Easy Scales in Third Position for the Violin

If you are starting to learn third position then it’s time to start practicing third position scales on the violin. You’ll notice certain key signatures make more sense in certain positions. For instance, with first position scales on the violin, the keys of G, D, and A major make a lot of sense. In second position, the keys of B and F major seem to fit well. With third position scales on the violin, C major, G major, and D major feel very comfortable.

This is one reason why we generally teach third position on the violin after first position. Since first position favors most of the same key signatures, it makes sense to learn third position next.

Now if you’re not familiar with scale theory, learning third position scales might be pretty tricky. Don’t worry, if you need to brush up on how scales work, watch the following video for a quick overview. By the way, every violinist should know the half step patterns in scales. It will make the violin instantly make more sense! I talk about this in depth in my Creative Scales Course for the Experimental Violinist (part of my online studio).

Many people find third position difficult to learn, and I think that’s because they don’t truly understand the language of the violin. And if you don’t understand how to “speak the language” then learning advanced concepts like third position will always be a challenge. My Online Violin Studio has several courses that will help you “speak the language” like a native speaker!

Courses That Will Help You Learn Third Position

• Creative Scales for the Experimental Violinist

• Master Third Position Basics for the Violin

Let’s start off with the easiest one octave scales in third position.

Easy One Octave Third Position Violin Scales

C Major Scale in Third Position on the Violin

First off, let’s learn the C major scale in third position. Now if you know the universal scale finger pattern that I talk about in my violin third position course, this makes so much more sense! Basically, the universal finger pattern involves two strings with the same finger pattern on both strings. There will be a whole step between the first and second fingers, a whole step between the second and third fingers, and a half step between the third and fourth fingers. You can play this universal finger pattern pretty much anywhere on the violin (just don’t start on the E string) and you’ll get a scale.

Okay, on your violin fingerboard, start on the G string and let’s build our way up to third position. Play open string, then 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers. You should be on a C. Now replace that 3rd finger and put a 1st finger where the 3rd finger was. Tada! You’re in third position!

(P.S. It’s VERY important when you are starting to learn third position to always prep your notes. Start in first position and build up, then replace the notes. I go over this a lot in my course to make it easy to hear and understand.)

Now that you are up in third position, play that universal scale pattern up to 4th finger and the next string, then come back down and you’ve got an easy C major scale in third position!

By the way, those little arrows mean half steps!

Easy G Major Violin Scale in Third Position

Next is a one octave G major scale in third position and the good news is that it’s just like the C major scale you just played, only it starts on the D string instead. So remember, prep your notes in first position, replace the third finger with the first finger and you’re ready to play the G major scale in third position.

Easy D Major Violin Scale in Third Position

Next up is the D major scale in third position and yep, you guessed it. It has the exact same finger pattern as the C and G scales. See what I mean about knowing that universal scale finger pattern? It really shows up all over the violin fingerboard. The fun thing with the D major scale in third position is that you will gain two notes that you didn’t have down in first position. Those two high notes are C sharp and D.

Ready to Master Third Position?

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Two Octave Violin Scales in Third Position

Two Octave C Major Scale in Third Position

Now that you’ve learned the first octave of the C major scale in third position, let’s learn the second octave! If you remember that your half step pairs in the key of C major are between B and C and in between E and F, then you’ll realize why you change finger patterns for the A and E strings. On the A and E strings, your 2nd and 3rd fingers will touch. Just go up to the third finger on the E string (the C) then go back down.

Two Octave D Major Scale in Third Position

You’ve already learned the higher octave of the D major third position scale, so now let’s learn the lower octave. The bottom octave is a little bit trickier. It starts on 2nd finger on the G string, so build up to 4th finger D in first position, then replace the 4th finger with the 2nd finger (test it against your open D to make sure it’s in tune). Now you’re ready to play the scale, but remember, D major has two sharps, C sharp and F sharp. That means those 4th finger on the G and D strings in third position are going to be sharp which means you are going to have to stretch for them!

Those scales are the easiest violin scales in third position. If you’re ready to learn more about third position, my Third Position course will show you all the tips and tricks to master third position that you NEVER learn in private lessons. Click here to learn more!

Happy Practicing!

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.

If you enjoy the song of the month violin lesson and you would like to donate to Meadowlark Violin, you can “Buy Me a Coffee.” No, I don’t buy fancy coffees, but your contribution helps me to continue to provide free violin resources. Thank you!

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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!

Outlander 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!

Advice For Violinists From Other Violinists

I asked violinists on a popular violin forum what advice they would give to beginner violinists. I was overwhelmed by the wisdom in each response. These comments are written by violinists of all ages and all levels. I’m not going to lie, it took my YEARS to learn some of these hard lessons and some of them I’m continually reminding myself about. Some advice is technical, some is more about mental approaches or practicing, but it’s all valuable. Taking this advice to heart early on will make a difference not only in your progress, but in how much you actually enjoy playing the violin. Here’s what other violinists said about advice for beginning violinists!

1. “Get your techniques right or you're going to have to spend double the time in the future unlearning and relearning bad habits.”

   Flat wrist, straight bow, curved pinky….yep, all that good stuff.

2. “Always start practicing slowly and then speed up to tempo once you feel the most comfortable with your piece.”

   You’ll notice a key word in some of these comments. It starts with “S” and is the opposite of FAST. Yeah, we’re all guilty of breaking this rule. I don’t have inordinate amounts of time to practice anymore. I fit it in when I can. The other day, I put something in the oven for dinner and grabbed my violin while it was cooking, thinking I would “run-through” some of the pieces I was working on. I tried to play the song as fast as I had a few days prior and you know what, it sounded awful. I had to slap myself on the forehead when I realized I had broken my solemn vow to play SLOWLY. And when I slowed it down, you know what…it sounded good.

3. “Practice makes permanent, not perfect.”

   Whatever you practice, whether it is correct or incorrect, it’s going to stick like super glue.

4. “Avoid vibrato at all costs to get perfect intonation.”

   Yes, vibrato is cool and it’s fun to do and it sounds awesome. Before you start trying to shake your hand to get that sound, focus on the notes being in tune. Vibrato is actually a subtle change in pitch. You’re dipping below the pitch and then coming back up to it. If you are out of tune to begin with, you are probably only making your intonation worse.

5. “I'm a beginner violinist. What keeps me going is knowing that I will learn at my own pace and not to worry about where I "should" be in my progression.”

   I had to remind myself this almost everyday while growing up. I still remind myself to focus on fixing what I can on a day to day basis instead of lamenting over the future or the past.

6. “Play SLOW!”

   I told you, you’ll see this advice a lot!

7. “Be loose and relaxed in the body, and PLAY CONFIDENTLY (even if you're wrong or it sounds bad)”

   I love this advice about playing confidently. It’s something that took me a long time to learn, but when I did it completely changed the way I play and perform. I’ve watched lots or student recitals and one thing always stood out to me. Most students walk up to the music stand like they are headed for public execution. Their performances often reflect that attitude of defeat. And then there were some students who strode up to the music stand like they’d done it a thousand times. Those students still made mistakes, but I guarantee you, no one in the room even noticed because the audience was put to ease by their confidence.

   I’m very introverted. But when I perform, I’ve learned to hold my head up high and smile no matter how fast my heart is pounding. Having confidence (even if it’s pretended confidence) helps your playing tremendously.

8. “As someone who studied psychology, I can say that you shouldn’t think about how good you’re going to be in the future or how bad you are today. Look at every piece and try to improve it. At the end of each day of practice, flip back through your books and realize how much you’ve already learned. That pile of learning will always get bigger and will make you feel better when you’re getting down on yourself.”

   This is so important to staying motivated. Form goals you can achieve and focus on what you can do today to sound better.

9. “You will get frustrated. This is normal. Write down what motivated you to learn the violin and keep it nearby to motivate you when you reach those points.

   Frustration hits you no matter how well you play. Learning to deal with it is part of learning the violin. Remember, if it were easy, everyone would do it!

10. “You’re only as good as how bad you know your scales are.”

    I had to laugh when I read this piece of advice. It’s so true . If your scales don't sound good, well, everything else will follow suit…

11. “Don't be afraid to take a break, step away, and then try something again after clearing your head or thinking through what may be causing the issue. Just practicing the same thing incorrectly over and over will not only build frustration but engrain bad habits.”

    Learning to practice correctly is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when learning the violin—bigger than playing in tune or having a good tone. It will make or break your motivation!

12. “SLOW DOWN”

    Sound familiar?

13. “Posture, posture, posture! Good posture -> More flexibility -> Better techniques -> Better sound”

    Posture is often overlooked, especially when you are thinking so hard about playing in tune and making a decent sound with your bow. Having good posture plays an important role in how relaxed your muscles are, which leads to better playing. There is more that goes into good posture besides standing up straight. Make sure you have a comfortable shoulder rest and a good music stand.

14. “Metronome and Scales!!”

    The building blocks for great technique. My college professor once said that when he only has a few minutes a day to practice, he practices scales.

15. Remember not to always practice but also just to play the violin!! (My mum used to say to me when I didn't want to practice "then at least play something")

    This also made me laugh because I had the exact same experience. Growing up, I never had time to actually enjoy playing the violin. Who had time for THAT when you had pages of scales and etudes to learn, concerti to memorize, orchestra music to work on. My mother always asked why I didn’t play something fun every now and then just to loosen up. It took me almost 15 years to realize she was right. Now I include “fun songs” in my day to day practice—right after scales!

Happy Practicing!

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!

5 Items You Need to Play Violin

Are you ready to start playing violin and wondering, “What all do I need to start playing violin?” Here is my list of must-have accessories for playing violin.

For starters, you'll want a violin! There are many options for beginner violins. After hearing and tuning many beginner violins, I’ve narrowed down the choices and selected the most affordable violins that still have great sound and are easy to tune. Discover my top picks for beginner violins here.

*Note: all beginner violin outfits will include a violin, a case, and a bow (or they should!) Those items are all necessary. Keep reading to learn about the other accessories I deem necessary.

1. Shoulder Rest

A shoulder rest helps you keep the violin stable on your shoulder. While not everyone plays with a shoulder rest, I recommend all beginners at least start with a shoulder rest. This allows you to learn the basics without having to worry about the violin constantly slipping and falling. As you get a few basics under your belt, you can continue to experiment to determine which shoulder rest is best for you, or if you need a shoulder rest at all!

*Note: many violin outfits come with a shoulder rest. You can use this for starting out, but keep experimenting to find the shoulder rest that is perfect for you.

2. Music Stand

Using a music stand promotes good posture. If you're practicing with your music in your lap, in your case, or pinned to the wall, chances are you're doing some weird things with your posture that can lead to real tension issues. Portable stands are fine and nice to have, but a stand with a solid back makes it easier to write on your music. Plus, it’s more stable and solid than those flimsy, cheap wire stand.

3. Rosin

If you purchased your violin as an outfit, rosin was probably included. However, student-grade rosin often has a grittier sound and produces more powder. For a few dollars more you can upgrade to a better sound. A cake of rosin can last a decade if properly taken care of, so it’s worth spending a few extra dollars. Dark rosin is more sticky and is better for dry climates. Light or amber rosin is better for violin but both colors work.

This Holstein Reserve Rosin is my absolute favorite. It’s a little pricey but so worth it.

4. Metronome/Tuner

You can use free apps for help tuning your violin. As you progress, you’ll realize a tuner and a metronome offer many tools to a violinist to make even faster progress. I suggest buying an actual metronome tuner combo. These metronome/tuners are usually louder than the apps and the metronomes also offers different pitches, called “drones” which can really help you play in tune!

Boss and Korg are good brands that I often recommend.

5. A Violin Teacher or Violin Course

While I do believe it is possible to learn violin on your own, you will need some feedback at some point. Learning with a teacher or with a course will help you stay on track and make progress faster.

If you are interested in learning from me, check out my online studio which has hundreds of lessons and courses for learning violin, music theory, ear training, song tutorials, and more.

6. A Big Microfiber Cloth (Optional)

Your violin outfit may come with a cleaning cloth, if not you’ll want one to keep your violin clean and free of rosin dust. I love this extra big cleaning cloth which is much bigger than your standard tiny microfiber cloth that comes with most violin outfits.

7. An Extra Set of Strings (Optional)

You don’t absolutely have to have an extra set of strings to start playing violin. But just go ahead and accept that you will snap a string at some point. We all have broken strings at some point—me included! So it’s a great idea to go ahead and have an extra string set so you don’t have to wait a couple days before you can start playing again. Check out my recommendations below for the best and worst violin strings!

Happy Practicing! 

Best Beginner Violin Books: A Violin Teacher's Ultimate Guide

As a violin teacher, I’m always on the lookout for the best violin books for beginners. In my studio, I have a filing cabinet packed full of violin method books. It might be a little bit of addiction, but I can’t help but always wonder if there’s a better way to teach something, a better violin method book for young children, a better book geared towards adult beginners. As a result, I’ve accumulated many beginner violin books. Whether you are looking for some note reading help, some easy jazz or fiddle songs for beginners, or just a “how-to” guide, here’s my list of the 10 best violin books for beginner players!

(Also check out my top picks for scale books, hymn books, and fiddle books!)

Best Beginner Violin Books for Kids

Learning the Violin, Book One

For a young child starting out, trying to bow, place left hand fingers correctly, and read music all at the same time can be very overwhelming. It’s also frustrating to just pluck open strings for weeks before ever learning a song. I love this book because it solves all those issues while making it fun for young beginners. There’s some helpful pages teaching children about the violin and how to take care of it, followed by some pages on the bow exercises. Before getting saturated with the bow, the book moves on to the left hand (playing pizzicato without the bow), and students have a few songs featuring each finger before moving on to real songs that actually sound good! Students learn how to play the violin without having to also learn to read music at the same time. Once students have a handle on the basics, the book introduces note reading. 

This book is also great for adults if you don’t want to be inundated with note reading while trying to learn violin basics.

Scaley Monsters

This is a great, fun, simple scale book for kids. Each scale and arpeggio is presented with a finger chart and a fun dinosaur rhythm to change things up. There’s also a song associated with each scale.

I Can Read Music

This is my favorite book for learning the violin notes, developing visual coordination with your left hand, and working on muscle memory. While the title might make this sound like it’s geared toward children, this is a great book for anyone looking for more practice note reading. Whether you are brand new to music, or maybe it’s just been a while, this book will quickly orient you with the notes on the violin. There are two pages per lesson, one on note reading and one on rhythm. I love that the book is split up this way since many other method books combine note reading and rhythms, making it difficult to focus on anything. The rhythm pages are great for working on your bow technique too! There’s also a Volume 2 for more advanced rhythms and notes.

Best Beginner Violin Books for Adults and Children

First Position Scale Studies

This scale book presents a varied approach to scales. Each scale features several pages with varying rhythms to keep things interesting!

Open String Bow Workouts for Violin

For violin students wanting a good bow warm-up, this is a perfect book. While nothing but open strings may sound boring, this book is anything but! Focus on big string crossings, varying bow speeds, planning out bow usage, and so much more.

Best Beginner Violin Method Books

A method book is a “how-to” book that often includes pictures showing students how to hold the bow and violin, where to put certain fingers, how to read music, etc. If you teaching yourself violin, I would recommend one of these method books.

Essential Elements for Violin

This is my go-to book for starting students out on the violin. I’ve gone through a lot of method books and I find that this book offers plenty for technique while still having fun, recognizable songs.

All for Strings

This method book is my pick for adult beginners. This is a great “no nonsense” beginner violin book. The first few pages teach many notes and songs without staff music, allowing students to develop the basics before worrying about note reading. The book contains many tunes you’ll recognize and enjoy playing. I also love the second All for Strings book and their companion theory books.

Best Beginner Violin Solo Books

I like students to always be working on solos in addition to method books and scale books. These are my favorite beginner violin books featuring longer songs.

Suzuki Violin School, Volume 1 and Volume 2

No other book that I know of has beginner level songs that are as pretty as Suzuki. You don’t have to learn via the Suzuki method to get a lot out of these books. Volume 1 starts out with some easy folk songs but soon gets into more of the traditional classical music. For those students wanting to focus on classical violin music, this is the beginning book for you. Definitely supplement with a note reading book as Suzuki starts off with notes all over the A string and E string. I like to take students through Volume 2. After the second book, I find students progress better by playing through entire concerti rather than continuing with Volume 3.

Mark O’Connor Violin Method Books

Mark O’Connor is perhaps the world’s most famous fiddler. His method books offer a wide variety of musical styles like traditional American fiddle, jazz , ragtime, and much more. The first book is easy for beginners and each book offers even more great songs and technique builders. This book is a must in my studio. All of my students love it!

Learn to Play Irish Fiddle

For those of you wanting a different approach to learning the violin, this is the book for you. Unlike many other fiddle books, this one starts right from the beginning with open strings and basic rhythms. There’s also some great information on how to play for self-learners. My favorite part about this book is that the songs actually sound awesome even though they start out only using one finger. Each new tune adds a new finger so you can start fiddling as soon as you learn how to put a left hand finger down! I would recommend supplementing this book with a note reading book since it focuses more on playing rather than note-reading and left hand muscle memory.

These are my favorite beginner violin books, but of course, I’m always excited to find more. Let me know what books you love! Happy Practicing!

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

How to Have Better Intonation on the Violin

Playing in tune can be one of the trickiest skills to master on the violin. Without frets or keys, knowing where to put your fingers is challenging. Violinists use muscle memory and their ears to know where to place their fingers, which means a good practice routine revolves around finger training and ear training. While it does require lots of practice, playing in tune does not have to be a struggle! Here are 8 tips to help you have better intonation and play in tune on the violin.

Note: Violin teachers like to throw around the word intonation. It means the accuracy of your pitch. Good intonation=accurate pitch. 

1.Don’t Use Finger Tapes 

This may seem backwards, but finger tapes actually hurt your intonation. You are using a visual indication for an auditory skill. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? It’s kind of like hiring a musician to do your taxes. In my Complete Beginner’s Course, I’ll show you exactly what you need to do to be able to play without finger tapes.

2. Use a Drone 

Most tuners also have a drone function which produce a constant pitch. As you play through your scales and songs you will be able to compare the pitches you are playing with the drone pitch. The more you use a drone, the more your fingers will adjust to play in tune with the drone automatically.

How do you know what pitch to use for the drone? Start off by using whatever key you are in as the drone pitch. If you are playing a song in the key of D, use a D drone. Some notes will be naturally dissonant with your drone, but even dissonances need to be in tune!

3. Compare to Open Strings

Your open strings are great tools to help with intonation. Your third finger in first position is always an octave higher than the open string below it. If you are playing third finger D on the A string, you can compare that note to your open D string and adjust your third finger until it is in tune with your open string.

If you are playing fourth finger in first position, the next open string will be your fourth finger note exactly. For example, if you are playing fourth finger E on the A string, your next open string is an E string. Adjust your fourth finger to match your open string.

4. Know How the Song Sounds

When you are starting out, playing in tune is easier if you know how the song or problem spot sounds. If you can’t hear the pitches before you play them, you won’t be able to adjust as quickly. 

Record your teacher playing the song. Or, play the song on the piano. The great thing about piano is that the intonation is not up to you! As long as the piano is in tune, you are in tune. You don’t have to be a virtuoso to play your song on the piano. A quick tutorial on the basics is all you need. If you don’t have a piano, there are many piano apps and free online programs.

Another way to hear your song with perfect intonation is to have your computer play it for you using music composition software like Musescore. After you learn the basics of the program, you can type your song then let the computer play it back. 

Try this exercise. Play your problem spot and stop after each note. Can you hear the next note you are about to play in your head? Can you sing it? If you can’t hear it, you won’t know if it’s in tune or not. Listening to the song as much as possible will make this exercise easy.

5. Sing it

Singing a song is the best way to teach your ears what the right intonation sounds like. Once your ears know what they are listening for, they can help your fingers adjust to the right pitch. Use a piano to check you are singing the right pitch. If you are self-conscious about how you sound, close the door, find a closet, or hum the song. Singing not only helps your intonation, it will also help with phrasing and dynamics. 

6. Use Light Finger Pressure

Your fingers are constantly adjusting to play a pitch in tune. No violinist is 100% in tune all of the time. The key to good intonation is hearing and adjusting very quickly to the correct pitch. If you have a death grip on your fingerboard, it will be hard to move your finger with lightening-quick accuracy. Try this exercise. Play your problem spot with your fingers barely touching the strings. It will sound awful. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to. Play the passage several times, gradually using more pressure. You’ll find that you don’t need that much pressure for the notes to sound properly. 

7. Play Slowly

Don’t play faster than your ears can hear. Even if a song is fast, play through it several times very slowly. You have to play slow enough for your ears to tell your fingers how to adjust! 

Learning to play slowly is one of the best things you can do to help your intonation. It will also help all aspects of your violin playing. Next time you pick up your violin, try playing every scale, etude, and song very slowly before you play at a normal tempo. If you are paying attention to your intonation while playing slowly, you will be pleased with the results!

8. Listen to Other Violinists

Listen to as many violinists as you can. It’s not only inspiring, it’s a fun way to teach your ears good intonation.

If you’re getting frustrated with intonation, don’t worry. It’s something we all struggle with. Take a deep breath, practice slowly, and enjoy the results. Happy Practicing!

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