Violin Lessons for Beginners ( PDFDrive )

Prévia do material em texto

Progressive	Beginner	Violin
by	LearnToPlayMusic.com	and	Peter	Gelling
Published	by	LearnToPlayMusic.com
ISBN	978-982-532-011-1
©	2013	L.T.P.	Publishing	Pty	Ltd
No	part	of	this	product	can	be	reproduced	in	any	form	without	the	written
consent	of	the	copyright	owner.
LTP	Learn	To	Play	MusicTM
LearnToPlayMusic.com	has	a	huge	selection	of	music	education	books,	eBooks
and	apps	covering	many	instruments,	genres	and	playing	styles.
	
Visit	our	Website:
learntoplaymusic.com
	
Like	us	on	Facebook:
LearnToPlayMusic
	
Follow	us	on	Twitter:
LTPMusic
	
Email	us:
info@learntoplaymusic.com
http://www.learntoplaymusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/LearnToPlayMusic
https://twitter.com/LTPMusic
mailto:info@learntoplaymusic.com
Free	Audio	Available
Click	or	tap	here	to	access	the	FREE	audio	content	for	this	book.
If	you	are	having	trouble	with	this,	copy	the	following	link	into	any	web
browser:
signup.learntoplaymusic.com/freemedia	
Enter	this	book	code	into	the	form:	
11805
	
This	title	is	also	available	as	a	printed	book,	with	CD,	DVD	and	DVD-ROM
(where	available),	and	can	be	purchased	through	our	website:
learntoplaymusic.com
http://signup.learntoplaymusic.com/freemedia/sign_up.html?SOURCE=FML&B_CO=11805
http://redirect.learntoplaymusic.com/redirect_print.html?SOURCE=EBK11805&B_CO=11805
Using	This	eBook
Our	eBooks	contain	many	photos,	diagrams	and	music	scores	to	provide	a	rich
learning	experience	but	this	can	push	the	capabilities	of	some	eBook	reading
devices.	To	get	the	most	from	this	eBook,	please	note:
For	the	best	reading	experience	on	your	device,	please	refer	to	our
recommended	eBook	settings	webpage:
http://ebooks.learntoplaymusic.com/settings.html
Should	you	experience	difficulties	playing	the	free	audio	or	video	content
(available	for	selected	titles)	please	use	an	alternative	device,	such	as	a
Windows	or	Mac	personal	computer;
While	this	eBook	can	be	viewed	on	smartphones,	it	has	been	optimized	for
the	larger	screens	of	the	latest	tablet	devices;
If	you	use	a	black	and	white	eBook	reader,	you	can	view	it	in	color	on	a
personal	computer	(for	more	information	follow	the	link	above).
If	you	like	this	eBook,	please	post	a	review	at	the	eBook	store	where	you
purchased	it,	telling	us	what	you	liked	the	most.	For	any	questions,	comments	or
suggestions,	email	us	at	info@learntoplaymusic.com	.
http://ebooks.learntoplaymusic.com/settings.html
mailto:info@learntoplaymusic.com
CONTENTS
Cover
Publisher	Info
Using	This	eBook
Contents
INTRODUCTION
Using	an	Electronic	Tuner
A	Word	about	Intonation
LESSON	ONE
Parts	of	the	Violin	and	Bow
How	to	Hold	the	Violin	and	Bow
How	to	Read	the	Fingering	Diagrams
Pizzicato
Playing	With	the	Bow	(Arco)
LESSON	TWO
How	to	Read	Music
The	Treble	Clef
The	Treble	Staff
Music	Notes
Note	and	Rest	Values
The	Four	Four	Time	Signature
The	Note	A
The	Note	B
LESSON	THREE
The	Half	Note
The	Note	C	Sharp
The	Half	Rest
LESSON	FOUR
The	Note	D
The	Whole	Note
The	Note	E
LESSON	FIVE
The	Three	Four	Time	Signature
The	Dotted	Half	Note
The	Quarter	Rest
LESSON	SIX
The	Lead-In
Staccato
LESSON	SEVEN
The	Eighth	Note
LESSON	EIGHT
The	Dotted	Quarter	Note
First	and	Second	Endings
LESSON	NINE
The	Note	F	Sharp
The	Note	G	Sharp
The	Note	A	on	the	First	String
LESSON	TEN
The	Major	Scale
The	Octave
First	Position
Key	Signature	of	A	Major
LESSON	ELEVEN
Developing	Your	Tone
Open	A	and	E	Strings
Open	D	and	G	Strings
The	Whole	Rest
LESSON	TWELVE
The	Note	E	on	the	D	String
The	Note	F	Sharp	on	the	D	string
The	Note	G	on	the	D	string
The	Tie
LESSON	THIRTEEN
The	D	Major	Scale
Key	Signature	of	D	Major
Sequences
LESSON	FOURTEEN
Using	the	4th	Finger
The	Note	B	on	the	E	string
Fingering	Numbers
LESSON	FIFTEEN
Notes	on	the	G	String
The	G	Major	Scale
Key	Signature	of	G	Major
LESSON	SIXTEEN
The	Note	C	on	the	A	String
The	Note	G	on	the	E	String
Half	Position
Two	Octave	Scales
LESSON	SEVENTEEN
The	Natural	Minor	Scale
The	Key	of	E	Minor
D.C	al	Fine
INTRODUCTION
Progressive	Beginner	Violin	is	a	fun	and	easy	introduction	to	violin	playing	for
the	beginner.	All	essential	left	and	right	hand	techniques	are	covered	along	with
music	reading,	theory	and	an	introduction	to	a	variety	of	musical	styles.
Over	the	course	of	this	book,	you	will	learn	how	to	play	melodies	and	studies	in
both	major	and	minor	keys	along	with	pizzicato,	bowing	techniques	and	a
variety	of	musical	terms.	You	will	also	learn	to	understand	rhythms,	scales	and
key	signatures	as	well	as	how	to	transpose.
All	examples	sound	great	and	are	fun	to	play.	By	the	end	of	the	book	you	will
have	a	good	grasp	of	the	basics	of	violin	playing	and	be	ready	for	more
advanced	study	of	Classical	music,	improvisation	or	both.
To	develop	good	timing	habits	right	from	the	start,	it	is	recommended	that	you
use	a	metronome	with	all	the	examples	in	the	book	until	you	can	play	them
easily	from	memory.	If	you	are	serious	about	music,	a	good	teacher	can	help	you
progress	much	quicker	than	you	could	on	your	own.
The	best	and	fastest	way	to	learn	is	to	use	this	book	in	conjunction	with:
Using	sheet	music	to	learn	simple	arrangements	of	a	wide	range	of	pieces
by	various	composers.	This	will	help	you	build	a	repertoire	and	mean	you
always	have	something	to	play	with	other	musicians.
Practicing	and	playing	with	other	musicians	as	often	as	possible.
Learning	by	listening	to	your	favorite	recordings.	Start	building	a	collection
of	albums	featuring	violinists	you	admire.	Try	to	find	sheet	music	versions
of	the	pieces	you	hear	on	the	recordings,	even	if	they	are	simplified.
Imitating	great	violinists	will	help	your	tone,	timing	and	intonation.
Using	an	Electronic	Tuner
The	easiest	and	most	accurate	way	to
tune	your	violin	is	by	using	an	electronic
tuner.	An	electronic	tuner	allows	you	to
tune	each	string	individually	to	the	tuner,
by	indicating	whether	the	notes	are	sharp
(too	high)	or	flat	(too	low).	Instruments
with	pickups	can	plug	directly	in	to	the
tuner.
There	are	several	types	of	electronic	tuners	but	most	are	relatively	inexpensive
and	simple	to	operate.	Tuning	using	other	methods	is	difficult	for	beginners	and
may	take	many	months	to	master,	so	we	recommend	you	purchase	an	electronic
tuner,	particularly	if	you	do	not	have	a	teacher	or	a	friend	who	can	tune	your
instrument	for	you.	If	your	violin	is	way	out	of	tune	you	can	always	take	it	to
your	local	music	store	so	they	can	tune	it	for	you.
Once	a	violin	has	been	tuned	correctly	it	should	only	need	minor	adjustments
before	each	practice	session.	It	is	best	to	have	your	teacher	tune	your	violin	for
you	until	you	are	confident	you	can	do	it	yourself.
A	Word	about	Intonation
Many	young	students	have	difficulty	playing	pitches	accurately.	This	will
improve	with	practice	and	experience.	It	is	important	to	understand	the	concept
of	exact	pitches,	but	not	to	worry	if	the	student	has	intonation	problems	at	first.
It	is	best	to	work	on	intonation	with	a	teacher	right	from	the	start.
For	more	books	and	recordings	by	Peter	Gelling	visit	www.petergelling.com
http://www.petergelling.com
LESSON	ONE
Parts	of	the	Violin	and	Bow
It	is	important	to	learn	the	names	of	all	the	parts	of	your	violin	and	bow.	Do	this
for	a	few	minutes	each	day	until	you	know	them	from	memory.	Have	your
teacher	or	a	friend	test	you	on	the	names	of	the	parts.
Holding	the	Bow Left	Hand	Position
How	to	Hold	the	Violin	and	Bow
Here	are	the	correct	positions	for	holding	the	violin	and	bow.
Holding	the	Violin
How	to	Read	the	Fingering	Diagrams
The	numbers	on	the	fingers	correspond
to	the	numbers	and	letters	used
throughout	the	book
Pizzicato
Pizzicato
A	good	way	to	begin	playing	the	violin
is	to	hold	it	in	the	playing	position	and	to
play	the	open	strings	pizzicato,	which
means	plucking	the	strings	with	the
index	finger	of	the	bowing	hand.	Since
you	won’t	be	using	the	left	hand	to	help
play	the	notes,	the	strings	are	described
as	open.
Before	you	begin,	memorize	the	names
of	the	open	strings.	To	play	a	note
pizzicato,	place	the	tip	of	your	right
thumb	against	the	upper	right	corner	of
the	fingerboard	near	theE	string,	as
shown	in	the	photo.	Pluck	the	strings
with	your	index	finger	about	five
centimeters	along	the	fingerboard.	Try
plucking	each	of	the	four	strings	and	saying	the	name	of	each	string	out	loud	as
you	pluck	it.
1 Pizzicato
Practice	playing	the	open	strings	pizzicato	in	the	order	shown.	The	first	time	you
play	the	exercise,	say	the	names	of	the	strings	out	loud	as	you	pluck	each	one.
The	second	time	you	play	the	exercise,	count	1,	2,	1,	2	etc.,	and	keep	the	notes
even.
Playing	With	the	Bow	(Arco)
Playing	with	the	bow	is	called	arco	playing.	This	is	the	most	common	method	of
playing	the	violin.	As	with	pizzicato,	the	best	way	to	begin	is	to	play	the	open
strings.	Hold	the	bow	in	the	manner	described	in	Lesson	One	and	place	the	hair
of	the	bow	on	the	open	A	(2nd)	string	near	the	frog	of	the	bow.	The	bow	should
be	at	right	angles	to	the	string.	Draw	the	bow	slowly	across	the	string	all	the	way
to	the	tip.	This	is	called	a	down	stroke,	and	is	indicated	by	the	symbol	 .
As	you	play	your	down	stroke,	make	sure	your	right	wrist	and	forearm	are
relaxed,	as	this	will	create	the	best	sound.	After	you	reach	the	tip	of	the	bow,
hold	it	steady	for	a	moment	and	then	slowly	push	the	bow	back	across	the	string
until	you	reach	the	frog.	This	is	called	an	up	stroke,	and	is	indicated	by	the
symbol	 .
Once	you	can	produce	a	good	sound	on	the	open	A	string,	try	playing	each	open
string	with	a	down	stroke	and	then	an	up	stroke.	Before	you	started	playing	your
teacher	may	have	applied	rosin	to	your	bow.	If	you	are	having	trouble	getting	a
consistent	sound,	you	may	need	to	rub	a	little	more	rosin	on	the	hair	of	the	bow.
To	make	sure	you	sound	only	one	string	at	a	time,	you	will	need	to	lower	your
bowing	arm	slightly	when	moving	from	a	lower	string	to	a	higher	string	(e.g.,
open	G	to	open	D)	and	raise	the	arm	slightly	when	moving	from	a	higher	string
to	a	lower	string	(e.g.,	open	E	to	open	A).	When	moving	between	strings,	do	not
lift	your	bow	off	the	strings,	but	change	the	sound	to	the	new	string	by	changing
the	angle	of	the	bow.
Things	to	Remember
It	is	important	to	work	on	bowing	technique	with	a
teacher	right	from	the	beginning,	so	that	you	do	not
develop	any	bad	habits	which	will	have	to	be	corrected	later.
2 Arco
Practice	playing	the	open	strings	in	the	order	shown.	Count	1,	2,	1,	2	etc.,	as	you
play,	and	alternate	your	bow	strokes.	Each	1	count	will	be	a	down	stroke	with
the	bow	and	each	2	count	will	be	an	up	stroke.
LESSON	TWO
How	to	Read	Music
These	five	lines	are	called	the	staff	or	stave.
The	Treble	Clef
This	symbol	is	a	treble	clef.	There	is	a	treble	clef	at	the
beginning	of	every	line	of	violin	music.
The	Treble	Staff
A	staff	with	a	treble	clef	written	on	it	is	called	a	treble
staff.
Music	Notes
There	are	only	seven	letters	used	for	notes	in	music:
These	notes	are	known	as	the	musical	alphabet.
Violin	music	notes	are	written	in	the	spaces	and	on	the	lines	of	the	treble	staff.
To	remember	the	notes	on	the	lines	of	the	treble	staff,	say:	Every	Good	Boy
Deserves	Fruit.
The	notes	in	the	spaces	of	the	treble	staff	spell:	F	A	C	E
Note	and	Rest	Values
Bar	lines	are	drawn	across	the	staff,	dividing	the	music	into	sections	called	bars
or	measures.	A	double	bar	line	signifies	the	end	of	an	important	section	of
music,	while	a	final	bar	line	is	written	at	the	end	of	a	piece.
The	Four	Four	Time	Signature
This	is	the	four	four	time	signature.
The	time	signature	is	written	immediately	after	the	treble	clef.	The	top
number	of	the	*	time	signature	tells	you	that	there	are	four	beats	in	each	bar.
The	bottom	number	tells	you	that	there	are	four	quarter	notes	in	one	bar	of
music	in	*	time.
The	Note	A
3
You	already	know	the	note	A.	It	is	the	open	A	(2nd)	string.	This	time	the	note	A
is	played	in	quarter	notes.	Alternate	your	bow	strokes	as	you	play.
The	Note	B
The	note	B	is	written	on	the	third	line	of	the	staff.	The	stem	for	the	note	B	can	go
up	or	down,	because	it	is	on	the	middle	line	of	the	staff.
Play	the	note	B	with	your	1st	finger	on	the	A	string.
4
It	is	a	good	idea	to	practice	all	examples	both	arco	and	pizzicato.
LESSON	THREE
The	Half	Note
This	is	a	half	note.
It	lasts	for	two	beats.
There	are	two	half	notes	in	one	bar	of	*	time.
5
This	example	contains	the	notes	A	and	B	played	as	half	notes.	Remember	to
alternate	your	bow	strokes	as	you	play	each	note.
Notice	the	counting	numbers	underneath	the	staff.	The	bigger	bold	numbers	tell
you	to	play	a	note	and	the	smaller	numbers	tell	you	to	sustain	it	until	the	next
note.
6
This	example	uses	both	half	notes	and	quarter	notes.	Play	it	once,	naming	the
notes	out	loud	as	you	play,	and	then	play	it	again	and	count	out	loud	as	you	play.
This	will	help	both	your	note	recognition	and	your	timing.
Even	though	there	are	different	note	values	here,	it	is	important	to	alternate	your
bow	strokes	strictly	as	you	play	the	notes.
The	Note	C	Sharp
This	symbol	is	a	sharp	sign.
The	Note	C	Sharp
When	a	sharp	note	is	written	on	the	staff,	a	sharp	sign	is	placed	before	the	note.
Play	the	note	C#	with	your	2nd	finger	on	the	A	string.
7
The	Half	Rest
A	rest	indicates	a	specific	period	of	silence	in	music.
A	half	rest	indicates	two	beats	of	silence.
Count	for	two	beats	without	playing.
Small	counting	numbers	are	used	under	rests.
8 Merrily	We	Roll	Along
This	piece	ends	with	a	half	rest.	The	letters	and	numbers	above	the	notation	(A
and	E7)	are	chord	symbols	which	refer	to	the	accompanying	instruments	-	in
this	case,	piano.
LESSON	FOUR
The	Note	D
The	note	D	is	written	on	the	fourth	line	of	the	staff.
Play	the	note	D	with	your	3rd	finger	on	the	A	string.
9
	
The	Whole	Note
This	is	a	whole	note.
It	lasts	for	four	beats.
There	is	one	whole	note	in	one	bar	of	*	time.
10
This	example	uses	whole	notes,	half	notes	and	quarter	notes.	Remember	to
practice	both	naming	the	notes	and	counting	as	you	play.
The	Note	E
The	note	E	is	written	in	the	fourth	space	of	the	staff.
11 Lightly	Row
This	piece	uses	the	note	E	along	with	the	other	notes	you	already	know.	Practice
it	slowly	until	you	can	play	it	easily	and	then	gradually	increase	the	tempo
(speed).
LESSON	FIVE
The	Three	Four	Time	Signature
This	is	the	three	four	time	signature.
It	tells	you	there	are	three	beats	in	each	bar.
There	are	three	quarter	notes	in	one	bar	of	^	time.
12
The	Dotted	Half	Note
A	dot	after	a	note	extends	its	value	by	half.
A	dot	after	a	half	note	means	that	you	hold	it	for	three
beats.
One	dotted	half	note	makes	one	bar	of	music	in	^	time.
13
The	Quarter	Rest
This	symbol	is	a	quarter	rest.
It	indicates	one	beat	of	silence.	Do	not	play	any	note.
Small	counting	numbers	are	placed	under	rests.
14 Little	Bo	Peep
15
This	example	contains	both	quarter	and	half	rests.	Count	out	loud	as	you	play.
LESSON	SIX
The	Lead-In
Sometimes	a	song	does	not	begin	on	the	first	beat	of	the	bar.	Any	notes	which
come	before	the	first	full	bar	are	called	lead-in	or	pick-up	notes.	When	lead-in
notes	are	used,	the	last	bar	is	also	incomplete.	The	notes	in	the	lead-in	and	the
notes	in	the	last	bar	add	up	to	one	full	bar.
16 When	the	Saints	go	Marchin’	in
Staccato
A	dot	above	or	below	a	note	indicates	that	the	note	is	to	be
played	staccato,	which	means	short	and	separate	from
other	notes.	To	play	a	note	staccato,	stop	your	bow	stroke
as	soon	as	the	note	has	sounded.
To	gain	control	of	the	way	you	play	notes,	it	is	a	good	idea	to	practice
alternating	between	ordinary	(tenuto)	notes	and	staccato	notes.
17
18 The	Cuckoo
This	children’s	song	contains	staccato	notes	and	begins	with	one	lead-in	note.
Remember	to	alternate	your	bow	strokes	even	if	there	are	rests	between	two
notes.	This	will	help	you	build	a	confident	bowing	technique.
19 The	Mexican	Hat	Dance
This	piece	contains	many	staccato	notes.	The	waltz	is	a	traditional	European
dance	in	^	time	which	has	always	been	popular	in	Austria.	The	violin	often	leads
the	orchestra	when	playing	a	waltz.	There	are	many	famous	waltzes	written	by
great	classical	composers	such	as	Beethoven,	Mahler,	Schubert	and	Chopin.20 Austrian	Waltz
LESSON	SEVEN
The	Eighth	Note
This	is	an	eighth	note.	It	lasts	for	half	a	count.	There	are	eight	eighth	notes	in
one	bar	of	*	time.
When	eighth	notes	are	joined	together	the	tails	are	replaced	by	one	beam.
21 How	to	Count	Eighth	Notes
Eighth	notes	are	played	with	the	middle	of	the	bow	using	short	strokes.	Count
out	loud	and	keep	your	wrist	loose	as	you	play.
Once	you	are	comfortable	playing	eighth	notes	on	one	note,	try	the	next	few
examples.
22
23
24
Remember	to	use	alternating	bow	strokes	regardless	of	the	length	of	the	notes.
LESSON	EIGHT
The	Dotted	Quarter	Note
A	dot	after	a	quarter	note	means	that	you	hold	the	note	for	one	and	a	half
beats.
A	dotted	quarter	note	is	often	followed	by	an	eighth	note.
25
26
Count	out	loud	as	you	play	this	melody,	and	keep	your	timing	even.
First	and	Second	Endings
The	next	piece	contains	first	and
second	endings.	The	first	time	you	play
through	the	piece,	play	the	first	ending,
(Z),	then	go	back	to	the	beginning.
The	second	time	you	play	through	the
song,	play	the	second	ending	(X)	instead	of	the	first.
27 Jingle	Bells
Using	first	and	second	endings	saves	the	composer	writing	the	same	notes	twice.
It	also	helps	avoid	having	to	turn	pages	in	longer	pieces,	thus	making	sight
reading	easier	for	the	musician.
Try	singing	the	names	of	the	notes	as	you	play	this	traditional	Christmas	song.
This	will	help	develop	your	sense	of	pitch	as	well	as	your	note	recognition.
LESSON	NINE
The	Note	F	Sharp
The	note	F#	is	written	on	the	fifth	line	of	the	staff.
Play	the	note	F#	with	your	1st	finger	on	the	E	string.
To	play	the	note	F#	use	the	tip	of	the	first	finger	of	your	left	hand.
28 Whistling	Wind
29 London	Bridge
There	are	two	different	sharp	notes	in	this	song	–	F#	and	C#.
30
This	example	contains	all	the	notes	you	have	learned	up	to	this	point.	Sing	the
names	of	the	notes	as	you	play.
The	Note	G	Sharp
The	note	G#	is	written	in	the	space	above	the	staff
Play	the	note	G#	with	your	2nd	finger	on	the	E	string,	using	the	tip	of	your
finger.	Remember	to	leave	your	finger	in	the	F#	position	behind	the	second
finger.	There	are	three	different	sharp	notes	in	this	piece	–	F#	,	C#	and	G#.
31
The	Note	A	on	the	First	String
This	A	note	is	written	on	the	first	ledger	line	above	the	staff.	Play	this	A	note
with	your	3rd	finger	on	the	E	string,	using	the	tip	of	your	finger.	Leave	the	first
and	second	fingers	on	the	string	behind	the	third	finger	as	you	play	the	note.
32
LESSON	TEN
The	Major	Scale
The	major	scale	is	a	series	of	8	notes	in	alphabetical	order	that	has	the	familiar
sound:
The	A	major	scale	contains	the	following	notes.
The	numbers	under	the	note	names	are	the	scale	degrees.	They	indicate	the
position	of	each	note	in	the	scale.
The	Octave
Although	there	are	only	seven	different	letters	in	the	musical	alphabet,	it	is
possible	to	find	higher	and	lower	versions	of	them	at	various	places	on	the
violin.	The	distance	between	any	note	and	its	next	higher	or	lower	repeat	is
called	an	octave.	You	already	know	two	A	notes	–	the	open	2nd	string	and	the
higher	repeat	on	the	1st	string	(E	string).	These	two	A	notes	are	an	octave	apart.
The	first	and	last	notes	of	a	major	scale	always	have	the	same	name.	In	the	A
major	scale	the	distance	from	the	lowest	A	to	the	A	note	above	it	is	one	octave
(8	notes).
33 The	A	Major	Scale
First	Position
Notice	how	although	your	fingers	move	individually	to	play	the	notes	of	the
scale,	your	hand	position	does	not	have	to	move.	With	all	the	notes	you	have
learned,	your	hand	remains	in	what	is	termed	first	position	on	the	violin.	There
are	also	many	other	notes	which	can	be	played	in	first	position.
Key	Signature	of	A	Major
Instead	of	writing	a	sharp	sign	before	every	F#,	C#	and	G#
note,	it	is	easier	to	write	the	sharps	just	once	immediately
after	the	treble	clef.	This	is	called	a	Key	Signature.	It
means	that	all	these	notes	are	played	as	sharps	throughout
the	piece,	even	though	there	are	no	sharp	signs	before
individual	notes.
Three	sharps	after	the	treble	clef	indicate	a	key	signature	of	A	Major.
34 Lavender’s	Blue
When	a	piece	consists	of	notes	from	a	particular	scale,	it	is	said	to	be	written	in
the	key	which	has	the	same	notes	as	that	scale.	For	example,	if	a	song	contains
mostly	notes	from	the	A	major	scale,	it	is	said	to	be	in	the	key	of	A	major.	This
melody	uses	all	the	notes	of	the	A	major	scale.	Notice	the	key	signature,	which
shows	the	notes	F#,	C#	and	G#.
35 Brahms’	Lullaby
This	beautiful	melody	is	also	in	the	key	of	A	major.
36 Rolling	River
Here	is	another	piece	created	from	the	notes	of	the	A	major	scale.	This	one
contains	all	the	note	values	you	have	learned	up	to	this	point.	Remember	to
alternate	your	bow	strokes	regardless	of	the	note	values.
LESSON	ELEVEN
Developing	Your	Tone
One	of	the	most	important	things	about	playing	the	violin	is	learning	to	produce
a	strong,	even	tone.	If	you	listen	to	a	professional	violinist,	they	always	make	the
music	sound	great,	even	if	they	are	playing	a	very	simple	piece.
A	good	way	to	improve	your	tone	is	to	play	only	the	open	strings	and	listen
carefully	to	the	sound	you	are	making.	Experiment	with	more,	or	less	pressure	of
the	bow	on	the	strings	until	you	get	a	sound	you	like.
The	following	examples	will	help	your	bowing	technique.	Although	you
probably	enjoy	playing	pieces	more	than	these	exercises,	they	will	help	you	play
pieces	better.	Listen	carefully	as	you	play	each	exercise	and	aim	for	a	strong,
even	tone,	as	if	the	violin	were	singing	the	notes.
To	achieve	this,	you	will	need	to	keep	your	wrist	loose,	your	bow	speed
consistent	and	use	just	the	right	amount	of	pressure.	When	working	on	bowing
technique	and	tone	exercises,	it	is	important	to	work	closely	with	your	teacher	so
they	can	show	you	how	to	correct	any	errors	in	your	technique.
37 Open	A	and	E	Strings
The	Open	Strings	D	and	G
	
This	D	note	is	played	on	the	open	third
string.	It	is	written	in	the	space	just	below
the	staff.
	
This	G	note	is	played	on	the	open	fourth
string.	It	is	written	under	the	second	ledger
line	below	the	staff.
38 Open	D	and	G	Strings
This	is	similar	to	the	previous	exercise	and	uses	the	open	D	and	G	strings.	Once
again,	listen	carefully	as	you	play	and	aim	for	a	strong,	even	tone.
The	Whole	Rest
A	black	box	hanging	under	a	line	is	a	whole	rest.
It	means	there	are	four	beats	of	silence.
Practicing	whole	notes	is	very	good	for	developing	your	tone.	Every	second	bar
in	this	next	exercise	contains	a	whole	rest,	to	give	you	time	to	prepare	for	the
next	note.	All	four	open	strings	are	used	in	this	exercise.
Remember	to	lower	your	bowing	arm	slightly	when	moving	from	a	lower	string
to	a	higher	string	(e.g.,	open	G	to	open	D)	and	raise	the	arm	slightly	when
moving	from	a	higher	string	to	a	lower	string	(e.g.,	open	E	to	open	A).
39 All	Four	Open	Strings
Now	try	playing	two	whole	notes	on	each	string	with	alternating	bow	strokes.
Once	again,	aim	for	a	full	singing	tone.
Here	is	another	exercise	to	help	you	get	better	at	crossing	between	strings.	As
before,	alternate	your	bow	strokes.
LESSON	TWELVE
The	Note	E	on	the	D	String
This	E	note	is	written	on	the	first	line	of	the	staff.
Play	this	E	note	with	your	1st	finger	on	the	D	string.
40 Stepping	Out
To	play	this	E	note,	use	the	tip	of	the	first	finger	of	your	left	hand.	When
playing	this	piece,	take	care	when	moving	the	bow	from	the	E	string	to	the	D
string	in	the	final	bar.
The	Note	F	Sharp	on	the	D	string
This	F#	note	is	written	in	the	first	space	of	the	staff.
Play	this	F#	note	with	your	2nd	finger	on	the	D	string.
To	play	this	F#	note,	use	the	tip	of	the	second	finger	of	your	left	hand.
41 Look	Toward	the	Hills
Notice	that	there	are	two	sharps	after	the	treble	clef	in	this	piece.	This	is	the	key
signature	of	D	major.
The	Note	G	on	the	D	string
This	G	note	is	written	on	the	second	line	of	the	staff.
Play	this	G	note	with	your	3rd	finger	on	the	D	string.
To	play	this	G	note,	use	the	tip	of	the	third	finger	of	your	left	hand.	Remember
to	place	thefirst	and	second	fingers	down	behind	the	third	finger	as	you	play	the
note.
42 Down	the	Road	I	Go
The	Tie
A	tie	is	a	curved	line	above	or	below	two	or	more	notes	of	the	same	pitch	(and
with	the	same	position	on	the	staff).	It	tells	you	to	bow	the	first	note	only,	and	to
sustain	it	for	the	count	of	both	notes.	In	the	following	example,	the	note	G
should	be	held	for	six	beats.
43
44 Morning	Has	Broken
This	song	contains	ties.	Remember	to	keep	your	bow	stroke	going	for	the	length
of	both	notes.
LESSON	THIRTEEN
The	D	Major	Scale
The	D	major	scale	begins	on	the	open	D	string	and	ends	on	the	note	D	on	the	A
string.	The	notes	of	the	D	major	scale	are	D	E	F#	G	A	B	C#	D.	The	D	note	at	the
end	of	the	scale	is	one	octave	higher	than	the	D	note	at	the	beginning	of	the
scale.	Play	through	the	scale	until	you	know	it	from	memory.
45 D	Major	Scale
46
This	piece	will	help	you	become	more	familiar	with	the	D	major	scale.	It	starts
on	the	open	D	string	and	works	it’s	way	up	to	high	A.	Take	it	slowly	until	you
can	play	it	perfectly	and	then	gradually	increase	the	tempo.
Key	Signature	of	D	Major
Instead	of	writing	a	sharp	sign	before	every	F	and	C
note	it	is	easier	to	use	the	key	signature	of	D	major.
This	key	signature	was	used	in	the	previous	two
songs.
47 Folk	Dance
This	lively	dance	is	written	in	the	key	of	D	major.	The	violin	is	widely	used	in
European	and	American	Folk	music.
Sequences
The	more	familiar	you	are	with	a	scale,	the	easier	you	will	find	it	to	play
melodies	created	from	that	scale,	and	the	easier	you	will	be	able	to	create	your
own	melodies	from	the	scale.	One	of	the	best	ways	to	practice	scales	is	through
the	use	of	sequences.
A	sequence	is	a	repetitive	pattern	in	which	the	rhythm	remains	the	same	while
the	pitches	are	repeated	higher	or	lower,	usually	within	a	specific	scale	or	key.
Practicing	sequences	is	also	good	for	you	co-ordination	and	bowing	technique.
Here	are	some	sequences	within	the	D	major	scale.
48
49
50 Arkansas	Traveller
This	piece	in	the	key	of	D	major	also	features	the	use	of	sequences.	Take	it
slowly	until	you	can	play	it	easily	and	then	gradually	increase	the	tempo.
LESSON	FOURTEEN
Using	the	4th	Finger
All	the	notes	you	have	learned	so	far	have	been	played	by	open	strings	and	the
first	three	fingers	of	the	left	hand.	However,	there	are	other	notes	which	require
the	use	of	the	4th	finger	(little	finger).	The	first	of	these	is	the	note	B	on	the	E
string.	This	note	is	shown	in	the	following	diagram.
The	Note	B	on	the	E	string
This	B	note	is	written	above	the	ledger	line	above	the	staff.
Play	this	B	note	with	your	4th	finger	on	the	E	string.
This	piece	combines	the	new	B	note	with	all	the	other	notes	on	the	E	string.
51
Fingering	Numbers
The	4th	finger	can	be	used	to	play	notes	on	all	four	strings.	In	the	following
example,	it	is	used	to	play	an	E	note	on	the	A	string	instead	of	using	the	open	E
string.
This	is	indicated	by	the	fingering	number	(4)	written	above	the	E	note.	The
fingering	for	this	whole	piece	is	identical	to	the	previous	example	except	that	it
is	played	on	the	A	string	instead	of	the	E	string.	The	melody	is	the	same,	but	it
sounds	lower	because	it	is	on	a	lower	string.
52 All	Played	on	the	A	String
53 All	Played	on	the	D	String
The	Note	A	on	the	D	String
Now	try	moving	this	melody	down	to	the	D	string.	This	involves	using	an	A	note
with	the	4th	finger,	as	indicated	by	the	fingering	number	4	above	the	note.
Notice	that	once	again	the	melody	sounds	similar,	but	it	is	at	a	lower	pitch
because	it	is	played	on	the	D	string.
LESSON	FIFTEEN
Notes	on	the	G	String
Here	are	four	new	notes	on	the	G	string	–	A	B	C	and	D	–	one	for	each	finger	of
the	left	hand.	Memorize	the	fingerings	and	then	play	the	following	example.
Play	this	A	note	with	your	1st	finger	on
the	G	string.
Play	this	B	note	with	your	2nd	finger	on
the	G	string.
Play	this	C	note	with	your	3rd	finger	on
the	G	string.
Play	this	D	note	with	your	4th	finger	on
the	G	string.
54 All	Played	on	the	G	String
The	G	Major	Scale
The	G	major	scale	starts	and	ends	on	the	note	G	and	contains	an	F	sharp	(F	#	)
note.	It	is	demonstrated	starting	on	the	open	G	note.	This	is	the	lowest	note	on
the	violin.
55 G	Major	Scale
Key	Signature	of	G	Major
So	far	you	have	learned	the	key	signatures	of	A	major	and
D	major.	Every	scale	has	its	own	key	signature.	The	G
major	scale	contains	one	sharp,	F#,	therefore	the	key
signature	for	the	key	of	G	major	contains	one	sharp,	F#.
In	Lesson	Ten	you	learned	the	following	piece	in	the	key	of	A	major.	This	time
it	is	in	the	key	of	G	major.
56 Rolling	River	in	G	Major
LESSON	SIXTEEN
The	Note	C	on	the	A	String
As	you	know,	it	is	possible	to	play	the	same	note	in	more	than	one	octave.	Here
is	a	new	C	note	played	on	the	A	string.	It	is	played	with	the	2nd	finger	slightly
lower	(back	towards	B)	from	where	you	would	place	your	finger	for	a	C	#	note.
This	C	note	is	written	in	the	third	space	of	the	staff.
Play	this	C	note	with	your	2nd	finger	on	the	A	string.
Now	try	this	example	which	combines	the	new	C	note	with	other	notes	you
know.
57 Three	Steps	Forward
The	Note	G	on	the	E	String
This	G	note	is	written	above	the	top	line	of	the	staff.
Play	this	G	note	with	your	2nd	finger	on	the	E	string.
Half	Position
This	G	note	is	played	on	the	E	string,	with	the	2nd	finger	slightly	lower	(back
towards	F	#	)	from	where	you	would	place	your	finger	for	a	G#	note.	When	you
move	your	hand	back	to	play	this	note	and	the	new	C	note	you	learned	at	the
start	of	this	lesson,	the	position	of	your	hand	is	called	half	position.	All	the	other
notes	you	have	learned	are	in	first	position.
58 Three	More	Steps
Two	Octave	Scales
Now	that	you	know	the	two	new	notes	presented	in	this	lesson,	it	is	possible	to
play	two	octaves	of	the	G	major	scale.
59 The	G	Major	Scale	Over	Two	Octaves
60 Lavender’s	Blue
Once	you	are	comfortable	with	the	scale	over	two	octaves,	try	the	following
piece.	You	previously	learned	this	piece	in	the	key	of	A	major.	This	time	it	is
played	twice,	using	different	octaves	of	the	G	major	scale.	Try	doing	this	with
other	melodies	you	know.
61 Londonderry	Air
This	traditional	Irish	ballad	is	presented	here	in	the	key	of	G	major.	It	uses	notes
from	both	octaves	of	the	G	major	scale	and	goes	right	up	to	a	high	B	note	on	the
E	string.	Take	it	slowly	and	aim	for	a	warm,	singing	tone.
LESSON	SEVENTEEN
The	Natural	Minor	Scale
If	you	play	the	notes	from	the	G	major	scale,	but	start	and	finish	on	E	instead	of
G,	the	sound	produced	is	called	E	natural	minor.
62 E	Natural	Minor
The	Key	of	E	Minor
When	a	piece	contains	mainly	notes	from	a	minor	scale,	it	is	said	to	be	in	a
minor	key.	The	following	example	is	in	the	key	of	E	minor.	You	will	notice	that
this	piece	has	a	sadder	sound	than	those	written	in	major	keys.
This	sad	quality	is	a	characteristic	of	minor	keys.	Notice	also	that	the	key
signature,	consisting	of	one	sharp	(F	#	),	is	identical	to	the	key	signature	of	G
major.	When	two	keys	share	a	key	signature,	they	are	called	relative	keys.
63 Minor	Melody
D.C	al	Fine
Above	the	final	bar	of	this	melody,	you	will	find	the	instruction	D.C.	al	Fine	.
This	tells	you	to	play	the	piece	again	from	the	beginning,	until	you	reach	the
word	Fine	(in	bar	8).	This	piece	alternates	between	the	relative	keys	of	E	minor
and	G	major.
64 Misty	Morning
	Cover
	Publisher Info
	Using This eBook
	Contents
	Introduction
	Using an Electronic Tuner
	A Word about Intonation
	Lesson One
	Parts of the Violin and Bow
	How to Hold the Violin and Bow
	How to Read the Fingering Diagrams
	Pizzicato
	Playing With the Bow (Arco)
	Lesson Two
	How to Read Music
	The Treble Clef
	The Treble Staff
	Music Notes
	Note and Rest Values
	The Four Four Time Signature
	The Note A
	The Note B
	Lesson Three
	The Half Note
	The Note C Sharp
	The Half Rest
	Lesson Four
	The Note D
	The Whole Note
	The Note E
	Lesson Five
	The Three Four Time Signature
	The Dotted Half Note
	The Quarter Rest
	Lesson Six
	The Lead-In
	Staccato
	Lesson Seven
	The Eighth Note
	LessonEight
	The Dotted Quarter Note
	First and Second Endings
	Lesson Nine
	The Note F Sharp
	The Note G Sharp
	The Note A on the First String
	Lesson Ten
	The Major Scale
	The Octave
	First Position
	Key Signature of A Major
	Lesson Eleven
	Developing Your Tone
	Open A and E Strings
	Open D and G Strings
	The Whole Rest
	Lesson Twelve
	The Note E on the D String
	The Note F Sharp on the D string
	The Note G on the D string
	The Tie
	Lesson Thirteen
	The D Major Scale
	Key Signature of D Major
	Sequences
	Lesson Fourteen
	Using the 4th Finger
	The Note B on the E string
	Fingering Numbers
	Lesson Fifteen
	Notes on the G String
	The G Major Scale
	Key Signature of G Major
	Lesson Sixteen
	The Note C on the A String
	The Note G on the E String
	Half Position
	Two Octave Scales
	Lesson Seventeen
	The Natural Minor Scale
	The Key of E Minor
	D.C al Fine