listen to it on Youtube and listen for the double cello solo. It’s one of my favorite moments in classical music.

Join my membership to download Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir De Florence violin sheet music here.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir De Florence Movement 4 Sheet Music

The 4th movement is a raging, rollicking tour de force from the first note. Hold on!

Join my membership to download Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir De Florence violin sheet music here.

Enjoy playing these beautiful themes from classical music! What other songs would you like to see? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Practicing!

Join my online studio membership and get access to all the sheet music plus all these great courses!

Violin Scale Duets: Play a Duet with Me (Free Sheet Music)

Scales in Harmony

Playing scales as a duet can do wonders for your intonation. I’ve recorded the major scales that a violinists uses with a teacher duet part in harmony. Play the normal scale along with these recordings and try to adjust your pitch to be in harmony with my notes. It’s lots of fun!

To follow along, you can download these free scales sheets for scales in harmony. You will play the notes on these pages. Play along with me using the videos below. Have fun!

Download the sheet music for Scales in Harmony: C major + Sharps

Download the sheet music for Scales in Harmony: Flats

Slow Easy Fiddle Songs (Free Sheet Music)

I love playing slow fiddle songs on the violin. They are great for developing tone, smooth string crossings, and bow control. Plus the slow tempos give you time to think about intonation and finger placement. For slow songs, it’s imperative that your bow is straight since you will be using lots of bow! If you need some tips and exercises for playing with a straight bow, check out my guide to playing with a straight bow.

I’ve written down some of my favorite slow fiddle tunes for beginner and intermediate violinists (with free sheet music). If you want to know my absolute favorite, scroll down to the very end!

Looking for more great fiddle tunes? Try my favorite Stephen Foster fiddle tunes with free sheet music!

Ash Grove Free Violin Sheet Music

Ash Grove is a great, slow fiddle song for beginners. The key signature is in D major, so you will have high 2nd fingers on the D and A strings and low 2nd fingers on the E string.

Join my membership to download the sheet music for Ash Grove here.You’ll get this song and more as part of my online violin sheet music library.

Loch Lomond Free Violin Sheet Music

Loch Lomond is a great Scottish fiddle tune that is dear to my heart. My ancestors hail from Scotland so this tune brings back fond memories of my visits to my ancestral homeland. Feel free to swing those 8th notes even though it’s not written in. (Swinging the 8th note means playing the first of every two 8th notes a little slower). In this version, I’ve included two verses with the second verse being an octave higher.

Enjoy this beautiful version by Nicola Bendetti.

Join my membership to download the sheet music for Loch Lomond here.

Danny Boy Free Violin Sheet Music

Danny Boy is a timeless Irish tune that can be deceptively tricky on the violin. The slow tempo coupled with those long tied notes makes bow control paramount. Notice how those long notes always happen on down bows. That means you will want to plan out your bow placement and always make sure you are at the frog for those long notes so you have the entire bow to work with!

Watch one of my favorite violinists, Nigel Kennedy, play a gorgeous version of Danny Boy.

Join my membership to download the sheet music to Danny Boy here. 

Will You Go, Lassie (Wild Mountain Thyme) Free Violin Sheet Music

This is a recent favorite of mine. It sounds great on the violin and there are lots of opportunities for ornaments and embellishments. Scroll down for a more advanced version with some embellishments written in.

I love this version with Hurdy Gurdy!

Join my membership to download the sheet music to Will You Go, Lassie?

In this version, there is a key signature change in the middle from G major to D major. I added in some easy double stops and some triplets.

Download the sheet music for the advanced version of Will You Go, Lassie here.

The Parting Glass Violin Sheet Music

Join my membership to download the pdf violin sheet music for the Parting Glass here.

My favorite slow fiddle tune…

What’s my favorite slow fiddle tune? If I had to pick one, it would definitely be Ashokan Farewell. This classic slow fiddle tune has endless opportunities for turns, double stops, and other embellishments. Since Ashokan Farewell is copyrighted, I can’t publish the free violin sheet music here, but you can purchase this great fiddle tune. Find the sheet music along with my other top picks for fiddle books here!

Happy Practicing!

Swallowtail Jig Free Violin Sheet Music

Swallowtail Jig is a great introduction to fiddling. It’s a relatively easy fiddle tune for the violin. It’s also, simple to memorize and lots of fun. Enjoy this free violin sheet music for Swallowtail Jig. If you are a little rusty on note reading, I’m also including a tablature-like version. Happy Practicing!

Download the sheet music for Swallowtail Jig here.

Check out a list of Easy Fiddle Tunes for the violin here as well as my top picks for fiddle books!

Swallowtail Jig Tablature Version for Violin

()= A string { } = E string. Normal numbers = D string

A dash (—) means a slightly longer note

12 311 (1) 11311 (10) 3 

2 00 (0) 00(3 2 3 0) 32

311 (1) 11311 (1- 2 3 2 3 0) 3 2 3 1 1 1-

(1 1 2 3) {0- 1 0- 1 0} (3 1)(1 1 2 3) {0- 1 0} (3 1 3-)

(1 1 2 3) {0- 1 0- 1 0} (3 1)(3 2 3 0) 3 2 3 1 1 1-

Easy Hymns For Violin (Free Sheet Music)

Nothing sounds quite as beautiful on the violin as an old-fashioned hymn. These hymns are easy enough for beginners but offer plenty for intermediate and advanced players.

For even more easy hymns along with intermediate third position parts, join my online studio to download my hymn book, Favorite Hymns for Violin. It has over 50 of my favorite hymns transposed into easy to read key signatures for violin. You’ll get Favorite Hymns for Violin in addition to several other downloadable violin books and over 200+ songs and sheet music for violin.

Also check out my top picks for beginner violin books, scale books, hymn books, and fiddle books!

You can download the sheet music for all of these violin hymns when you join my online studio membership. Click here for more information!

He Leadeth Me Violin Sheet Music

This version of He Leadeth Me is in the key of D (two sharps) which is the most common key for beginning violin songs. Hold the notes under the fermatas to add to the musical phrasing. As you get more comfortable with the notes, try to add in slurs wherever you want a smoother sound.

Count Your Blessings Violin Sheet Music

Here’s an easy hymn with a little faster beat. Add in slurs or “swing the beat” with dotted 8th notes and 16th notes if you want to add a little something different.

Come Thou Fount Violin Sheet Music

One of my favorite hymns for violin is Come Thou Fount. I’ve included two versions: an easy one octave version in the key of D major and a version in G major that has one verse in the lower octave and a second verse in the higher octave. Playing verses in different octaves is one way to add variety to each stanza. Add in slurs and your own dynamics as you get comfortable with the notes. Or for something really special, add in ornaments, double stops, and slides like this beautiful version by Taryn Harbridge.

The Old Rugged Cross Free Violin Sheet Music

Another classic hymn for the violin, The Old Rugged Cross reminds me so much of sining in church as a child. The Old Rugged Cross is in 6/8 time which means the 8th note will get the beat.

Be Thou My Vision Free Violin Sheet Music

This traditional Irish hymn is simple and easy for the violin but so beautiful. It’s a great hymn to practice slow bows and a beautiful, sustained tone.

Let me know what other violin hymns you would like to see! Leave a comment below!

Scales and Arpeggios for the Violin--Free Sheet Music

For a great violin warm-up, practice scales and arpeggios everyday. Below are the main scales and arpeggios for the violin in first position. I recommend staying in one key for a few days to master the finger pattern. Scales are a great way to incorporate more advanced concepts like complicated bowings, accents, dynamics, and rhythms.

Understanding the building blocks of scales can make playing scales so much easier. If you also want to know why some notes are sharp and some aren’t, read about key signatures and minor scales.

For a typical warm-up, I choose a key and play the scale several times, starting with half notes or whole notes and gradually speeding up the duration of each note (see Daily Warm-Ups for Scales below). Then pick one exercise from Bowing, Rhythms, and Dynamics for Scales below. Use this advanced bowing or rhythm for the entire scale.

If you want more violin scales in your life, check out my FREE scale book, Creative Scales for the Experimental Violinist. It’s great for beginners or intermediate players. It includes the most common major and minor scales as well as pentatonic scales and dozens of scale variations to make scales enjoyable! Plus, I’ve included my handy Key Signature Quick Reference Guide so that never again will you wonder, “is this high 2 or low 2?” Sign up for my newsletter to get a copy of the free scale book.

The typical finger patter that beginners start out on can be found in the D major and G major one octave scales. In both of these scales, the 2nd finger is “high” or right next to 3rd finger. If you are just starting out, start with the D major and G major one octave scales.

C major has “low” 2nd fingers. Which means the 2nd finger is touching the 1st finger (a.k.a half steps).

A major has sharp 3rd fingers on the G and D strings. And E major has sharp 3rd fingers all the way.

Download the free sheet music for Scales and Arpeggios for Violin First Position Sharps.

Flat scales generally involve a lot of low 1st fingers. For F major, all 1st fingers will be low. With B flat, there will be low 2s, low 1s, and low 4s. Watch out you can’t always use your open string in flat scales since the open string might be flat in the key signature.

Download the free sheet music for Scales and Arpeggios for Violin First Position Flats.

There are three different types of minor scales: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. Melodic is more typically played but it’s great practice to play all three types of minor scales. In melodic minor scales, you always raise the 6th and 7th notes (scale degrees) on the way up the scale, and then lower them on the way down.

Download the Free Sheet Music for Melodic Minor Scales and Arpeggios for Violin First Position.

To be able to play scales faster, use this warm-up guide.

Download the Free Sheet Music for Daily Warm-Ups For Violin Scales.

Once you are ready for more of a challenge, add in these bowings to your scales. For this warm-up, I included a little turn at the beginning. Notice how the notes go up to the third scale degree, then go back down to the first note before starting the scale as normal. This is a typical scale pattern that many intermediate and advanced players use.

Download the Free Sheet Music for Bowings, Rhythms, and Dynamics for Violin Scales.

Scales in Harmony

Playing scales as a duet can do wonders for your intonation. I’ve recorded the major scales that a violinists uses with a teacher duet part in harmony. Play the normal scale along with these recordings and try to adjust your pitch to be in harmony with my notes. It’s lots of fun!

To follow along, you can download these free scales sheets for scales in harmony. You will play the notes on these pages. Play along with me using the videos below. Have fun!

Download the sheet music for Scales in Harmony: C major + Sharps

Download the sheet music for Scales in Harmony: Flats

What scales would you like to practice more? Higher positions? More minor scales? Leave a comment below!

Helpful Resources

• Best Fiddle Books

• Best Beginner violin books

• Scale books

• Hymn books

• Top 10 Violins For Beginner and Intermediate Players

Happy Practicing!

Devil's Dream Free Violin Sheet Music

Devil’s Dream is a classic, easy fiddle tune for the violin. Start slow and gradually get the song faster and faster. Keeping it clean at fast tempos can be a challenge with the string crossings, making this simple fiddle tune a great song that you can continually improve. I’ve included two versions, one in D major which can be easier to read for beginners, and one in A major that starts on the E string. Enjoy this free violin sheet music Devil’s Dream!

Plus, watch my video lesson and play-along on Devil’s Dream to get practice tips and help learning this awesome fiddle song!

All of these songs are available for download on my Sheet Music Library as part of my online studio membership. Click here to learn more.

Devil’s Dream Free Violin Sheet Music in D Major

Join my online violin studio to download the free pdf sheet music for Devil’s Dream in D Major here.

Devil’s Dream Free Violin Sheet Music in A Major

Download the sheet music for Devil’s Dream in A Major by joining my online studio membership.

Helpful Resources

• Best Fiddle Books

• Best Beginner violin books

• Scale books

• Hymn books

• Top 10 Violins For Beginner and Intermediate Players

Easiest Violin Songs EVER (Free Violin Tab Music)

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-

Toreador Song

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!

Irish Washerwoman Free Violin Sheet Music

Irish Washerwoman is a relatively easy fiddle tune that is well known around the world. I play through it almost daily, getting it faster and faster, adding ornaments, slides, and turns for a greater challenge. Enjoy this free sheet music for the classic Irish fiddle tune, Irish Washerwoman.

Download the sheet music for Irish Washerwoman here.

Helpful Resources

• Best Fiddle Books

• Best Beginner violin books

• Scale books

• Hymn books

• Top 10 Violins For Beginner and Intermediate Players

Fiddling Warm-Up

Whether you are playing jigs, reels, hornpipes, Celtic, or American fiddling, folk music has certain bowing patterns, accents, and rhythms that are similar across genres and styles. Use this fiddling warm-up to get used to the various bowing styles and left hand ornaments that you will be playing.

Each exercise is separated from the next by a double bar. Stay with each exercise until you are comfortable with it. Play it on all the strings or with your scales. Learn to relax your shoulders, your wrists, and your fingers.

Download the Fiddling Warm-Up free sheet music here.

First Songs on the Violin (With Sheet Music and Fingerings)

Here are three easy songs that you can learn on the violin right away. These are the first songs I teach on the violin since you can play them on any string and they use only a few notes. I’ve written each song starting on the D string but you can play each song on every string using the exact same fingerings as the first line. Happy Practicing!

Hot Cross Buns Sheet Music for Violin

Mary Had a Little Lamb Sheet Music for Violin

Boil Them Cabbage Down Sheet Music for Violin

I love teaching this easy fiddle tune. Once you learn the basic notes, you can add different rhythms to make it sound even more “fiddle-like.” My favorite is the Run Pony Run Pony rhythm. Try adding double stops (2 strings at once—playing the open string above the string you are playing) for even more of a challenge.

Beginning Rhythms for the Violin (With Sheet Music)

When you first start learning to play the violin, your teacher may teach you some “rhythms” associated with little sayings to play with your bow. These beginning rhythms may also be known as the “Twinkle Rhythms” because most of them occur on the first page of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in the Suzuki Book One.

Of course, it’s great for children but I also teach all my beginner adults these rhythm sayings too. They are great for warming up your bow and teaching your bow hand to work in certain rhythms instead of just up and down. And it’s a lot easier to say, “Play the Mississippi Hot Dog rhythm” as opposed to, “Play the four eighth note two quarter note rhythm.”

I have included the rhythms that are pretty common but I’ve also included some of my own rhythms.

The rhythms are:

Mississippi Hot Dog

Run Pony Run Pony

Elevator Operator

Chocolate Elephant Chocolate Elephant

Fluffy Penguin

Popcorn and candy and (This is what one measure of the rhythm looks like. But you would continue to repeat back to popcorn so you are continuously saying “popcorn and candy and popcorn and candy.”

Here are what the Twinkle rhythms look like in musical notation.

Happy Rhythm Practicing!