How to Learn Scales on the Violin

Learning to play scales is one of the most important aspects of playing the violin. As you become familiar with reading notes and sheet music, and learning what the notes should sound like, you will also strengthen your fingering and bowing skills.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Draw each scale on paper, or make copies of a printed sheet. Write the fingerings (0, 1, 2, 3 or 4) over each note. Draw a carrot between half steps and table tops between whole steps.

2. Remember that for beginners, finger positions are the same for all scales. Use tapes or strips to mark finger positions. Listen to a recording of the scales to see how they should sound, or have an experienced violinist play them in front of you. Learn how to tune your violin and keep it properly tuned so that the notes are true.

3. Play each note one at a time in consecutive order. Count 4 beats for each note by tapping your foot with no pauses. Start with a down stroke for the first note and change to an upstroke for the second note.

4. Keep the bow in one spot near where the fingerboard ends. Draw the bow firmly at an even angle.

5. Practice the same scale every day for a week before moving on to the next one. Learn the easier, major scales first. Progress from one scale to the next in string order, so that what you learned previously will be strengthened.