How to Play Violin Chords

A violin chord is played when you run the bow across more than one string at a time. Violin chords add a rich dimension to your music, whether you're playing fiddle, classical or any other type of music. Chords can seem a bit tricky at first, but once you have the basics down, you'll see that they're really quite easy to play.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Run the bow across the D string and the A string at the same time to try a basic chord. This is commonly done during tuning. Make sure you use even pressure on both strings.

2. Place your first finger on the A string and then run the bow across the D string and A string at the same time to complicate things a bit. Try playing other combinations with fingers on one string and no fingers on another string.

3. Use fingers on two strings while playing a chord, after you feel comfortable with Step 2. This can feel awkward at first because you're used to laying your fingers down all on the same string, but practice will make it feel natural.

4. Use three strings in one chord when you've mastered Step 3. If you find that you need to use the same finger on two adjacent strings, just place your finger between the two strings firmly enough to cover both of them. This is often seen at the conclusion of a song or at the end of a phrase.

Tips & Warnings

• Slow down when you add chords to a song. They take more concentration at first.
• Don't get sloppy and allow your bow to touch strings that aren't involved in the chord. Try to be precise.