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if you have a teacher then get him/her to show you the correct finger positions and then put stickers on the correct positions for the notes.. thats how i learned to play and although i have been playing for nigh on 10yrs now i still use stickers...

Eh, I'm a music teacher and professional violinist. I have issues against stickers, because firstly, I never used them and my fingers learned where to go with no problem, and secondly, it helps develop a violinist's ear for intonation early on if there is no reliance on tapes and stickers. Plus, a good violinist isn't suppose to be looking at their fingers when they play.


Firstly, if you have a method book that demonstrates the proper way to grip the violin and bow, you'll have a much better time finding the correct notes. Once you are holding it correctly, play an open string, then place your first (pointer) finger down on a string. Compare it to a piano to make sure it sounds right. From there, everything is in relation to each other my whole step or half step.

If the next note is a half step, your next finger will be very close and touching the finger that is already down.

If the next note is a whole step, your next finger will be apart and not touching the finger already down.



After awhile, your fingers will learn where to go, and your ear will be the judge on whether it's right or not.


Elizabeth Ann Riddlie, since violin is such a complex instrument with many many things to remember (not just where notes belong), I suggest you find a tutor, whether it be a classmate who has been playing for a few years, or a strings teacher (private or public, they'll both send you in the right direction).

If you have any more specific questions about the violin, I started a thread in the Orchestra/Concert Band Subform to service people just like you.

You can find it here.

I did have teacher/ tutor,who he was my ex, but he kind cut off talking to me...
I have a teacher in mind, but it's hard to get individual attention from a teacher that does so much already...
I love how the violin is complex that's why I picked it...
I just need a few pushes in the right direaction, and I'll have no problem.. ^^
Am not saying it's going to be easy.. that would take the fun out of learning.. ^^
why learn an inturestment that is easy to learn, not ever having the feeling of victory that you finally learned your first song or complete something great to your mind...

I used tapes in first position for the first, high second, and high third and after only playing two years, I took the first and second off. My teacher wouldn't put on tapes for my fourth finger, and didn't for positions either. I thought the tapes helped in where to place them, because otherwise you have no idea whatsoever. She took electrical tape and put them there, but it was black so it was hard to see. I had to feel for it, and then you get a sense of where your finger is without looking. But when I first started, my first month was just on open strings. You're going to fingers after a week? That's pretty impressive.

Opened notes are easy, the fact that there are different movements to play them that makes it more complex and having good enough aim to hit the strings with the bow correctly.

But I've been playing guitar for about a year now.. so i have a good I idea how to treat stringed instruments... ^^

i started learning violin at school, so my teacher taught us everything... but we used this book called essential elements [red cover] that might help wink unless u have another book, of course... all the other people that have replied probably are better to listen to than i am-i'm a freshman in high school and they're all professionals and stuff... sweatdrop

i havent used stickers or tape since idk my 3 yr.