Finger Placement

Interactive Violin Fingerboard

Fingering Tape

Full Fingerboard Chart (with sound)

FINGE ING T!PE

To assist beginning violinists, some violin teachers use thin strips of colored tape ( e.g. book binding or scrapbook tape), to mark where to place their fingers on the violin fingerboard. Once beginners know where to place their fingers, the tape is removed. Rather than use precise measurements to place fingering tapes, it's best to place them by ear. This is due to the fact that variations in the width and shape of each person's finger may affect where each tape should be placed. The tape is used to mark a regular st finger (such as the note ! on the " string), high #nd finger ( e.g. $% on the " string), third finger ( e.g. the note & on the " string), and 'th finger ( e.g. the note ( on the " string )) sounds the same as open (). *isit our "usic #tore $ osin % !ccessories page for a sampling of fingerboard tape.

FINGE &'! ( C)! T

" chart of the violin fingerboard is provided. +ingering for notes played in the st position can be found to the right of the fingerboard. ,ost violin music for beginners uses only the st position. +ingering for notes played in the -rd position can be found to the left of the fingerboard. These notes re.uire the violinist to /shift0 the position of their hand to a higher position on the keyboard in order to play these notes. +or an e1planation of shi*ting+ click here, The fingerboard chart shows many instances of two musical letters being placed on the same space. This indicates those two notes are enharmonic, meaning, even though they are named or /spelled0 differently, they sound the same pitch. +or e1ample, in the first position on the " string, &% and (b have the same sound (and are enharmonic notes). This note could be fingered using either a high -rd finger, or a low 'th finger. The pitch would be the same. "ll variations of notes and fingerings in higher positions were not labeled and shown (the entire length of the fingerboard can be used to finger and play notes).

Violin 'nline Fingering Chart

&-.E G'-( G EEN P. P-E
fingering numbers fingering numbers fingering numbers fingering numbers 2 2 2 2 play these notes on the 3 string play these notes on the & string play these notes on the " string play these notes on the ( string

4 2 open string5

2 st finger5 # 2 #nd finger5 - 2 -rd finger5 ' 2 'th finger

Click on each note to hear its pitch.

( 7tring " 7tring & 7tring 3 string

+6R7T 8O76T6O9

Clic/ here *or interactive *ingering assistance

( 7tring

T:6R& 8O76T6O9

" 7tring

& 7tring

3 string

*6O;69 9OT(7 R(*6(< To review reading music, click here.

#ample Color !ll Etude