Beginner Violin Tutorial
The violin, also called the fiddle, is a popular stringed instrument made from wood that has four strings and is played with a bow. The violin became popular during the 1500s because it was easy to transport and musicians could play music considered elegant enough for polite company, according to Violin Online. The versatile instrument was also well-suited for playing popular dance music. Beginners will want to acquaint themselves with the parts of the violin, how to hold and tune the instrument, as well as proper finger placement.
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Instructions
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Violin Parts, Holding the Instrument
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Learn the parts of the violin. The violin has four strings that, when tuned properly, play the notes E, A, D and G, which are perfect fifths on the musical scale. The top of the violin is the scroll, and the black pegs below it allow the player to tune the instrument. On the neck of the violin is the black fingerboard against which the musician presses the strings to create different notes. The bridge of the violin is in between the F-shaped holes and holds the strings away from the instrument. The F-holes allow the resonance created by the strings to make a clear sound. The tailpiece is where the strings connect to the end of the instrument and the chin rest provides comfort to the violin player.
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2
Learn the parts of the bow. The hairs of a violin bow, made from (usually gray) horsehair, connect from the tip of the bow to the "frog." The long wooden part of the bow is the "stick," which contains the grip players use to hold the bow. At the end of the bow is a "button" the player uses to adjust the tension of the bow's hairs.
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Hold the neck of the violin with your left hand. Place the chin rest on top your left shoulder, near your chin.
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Hold the bow with your right hand, where the grip and the frog are, between your thumb, index and middle fingers, as you might hold a toothbrush.
Violin Tuning
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Use a tuning pipe or pitch pipe for violins or the keys on a piano to hear the correct notes.
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Remember the order of the strings. The string on outer right (when the neck is upright) is "E." It is the highest-pitched string on the violin. The strings to the left of the E-string are A, D and G.
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Pluck or play the strings with the bow while tuning. The violin website Folk of the Wood recommends you play the note on the pipe or keyboard to hear the note, and adjust the strings by twisting the pegs and the small screws ("fine tuners") at the tailpiece until the proper tone is achieved.
Finger Placement
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Place thin strips of electrical tape at the appropriate places on the violin's fingerboard. A violin teacher or staff member at a music store can help you with this. According to Violin Lessons Online, the tape will show you where to place your fingers properly until you have more practice. The area where the tape is placed indicates the notes on a scale. For example, the first note on the A-string is A. When you place your finger on the first line of tape, you play the B-note. Then, the notes C and D follow on the next lines of tape on the fingerboard.
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9
Practice finger placement. Listen to a note on an audio recording or by playing it on a keyboard; play the same note on the violin.
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10
Practice playing scales. This is a good way to get a firm grasp on proper finger placement.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit violin image by Kkatka from Fotolia.com
