How to Learn Violin Strings

Fingering the strings

Each string of the violin is tuned one "fifth" higher than the string to its immediate left. Relaxed spacing of your fingers on the fingerboard of the neck will produce notes one step, or tone, apart. Half steps are made by placing your fingers close together. To increase the pitch of a note, move your finger up the neck (closer to you). To lower the pitch, move your finger down the neck. The strings can be bowed or plucked to sound the notes.

Instructions

1. Tune the strings of the violin to G, D, A and E, from left to right. An easy way to remember this is the following mnemonic: "Great Divas Always Entertain."

2. Play the scale in the key of G on the G and D strings. Play G on the "open" string (no fingers touching the string). Let your first finger fall naturally on the string and press down to play A. Let your second finger fall naturally to play B. Your third finger must be placed right next to your second finger to produce the half step to C.

3. Play the note D on the open D string. Repeat the previous steps to play the notes E, F, F# (sharp) and G

4. Play the scale in the key of D on the D and A strings in a similar manner. The notes are D, E, F#, G, A, B, C# and D

5. Play the scale in the key of A on the A and E strings. The notes are A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G# and A.

Tips & Warnings

• To get off to a good start learning to play the violin, you should take a few "hands-on" lessons from someone who knows how to play. From that point on, you can learn from a book.