Learning the Violin

2026-09-19 · Getting started↓§

I recently started learning the violin. I'm keeping my practice notes and music theory notes here.

I'll update this page as I learn and link to any related blog posts.

What I'm learning↑↓§

I'm working on Pachelbel's Canon in D and A Thousand Years. Still very much a beginner.

From my notebook to the circle of fifths↑↓§

Here's the note map from my notebook, followed by an interactive circle of fifths.

Down a column: each step raises the pitch by one semitone (also called a half step). On the G string, that starts G, G♯/A♭, A, A♯/B♭, B, C. B–C and E–F are already a semitone apart; there's no extra note between them. After twelve steps, the letter name repeats an octave higher. Moving down the drawing means moving up in pitch.

Across a row: the strings start G–D–A–E, each a perfect fifth above the previous string. A perfect fifth spans seven semitones; the name “fifth” comes from counting five letter names, including both ends: G, A, B, C, D. Raising every string's note by the same number of semitones preserves that relationship.

The photo is a note-name map, not a scale drawing of finger positions. The violin has no frets, and equal pitch steps don't occupy equal physical distances along a string.

What the circle means↑↓§

The circle of fifths arranges the twelve pitch classes by fifths instead of by semitones. A pitch class groups together notes with the same name in different octaves. Starting at C and moving clockwise gives C–G–D–A–E–B, then the sharp/flat side of the circle, eventually returning to C. Wrapping octaves together is what lets us draw the sequence as a circle.

That puts the open strings G → D → A → E next to each other. Every other row of my drawing makes another four-note stretch around the same circle. Try the slider at 0, then 1, then 12: the highlight moves, but those four notes stay neighbors. At 12, the names return to the start, an octave higher on the instrument.

Why some notes have two names↑↓§

The paired names in my drawing, such as G♯ and A♭, are called enharmonic spellings. In twelve-tone equal temperament, they name the same sounding pitch. The spelling still matters: it tells us how a note functions in a scale or chord. Violinists can also adjust intonation to the musical context, so this diagram is a map of note names rather than a complete tuning system.

Across the row one semitone above the open strings, my drawing gives G♯/A♭, D♯/E♭, A♯/B♭, F. Reading those as A♭–E♭–B♭–F makes the sequence of written fifths clear. The circle chooses convenient spellings; it doesn't change the notes in the notebook.

From notes to keys: why Canon has two sharps↑↓§

The same circle also organizes major keys, which are sets of notes centered on a tonic. Starting with C major, which has no sharps or flats, move one step clockwise to G major: it has F♯. Move another step to D major: it has F♯ and C♯. Those are the two sharps in Canon in D. Going the other way from C, F major has one flat (B♭), and B♭ major has two (B♭ and E♭).

This doesn't mean playing the open D string puts you in D major. One is a note; the other is a musical key. D major uses D–E–F♯–G–A–B–C♯–D. Its scale steps follow whole–whole–half–whole–whole–whole–half, where a whole step is two semitones.

X:1
T:D major - one octave
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:D clef=treble
D E F G | A B c d |]

Try it: find D on the circle and read its key signature. Then find F♯ and C♯ in the notebook. Finally, compare the scale above with the Canon phrase below: the key signature applies to both.

Further reading: Open Music Theory: major scales and key signatures and Yamaha: the violin's strings.

Canon in D↑↓§

Here's the opening phrase of the first violin part. In D major, the key signature makes F and C sharp, even though the individual notes don't have sharp signs beside them. The key signature applies to the whole phrase.

X:1
T:Canon in D - opening violin phrase
C:Johann Pachelbel
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:D clef=treble
f2 e2 | d2 c2 | B2 A2 | B2 c2 |]

This excerpt comes from Pachelbel's public-domain composition. The full score is available on IMSLP.

A look at the manuscript↑↓§

This manuscript page shows all three violin parts above the repeating bass line.

Open the image at full size · Image source · Public-domain documentation for this manuscript page

Open strings↑§

Here are the violin's four open strings, from lowest to highest: G, D, A, and E.

X:1
T:The violin's open strings
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C clef=treble
"G"G,4 | "D"D4 | "A"A4 | "E"e4 |]