This is the first fingerboard chart I introduce to students. The piano keyboard is included as a visual for string students to understand the order of notes since the order is a bit quirky. Then – using the order of the white keys on the piano (the natural notes) I included the natural notes on the violin fingerboard. All the empty circles on the violin fingerboard are the sharps and flats.

For students:

I encourage you to watch the video explanation. To write an explanation would be quite complicated and wordy but the video explanation is simple and easy to follow.

For teachers:

Rather than teaching students 1 new note at a time as they arise in the music, I choose to teach all the notes at once at least conceptually. For example – when a student is getting close to learning Etude in Suzuki Book 1 we start looking at this fingerboard chart and discuss it for a few weeks. Students learn how to find notes on the chart that they’ve never played before. When they are comfortable with finding notes on the chart I then have them fill out The Fingerboard Workbook for First Position. When they have completed that book they are completely confident and fearless in 1st position so we then start 3rd position.

Visit The Fingerboard Workbook Series Map the Violin for Good for extensive videos and information about learning where the notes exist on the violin fingerboard.

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