Fingering Scales for the Violin

Series Summary

The violin might be considered one of the dialects of the music language. Featured largely in classical music, the violin or fiddle, is a four-string instrument tuned in perfect fifths. It is related to the double bass, cello and viola in construction and sound, though it produces the highest in pitch of that family. The violin traces its roots back to the early 1500s in Italy. There was a time when violin makers, called “luthiers,” introduced a number of quality instruments to the market. Some noted manufacturers from that period, like Stradivarius, are recognized today as representing the highest level of violin craftsmanship. In this free video series, learn violin basics. Fred Carpenter, an accomplished violinist that has been playing since he was seven, demonstrates the basic posture for playing the violin. Find out how to clean and polish a violin as well. Carpenter gives advice for beginning violin lessons as well. Curious how a violin produces sound? Let Carpenter explain how the bow produces sound in the violin. So, take a moment, and learn more about this classic musical instrument today.

Video Transcript

"Today we're going to discus finger patterns in a violin scale. Now I just want to cut; touch a few basic scale patterns. There's several keys obviously and the patterns will get different and more complicated but for the basic starter scale patterns I would say the key G. Is an example of how the fingers repeat the same pattern. The violin is tuned to fifths so every fifth note you're at the next string. So we do the same thing in the key of D. And once again the same thing in the key of A. So that's some basic finger patterns and playing a scale on a violin."