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Violin Bow Parts: anatomy, function and bow division

Parts of the violin explained: frog, tip, screw, stick, hair, winding etc.

Also we’ll cover which part of the violin to play: upper half, at the frog, spiccato spot etc

In this article, I’ll not only discuss the parts of the violin bow, including its physical characteristics. I’ll also explain parts of the violin bow as referenced for bow division, the optimal bow placement and bow usage for common bow strokes, and how to use the bow to create dynamics.

First we’ll go through all the different parts of the violin bow and their function. After that I’ll cover the terms you see in sheet music, like at the frog and upper half. Also we’ll go through on which part of the violin bow hair we play different violin bowing techniques.

Overview of the violin bow parts

 

violin bow parts

The violin bow is used to draw the sound out of the violin

Violin Bow Stick

The stick of the bow is most often made out of either wood or carbon fiber, and it’s function is to hold the hair of the bow in place. Bow sticks should always maintain a convex (downward) curve. If the stick is straight across or curving outwards, the bow is too tight and needs to be loosened.

Violin Bow Hair

The bow hair is generally made out of horse hair. The hair is used to glide across the strings, thus making the strings vibrate and create a sound. Avoid touching the hair as much as possible to protect it from harmful oils found in your skin, which will “slicken” the hair and cause it not to grab the strings as well, thus leading to the need for a rehair.

Rehair your Violin Bow

A rehair is when you take your bow to the luthier and have them swap out your old bow hair for new, clean horse hair. This should be done every 6 months to several years, depending on how much you play and how intensively you play. You’ve probably seen videos of soloists where the horse hair flies around during a concert. They may need a rehair pretty soon!

Help! My violin bow doesn’t make sound…

If you get your bow back from the luthier and it doesn’t seem to make a sound, apply a hefty coat of rosin to the bow. This goes also for new violin bows.

Also make sure you have good quality rosin. If you bought a really cheap violin online, the rosin might not be functional. I personally use Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin and highly recommend it. 

So interesting to read all about the parts of of the violin and what part of the hair to play #violinbow #violinist #violin Share on X
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Myth: the horse hair has little hooks

There’s myth even seasoned violin players and teachers still believe: the horse hair should contain little hooks that draw the sound of the violin.

If you look at violin bow hair under a microscope you’ll see that the hair is absolutely smooth.

We know the hooks are a myth, because without rosin a violin bow can’t draw sound out of the violin.

It’s the rosin that makes the horse hair sticky. It can ‘pull’ the strings and make a continuous sound while bowing on the violin.

Money saver: don't rehair your bow too soon

A lot of violin players rehair their bow every few months, which costs $ 70 to $ 100 every time. The reason why they go for a rehair is that the bow hair doesn’t draw a good sound and seems slippery. Rosining doesn’t seem to help, so a violinist takes his/her bow to the luthier.

However, maybe the violin bow hair is fine, but it’s just dirty. In that case you can clean your violin bow like I show in this video. It’s easy to do at home.

When the hair is really worn down and the violin bow has lost some hairs, then it’s really time for a rehair.

Frog and Tip

Violin Bow Frog Parts

The handle of the violin bow is called the frog. Here’s an overview with all the parts you find in the lower half of the bow:

violin bow frog parts

Violin Bow Tip Parts

The end of the violin bow is called the tip. Here’s a detailed image of the violin bow tip. The tip plate can be of nickel, silver, ivory or gold.

violin bow tip parts
There are two spots where the bow hair and the bow stick meet: the tip and the frog.

The tip is located at the uppermost point of the bow, and it usually has a curved, pointed shape. The hair is attached to the stick at the tip through the tip plate. Be careful with where you wave your tip, as it is quite easy to damage. I once hit the tip of my bow on a music stand and the point fell off!

The frog lies on the opposite end of the bow, at the bottom, is made of ebony (a dark-colored wood from a tropical climate tree), and is used to house the mechanism that tightens and loosens the bow.

The frog is comprised of many smaller parts, including the ferrule, side, eye, and throat

The ferrule is a removable plate of metal used to protect the place where the hair attaches to the frog. Although the ferrule can be removed in order to change the bow hair, do not try to remove it yourself! Take it to a trusted luthier.

The side of the frog is the portion that lies directly underneath the ferrule. The side can either be made of ebony or in some cases, mother of pearl, which gives it a more decorative look.

The eye of the frog is another ornamental part of the bow; it is the circle on the side of the frog. Not all bows have an eye, so if yours doesn’t, don’t worry! It is just there for decoration.

The throat of the bow is the curved portion of the frog, directly across from the ferrule. Most players place their thumb in or directly above the throat.

At the very bottom of the bow lies the metal screw, which is used to tighten and loosen the bow hair.

How to tighten your violin bow hair?

Before playing, turn the screw to the right to tighten the bow hair. It should be tight enough for a pencil to fit through at its smallest point (around the middle of the bow). Before putting the violin away for the day, turn the screw to the left to loosen the bow hair. It shouldn’t be so loose that the hair becomes stringy. To remember which way to turn the screw, I like to say the phrase ‘righty tighty lefty loosy.’ The reason we loosen the bow hair is to help the hair maintain its tension.

Above the frog lies the grip (or pad), which is most often made out of leather, which is why some call it thumb leather. The grip helps the player maintain solid contact with the bow, especially when their hands get sweaty!

The winding (or lapping) is the wrapping located right above the grip. The winding helps add a bit of weight to the bow which in turn adjusts the balance point. The winding can be made out of a variety of materials, including wire (nickel, silver, gold), faux whalebone, and silk. The winding can look very different for different violin bows and the silk can have a variety of colors.

My teacher said to play in the upper half! What does that mean?

Great question! We have covered the physical make-up of the violin, but now we will dive into bow division, which tells us what part of and how much bow to use for certain bow strokes and for creating dynamics.

Bow Division

What part of the violin bow to use when bowing?

We bow with the hair, but it makes a lot of difference which part of the hair you use: the whole bow, upper half, at the frog, spiccato spot…

You can see the bow hair and the bow division while bowing as the breath of a singer. It’s crucial to play music well and is a tool of expression.

Violin Bow Division Terms Overview

Here are the violin bow parts that might be mentioned by your teacher:

violin bow division parts chart
The tip is the upper third of the bow, nearest to the tip. 

The upper half is the top half of the bow, nearest to the tip.

The middle is the exact middle part of the bow, about 2 inches in length. 

The lower middle is the portion of the bow halfway between the middle and the frog, near the balance point.

The balance point is the place on the bow where each side of the bow weighs the same. The exact spot of the balance point varies from bow to bow, but you can find it by trying to balance the bow on your index finger. If you’ve found the proper balance point, the bow should be able to balance on your finger without help from your other hand.

The lower half is the bottom half of the bow, between the middle and the frog.

The frog is the lowermost part of the bow, near the winding, grip, and ferrule. This is usually the hardest part of the bow to play in because it is much heavier than the rest, and therefore requires a lot of counterbalance with the pinky (pinky strength, anyone?!)

The whole bow is the entire length of the bow from frog to tip.

But how do I know which part of the violin bow to use?!

That’s a great question! To easily figure out which part of the bow to use, remember my six rules of bow division.

6 rules of bow division

  1. The length of the bow is the length of the note. This means that longer notes like half and whole notes get more bow, and shorter notes like eighth and sixteenth notes get less bow.
  2. Use more bow for louder notes and less bow for softer notes. This is the easiest way to create dynamics.
  3. Play on the string bow techniques on the upper half and bouncing bow techniques on the lower half or in the middle of the bow. 
  4. The faster the bounce, the higher up the bow you play (until the middle). The slower the bounce, the closer to the frog you play. When the bow bounce is slower, it requires more control, which is easier near the frog. 
  5. The least active bowing technique determines the place on the bow. Least active simply means that instead of you doing the work, the bow does the work for you!
  6. The least active bowing technique determines the length of the bow strokes. Passive bow strokes generally use small amounts of bow.

Are you thinking ‘huh, active and passive bow technique? What’s this all about?’ Read all about different violin bowing techniques and terms right here. 

Improve your violin bowing technique

Enjoy my FREE mini Masterclass 5 Bowing Secrets to Create a Professional Sound on the Violin

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Bow Stroke Guide

Where on the bow should I perform different violin bowing techniques?

Below, I’ve listed 14 standard bow strokes with their optimal bow placement.

Detaché is the most basic violin bow stroke, implying separate, smooth bows. Detaché can be done in any place on the bow and with any amount of bow. 

Staccato is simply stopping the bow between each note. This creates a slight space or separation between each bow stroke. Staccato can be done in any place on the bow and with any amount of bow, but is most commonly done in the middle or lower middle with small amounts of bow.

Slurred Staccato is a series of many short, staccato notes in a row on one bow. This can be done with any amount of bow and in any part of the bow. For fast slurred staccato, I find it easiest to perform in the upper half of the bow.

Legato is when two or more notes are slurred, or played on the same bow. Slurs can be done in any place on the bow and with any amount of bow.

Martelé is used to create accents (martelé literally means “hammered” in Italian!). To perform martelé, press the bow into the string with you index finger, and then instantaneously release the pressure as you draw the bow. This technique creates an accent followed by a beautiful ringing tone. Martelé can be done in any place on the bow and with any amount of bow. 

Brush Stroke is done when the player actively bounces the bow off of the string in between each bow stroke. This should be performed in the lower half of the bow, and with just about an inch or two of bow.

Spiccato is when the bow passively bounces off the string between each note. Passively means that the bow does most of the work with minimal effort from the player. Our bows were made to bounce! The angle of the hair and proximity to the string determines the speed of your spiccato (and of any bouncing bow stroke!). Spiccato should be done in the middle or lower-middle of the bow.

Flying spiccato is the same bow stroke as spiccato except the bows are all going the same direction (either all up or all down). This should be done in the lower ⅔ of the bow.

Ricochet is when the player throws the bow onto the string and the residual bounces create the bow stroke ricochet. This should be done in the upper half of the bow.

Sautillé is a bow stroke where the hair stays completely on the string while the stick bounces up and down. This should be performed in the lower middle part of the bow.

Tremolo is a very fast detaché stroke, usually written to create an effect. Tremolo should be performed in the upper half of the bow.

Portato is varying the bow speed between slurred notes, which creates a slight separation for each note. Portato can be done in any part of the bow and with any amount of bow.

Hooked Bowing is not a specific bow stroke, but a form of linked bowing most often applied to dotted figures, allowing the player to maintain the location of the bow and avoid unwanted accents. This can be done in any part of the bow and with any amount of bow.

Collé is a finger stroke that is most often used as a finger flexibility exercise. To perform a down bow using collé, straighten your fingers out and allow the bow to come off the string. To perform an up bow using collé, curl your fingers back in and again allow your bow to come off of the string. While this bow stroke can be done in any part of the bow, it is most common in the lower half.

Learn more about violin bowing technique

Some of the violin bowing techniques mentioned above might be new to you. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In this video I explain all violin bowing techniques and terms with how to play them, sheet music notation and examples.

How to use your bow to create dynamics

The bow is the main tool available to violinists to create dynamics and phrasing. Vibrato most definitely can help, but the majority of phrasing is done with the bow. There are four elements that you can change to create dynamics: the amount of bow you use, the bow speed, the contact point, and the weight.

Changing the amount of bow you use is the easiest way to create dynamics, and the one that I suggest all students start out with at the beginning. Use more bow to play louder and less bow to play softer.

Changing your bow speed is another effective way to change your sound. Which one do you think will be louder, a faster bow or a slower bow? Take a second to come up with an answer before reading on.

Generally, a slower bow will give you a fuller, louder sound. Were you surprised?! Think about it this way-if you wanted to sustain (or hold) a loud note for a long time, would you use a fast or slow bow? A slow one. 

Varying your contact point is another great way to create dynamics. Your contact point is where your bow comes in contact with the violin. If you move your bow closer to the bridge, your sound will be louder, and if you move your bow closer to the fingerboard, your sound will be softer.

Finally, you can change your sound by manipulating the amount of arm weight you put into the bow. This is generally the last technique that I suggest to students, because of two big traps that are easy to fall into: 1. Using pressure and not weight 2. Taking too much weight out of the bow that the sound quality becomes poor. 

In order for our violin to sound louder, we want it to resonate, or ring, more. If you press the bow into the string, you suppress that resonant and end up with a scratchy, unpleasing sound. 

On the other side of the coin is taking so much weight out of the bow that it sounds wispy. Even when playing softly, players need to maintain a healthy contact with the string in order to emit a solid sound.

Ultimately, effective phrasing and dynamics come from combining 2 or more of these elements to create the sound you desire. This is your opportunity to get creative and have fun playing around with these four elements! 

Want to learn more? Check out my video on 7 ways to play dynamics on the violin right here.

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

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I hope you enjoyed learning all about violin bow parts

You just learned:

  • all the parts of the violin from frog to tip, their names and function
  • how to maintain your violin bow and when to rehair
  • the parts of the violin bow you use when while playing and what the difference is
  • 6 rules for bow division, so you can use your bowing as the breath of a singer
  • 14 common bow strokes and where on the bow you play them
  • 4 ways to play dynamics with your violin bow

Violin parts

Read all about the parts of your violin inside out right here.

Share your biggest insight or fun fact in the comments below:

36 Best Violin Solos of All Time (played by 36 different violinist soloists)

Listen to the most beautiful violin solo pieces ever written

We cover centuries of violin music with examples from the greatest violinists

What is a violin solo?

A violin solo is simply any time one violinist is the featured performer. After the piano, violin is the most commonly featured solo instrument in classical music, due to its singing tone, wide range, and the many different effects the player can create.

Violin solos do not have to be any set length, and range anywhere from three minutes to an hour. In classical music, they are traditionally divided into three main categories: solo violin with orchestra, where the featured violinist stands in front of the orchestra next to the conductor; solo violin with piano; and unaccompanied violin, where no other performer or instrument is included.

The following list of 36 pieces contains some of the best classical violin solos from all three categories. All violin solo performances are by different violin soloists, so you get to know some of the greatest violinists of the past and present.

Best violin concertos

(or “concerti,” if you want to get technical about it)

The first violin concertos were written at the end of the 1600s, and the art form has been developing ever since. In most classical violin concertos, the soloist is accompanied by either a string orchestra (violins, violas, cellos, and double basses) or by a symphony orchestra (strings plus woodwinds, brass, and sometimes percussion). Other combinations exist however, such as Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra. Concertos are typically divided into three movements, alternating fast-slow-fast. The major concertos listed below are considered some of the most demanding pieces in classical violin repertoire because of the technical ability and stamina required.

#1 Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber

I was too impatient to save the best for last, so had to start this list off with my absolute favorite violin concerto. American composer Samuel Barber wrote this gorgeous concerto in 1939, and the piece reflects the uncertainty of the times. The lush, romantic first two movements are filled with nostalgia and unanswered questions. The frantic third movement, which Barber added later, is an incredible challenge to both soloist and orchestra. Listen to it here played by Anne Akiko-Meyers, who has performed it over 1,000 times.

Click here to buy the sheet music.

#2 Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor by Max Bruch

This concerto has long been a favorite among audiences. In fact, Bruch was envied and insulted by fellow composers during his life because of this work’s popularity. His detractors were ultimately ignored, however, as it still remains a concert hall staple and mandatory repertoire for serious students.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#3 Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig Van Beethoven

Clocking in at a cool 45 minutes long, the Beethoven Concerto is considered one of the most challenging in the repertoire, and a major accomplishment for anyone who learns it. In the beginning, the orchestra plays an intro lasting over two minutes, which gives the soloist plenty of time to stand there in front of the audience wondering if his or her entrance will sound good. In this recording by violin super-star Hilary Hahn, however, you probably won’t notice her worrying. After you watch this recording, check out her Germany debut where she played the same piece at the age of fifteen (!).

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#4 Violin Concerto in D Major by Johannes Brahms

Like the Beethoven Concerto, the opening of this piece sounds as though Brahms started writing a symphony and then suddenly remembered he was supposed to be writing a violin concerto. When the soloist finally does come in, he does it in style with some fiery runs and perfectly tuned double-stops (playing more than one string at once). It may not be as melodic or violin-centered as Beethoven’s but the sheer amount of energy in the work is breathtaking.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#5 Violin Concerto in D Minor by Jean Sibelius

When Sibelius premiered the original version of this piece in his native Finland in 1904, he had just finished writing it. Although Sibelius had enough time, unfortunately the violinist performing it didn’t, and the debut was a disaster. Sibelius revised the concerto to make it “easier,” and this new version was performed much more successfully in 1905. It is still one of the most difficult concertos, which is perhaps why it requires special permission from the Sibelius family to play the original harder version.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#6 Violin Concerto in D Major by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Okay, I know you’re wondering at this point why so many violin concertos are in the key of D, but maybe that’s a subject for another article. Tchaikovsky wrote this concerto while trying to recover from depression, and it is heart-on-your-sleeve, alternating between deep reflection and unrestrained joy.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#7 Violin Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn

Classical music lovers can debate endlessly about what the four greatest violin concertos are, but you can be sure Mendelssohn’s will be on the list. Written in 1844, it incorporates the best of both traditional classical styles and Mendelssohn’s budding romanticism. And in case you were wondering, Mendelssohn also wrote a little-known Violin Concerto in D Minor earlier that is also worth a listen.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#8 Violin Concerto in G Major by W. A. Mozart

Most of the warhorse concertos listed here are from the Romantic era (beginning in the late 18th century) but Mozart’s violin concertos are the most famous of the earlier Classical era. Although he wrote five, only the later three are frequently performed.  His third one is not the most challenging, but it has a playful, childlike charm and memorable themes.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#9 Violin Concerto in A Minor by Antonin Dvorak

This concerto is not as familiar to the general concert audience as Bruch or Mendelssohn, but it is certainly on equal footing musically. Dvorak wrote the piece in 1879 after meeting Joseph Joachim, who was one of the most prominent violinists of his day. Sadly, Joachim didn’t like some parts of the piece, and so Dvorak never heard him perform it in public. Fortunately, soloists now realize that it is an important and deserving work.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#10 Symphonie Espagnole by Edouard Lalo

This one is different: violin concertos traditionally have three movements, but this has five. The first one is the most famous. This work started a period where Spanish-themed music was all the rage, and it inspired Tchaikovksy to create his own violin concerto.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#11 The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi

Do you know how many violin concertos Vivaldi wrote? That’s right, two hundred and thirty. He’s credited with making the concerto form popular, and his work is still popular three hundred years later. The Four Seasons is actually a set of four complete violin concertos, each with three movements. Every movement describes a particular country scene Vivaldi would have witnessed in his native Italy as the seasons changed.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

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Best violin performance pieces

Concertos are divided into three movements and follow a very specific form. Performance pieces (or showpieces), on the other hand, are a single movement, and can be in whatever form the composer chooses. They usually contain lots of technical fireworks that show off the soloist’s skill. Many soloists play one as an encore after finishing a concerto, since performance pieces are generally shorter. These pieces are played either with full orchestral accompaniment or with piano only.

#1 The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams

This piece is very different from any other on this list. It is inspired by an 1881 poem by English poet George Meredith, an ode to the beauty and symbolism of the skylark. In this contemplative and transcendent piece, the violin trills and soars above the orchestra, raising the listener’s soul with it.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#1 The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams

This piece is very different from any other on this list. It is inspired by an 1881 poem by English poet George Meredith, an ode to the beauty and symbolism of the skylark. In this contemplative and transcendent piece, the violin trills and soars above the orchestra, raising the listener’s soul with it.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#3 Zigeunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate

Pablo de Sarasate was one of the most beloved violinists of the early 20th century. Like many violin soloists of that time (including Fritz Kreisler and Henryk Wieniawski) he wrote many of the pieces he performed. “Zigeunerweisen” means “gypsy meadows,” which is exactly what the piece sounds like. If you enjoy this work, you will love diving into the world of Sarasate’s fiery compositions.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#4 Czardas by V. Monti

This is one of the first showpieces every violin student learns. This is a fun piece to perform because it is perfectly fine to improvise the solo part a little bit to fit the spirit of the piece. It is also wonderful for practicing spiccato bowing, which involves playing very fast separate sixteenth notes while letting the bow bounce off the string. If you can master that technique, this work is a great introduction to showpieces.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#5 Tzigane by Maurice Ravel

Originally composed just for violin and piano, this work is now often performed with full orchestra. “Tzigane” is derived from the generic European term for “gypsy,” which is the style Ravel strove to imitate in this piece. It is not as melodic or catchy as Czardas, but it is incredibly virtuosic and has a powerful emotional effect in the hands of a master. Listen here to a vintage recording by the great Jascha Heifetz.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#6 La Ronde Des Lutins by Antonio Bazzini

Antonio Ba-who? Almost no-one has ever heard of this Italian composer, even though he was one of the most eminent violinists of the 19th century. Today he is only remembered by the few very advanced violinists who can even play his flashy encore Dance of the Goblins. Even if you’ve never heard of Bazzini, you’ve probably heard of the violinist playing in this recording.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#7 Polonaise in D Major by Henryk Wieniawski

Wieniawski was another 19th-century violinist-composer who wowed audiences in both Europe and America. Although he died at the age of 45, the intense power of his compositions lives on. This is a particularly exuberant recording of his Polonaise in D Major. Additionally, Wieniawski wrote several other showpieces, a collection of challenging caprices, and two major violin concertos.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#8 Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens

Saint-Saens dedicated this work to Pablo de Sarasate. It has a distinct Spanish flavor; you can almost see the bullfighters strutting in during the main theme. Incredibly dramatic and evocative, it is a favorite among advanced students and major soloists. The recording below is performed by Christian Li, a world-famous soloist who is currently thirteen years old. His performance really brings out the energy and joy in the piece.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#9 Carmen Fantasy by Sarasate

Another work by Sarasate, this piece contains plenty of familiar tunes (with a fancy violinistic twist) if you love the opera Carmen. After listening to it, compare it to the Carmen Fantasie by Franz Waxman, who composed his own version for the 1946 movie Humoresque.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

Best violin sonatas

The main difference between a sonata and a concerto is that the concerto is accompanied by an orchestra, while the sonata is accompanied by just one instrument (usually piano) or unaccompanied. All the sonatas listed here are for violin and piano, so keep reading for the best unaccompanied violin sonatas later on.

#1 Violin Sonata in G Minor “The Devil’s Trill” by Giuseppe Tartini

Although stylistically very different from the later Romantic sonatas, it still includes many challenges, such as double-stop trills. The story behind this piece is almost as interesting as the piece itself. Here, violinist Frank Almond explains the history of the piece and plays some excerpts. Oh yeah, and he’s playing it on the Stradivarius once owned by Tartini.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#2 Sonata No. 3 in D Minor by Johannes Brahms

If you don’t feel ready for the intensity of Brahms’s violin concerto, his three violin sonatas are a good way to get a feel for his style. His third sonata is extremely lyrical in the first two movements. In the third movement the pianist gets a chance to shine, and it closes with a virtuosic final movement.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#3 Violin Sonata in A Major by Cesar Franck

Belgian composer Cesar Franck composed this in 1886 as a wedding present for the young violin virtuoso Eugene Ysaye. Franck was not at the wedding, but a friend of his presented the piece to Ysaye the morning of. After one quick rehearsal with his new sister-in-law, Ysaye performed the piece for his guests, and kept it in his repertoire for the next forty years.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#4 Violin Sonata in G Minor by Claude Debussy

You’ve probably heard of Debussy,or at least you’ve heard of his most popular work, Clair de Lune. This violin sonata is the last piece he wrote, and a wonderful example of impressionism, a style that explores color changes, chromaticism, and unusual effects.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#5 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major “Kreutzer” by Beethoven

It’s really too bad that Beethoven only wrote one violin concerto, but he made up for that by writing ten violin sonatas. Although his ninth sonata is dedicated to violinist Rudolphe Kreutzer, Kreutzer never performed the work and called it “outrageously unintelligible.” It is, however, frequently performed today, despite its technical difficulty and unusual length. Beethoven’s other two most famous violin sonatas are No. 5 nicknamed the “Spring” sonata, and No. 8 in G Major.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#6 Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major by Sergei Prokofiev

Originally a flute sonata, Prokofiev composed a violin version in 1944 at the request of his friend David Oistrakh. It contains the grace and lyricism of a flute sonata with the technical flair of a great solo violin piece. Prokofiev also wrote another violin sonata and a violin concerto.

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#7 Violin Sonata in D Major by George F. Händel

Handel wrote sonatas for many instruments including violin, flute, oboe, and recorder, but this sonata is his last piece of chamber music. Less challenging than some of the other works on this list, it is a good sonata for anyone who loves Baroque music.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#8 Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major by Gabriel Fauré

Fauré’s sparkling Violin Sonata in A Major marked a turning point in his compositional career. The first performance was very well received, and it remains his most popular chamber music work. It is elegant and refined while also being energetic and uplifting.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

Unaccompanied Violin Solos

A violin solo means that the violinist is the featured performer in a piece. In accompanied violin solos, the violinist plays together with an orchestra, piano or other instrument, but has the leading role. Unaccompanied violin solos on the other hand are pieces just played by the violin and no other instruments. Most of them are technically very challenging with lots of double stops and chords to make the music sound full even if it’s only played by one violinist.

#1 Twelve Fantasias for Violin Solo by Georg Philip Telemann

Telemann was a contemporary and friend of J.S. Bach. During his life, he was the most acclaimed composer in Germany, and much more celebrated than his colleague Johann Sebastian. He was also incredibly prolific, composing over three thousand complete works (Bach only did, like, twelve hundred). His solo violin fantasias are a charming example of the improvisational baroque style.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#2 Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach

Okay, now to be fair, Bach also wrote an entire book for solo violin, which has become firmly rooted in the mandatory violin repertoire. His Six Sonatas and Partitas (a partita is any work that is based on baroque dance forms) were at first considered good only for technical exercises. In the late 19th century, violinists began to rediscover their musical value also, and now solo Bach movements are required at violin competitions and auditions around the world. Many of the greatest soloists play some of these movements every day to keep their creative juices flowing and to work on basics like intonation and phrasing. 

Below is just a single movement from Partita No. 2 in D Minor. This movement, the Chaconne, is a solid fifteen minutes long, and roundly considered one of the most astonishing violin works ever composed. Also let’s just appreciate the fact that this guy memorized it.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#3 24 Caprices for Solo Violin by Nicolo Paganini

If Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas are the most important solo violin works of the 18th century, then the Paganini caprices are the most important works of the 19th century. Paganini is a classical music legend, both because of his larger-than-life personality and his larger-than-your-finger-width technical abilities. You’ve probably heard of the last caprice, so here’s one you maybe haven’t heard:

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

#4 Sonatas for Solo Violin by Eugene Ysaye

Remember Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye, a.k.a. Elvis on a violin, the guy who performed a brand-new violin sonata for his wedding? Turns out he was not only a towering performer (musically and literally) but also an incredible composer. His solo violin sonatas are dramatic, powerful, and electrifying. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, listen to a movement played by a fifteen-year-old girl.

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

Best modern violin solos

Reading this article, it may seem like every great violin piece was written at least 100 years ago. Actually, great new pieces are being composed every year, and only time will tell what magnificent violin works the 21st century will bring. For now though, check out just a few of the best violin solos composed within the past few decades.

#1 Theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams

This timeless movie about the man who saved over one thousand Jews from the Holocaust features Itzhak Perlman playing the main theme composed by the equally famous John Williams. It is one of the most memorable movie scores ever composed, and Oscar Schindler certainly deserves such a beautiful piece in his honor. John Williams also composed a suite for solo violin that contains two other themes from this film.

Click here to buy the sheet music.

#2 Merry-go-round of Life by Joe Hiasashi

If you love anime, then you probably love the Studio Ghibli classic Howl’s Moving Castle.  Based on a British fantasy novel, the whimsical plot follows an eighteen-year-old girl, Sophie, who is cursed into an old lady by a witch. To break the curse, the plucky Sophie goes on an incredible journey with a mysterious and handsome wizard named Howl in his flying castle.

Click here to buy the sheet music.

#3 Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar

This fiddle tune became famous as the main theme for Ken Burns’ documentary about the American Civil War. It is the only tune in that film that was not written during the 1800s. Fiddler Jay Ungar wrote it in 1982 in honor of the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp he ran with his wife. The sentimental words tell about good times together and the hope of more to come.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#4 Violin Concerto in G Minor

British composer, pianist, and violinist Alma Deutscher is sixteen years old and already studying conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. A prodigy in the best sense of the word, she harnessed her natural creativity from an early age to create spectacular classical compositions. Her operas, concertos, and orchestra pieces have been performed worldwide. I hope you find joy in this beautiful recording of the young composer herself performing her own violin concerto in her Carnegie Hall debut.

Bonus: Not-really-violin-solos

(and what they actually are)

It may shock you to know that some of the pieces most associated with the violin were actually written either for orchestra or for other solo instruments. Of course, they still sound beautiful on violin and make great solo pieces, but it is helpful to know the full background of why pieces were written in order to appreciate them better.

#1 Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel

Written in 1935 as a vocal piece, this tango was later adapted for violin and piano, among other instrumentations. Violinist Nicola Benedetti also played an arrangement on her album The Silver Violin.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#2 Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Like Meditation de Thais, this notorious piece is also from an opera, The Tale of Tzar Saltan.  It’s from the scene where a magic swan changes the prince into an insect so he can go visit his father. It’s originally for cello, but at this point it’s been played on some pretty weird instruments so if you want to play it as a violin solo, knock yourself out.

Click here to buy the sheet music.

#3 Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

I know you may not know you know this piece, but you know this piece. It is a standard at parties and weddings throughout the western world. Of course, there can be too much of a good thing and variety doesn’t hurt. This recording of what Pachelbel’s Canon may have sounded like when he wrote it will give you a fresh perspective.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#4 My Heart Will Go On by James Horner

Genius film-composer James Horner, who also wrote the scores for movies such as Field of Dreams, Braveheart, and Apollo 13, composed this piece as the tear-jerking main theme of the romantic tragedy Titanic. The original movie scoring is for flute and voice with orchestral accompaniment.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#5 The Godfather Theme by Nino Rota

The theme for this classic film is originally for string orchestra, but if you volunteer to play this as a solo for someone, you’ll be making an offer they can’t refuse.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#6 He’s a Pirate by Klaus Badelt

This swashbuckling theme makes a great solo, but is also super fun if you ever get a chance to play it in orchestra, as in the original version.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#7 Game of Thrones Theme by Ramin Djewadi

This is another famous film piece that has been adopted by violinists even though it was written for cello and string background.

Get the sheet music in the Tomplay app. Click here and use coupon VIOLINLOUNGE30 for 30% off.

#8 The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens

I know, the cellists are really stealing our thunder here. Another popular piece for weddings and other sentimental occasions, this poignant piece would sound beautiful on almost any instrument, so feel free to play it on violin. 

Click here to download the free violin sheet music.

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

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What’s your favorite violin solo piece?

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know my top 36 violin solo pieces and you learned a new piece or got to know a new violin soloist you love.

Have you played some of these violin solos?

Let’s continue our conversation with like-minded violin players in the comments underneath and share the most beautiful violin solo pieces with each other. Will you start with your favorite violin solo?

About Hilary Hahn’s pinky… (because it’s practical)

Do you follow TwoSet Violin and seen the episodes with Hilary Hahn?

If not probably you’ve seen Hilary Hahn playing the Mendelssohn concerto. If not, do so now and just watch her fingering in the first measures.

Doesn’t that freak you out? All those fourth fingers? What? Even shifting with four four.

‘Because it’s practical’ she explains. Brett and Eddy freak out. That phrase has become a meme since, but let’s explore it a bit further…

In her masterclasses Hilary Hahn often stresses how important it is for reliable intonation to have a strong and arched  pinky

Sure, you train this with practicing a lot, but most violin players take a detour. A collapsed pinky is an issue many of Hahn’s high level masterclass participants have despite of a lot of practice.

Here’s the problem:

The limitation of practicing scales and Schradieck for left hand technique: with scales fingered 12 12 or 123 123 for shifts and Schradieck exercises fingered 1232 2343 you mainly train the strong part of your hand and don’t train the weaker third finger and pinky. Also your left hand posture moves to a position that mainly facilitates the first and second finger.

If you look at Hilary Hahn’s left hand, you’ll see that the knuckles are nice and aligned with the neck of the violin and that it facilitates the pinky to be placed in a secure way. Also her pinky is strong and flexible enough to be placed beautifully arched.

The fastest way to practice a strong pinky is left hand pizzicato

With left hand pizzicato you train MOSTLY the weaker part of your hand as you pluck with the fourth and third finger. It’s autocorrection for your posture as with a collapsed pinky you can’t pluck. Just as with the right hand, you need to curl the finger and use a bit of strength to pluck. In my Instagram live some time ago I give some exercises that will get you result in a few minutes a day.

What also helps a ton to train a strong pinky are stretches

Sometimes students play out of tune, not because they don’t hear, but because their fingers can’t really reach the notes. Stretches widen the knuckles a bit. Also by playing stretches with an arched pinky, playing repertoire with an arched pinky suddenly feels easy.

The goal of exercises is that they are so difficult that they increase your level, so that your repertoire will feel easy… even with lots of fourth fingers.

This should be taught right at the start and not, like for Hilary Hahn’s masterclass participants, very far in their violin journey.

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

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In my brand new program Paganini’s Secret my teacher Vivien Hoffman teaches concepts like left hand pizzicato and stretches on all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

I just started practicing ‘Paganini style’ some weeks ago and I realized that I could have saved thousands of hours becoming a professional violinist or could have achieved a higher level much earlier in my career.

Are you interested to learn Paganini’s Secret?

Click here to read more and join when the program is open for enrollment.

No more pinky problems!

Paganini’s Secret has been a blessing to my journey in playing the violin. My fourth finger has always struggled to make it far enough to have good intonation without sliding my entire hand which just made it less accurate so I would have to adjust for intonation anyway.

The Paganini style exercises I have learned so far have really improved my flexibility between each of my other left-hand fingers and my pinky. One amazing struggle I have overcome is going down on a scale and transitioning from first finger on the higher string and playing pinky on the next string instead of the open string. Now I can keep my first finger down and place my pinky on the lower string in the correct position for a much smoother scale.

Another thing I have started to improve is placing my left-hand fingers in a bent position that doesn’t touch the other strings, especially on the G-string. This has enabled me to have an easier time playing double stops.

All in all, my left-hand feels much more relaxed and in control. It’s a great compliment to Bow Like a Pro because it really tackles all the left-hand technique issues for the whole package.

I can’t wait to get to the next modules and I am super excited to learn how to play Paganini’s 24th caprice. What an accomplishment that will be!

Blessings,

Jenn Reynolds (USA)

after just 6 weeks in Paganini's Secret

Learn more about Paganini's Secret

Sheet music download 107 Beautiful Intermediate Violin Concertos

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

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Here’s your free sheet music download for 107 intermediate violin concertos

Let’s start with my five favorites:

Küchler op 15 Concertino in the style of Vivaldi

Vivaldi RV310 Concert in G Major

Rieding op 21 Concertino in Hungarian style

Seitz Op 15 Student concerto nr 4

Accolay Concerto in a minor

See below for much more. 

Happy practicing!

38 Student violin concertos in the 1st position

Click on the links below to download the free violin sheet music:

34 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 3rd position

Click on the links below to download the free violin sheet music:

10 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 5th position

Click on the links below to download the free violin sheet music:

25 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 7th position

Click on the links below to download the free violin sheet music:

107 Beautiful Intermediate Violin Concertos (plus free sheet music!)

Are you an intermediate violinist looking for some great pieces to play?

Download the FREE violin sheet music of 107 (!) student concertos

(scroll down to see the full list)

Student violin concertos and concertinos are not only beautiful pieces to play as an intermediate violinist, but they also improve your violin technique: intonation, fast runs and bowing. In that way they prepare you to play famous violin concertos like Bruch, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

Let’s start with my top 5 as a violin teacher

These are the 5 violin concertos I recommend most to my violin students. The sequence is more in terms of difficulty level (easy to harder). I’ll leave the ordering in terms of beauty to your personal taste :).

#1: Küchler op 15 Concertino in the style of Vivaldi

A good preparation for your first Vivaldi concerto!

With the terraced dynamics, typical for the baroque era, and the fast runs, you get some good practice to quickly move to your first ‘real’ Vivaldi concert.

You might be wondering what on earth are terraced dynamics? It’s playing forte and piano without smooth transitions. Really exaggerate: you always have the idea that you’re doing more than your audience actually hears.

In the first movement there is plenty of third position practice, fast runs and string crossings. Your left hand technique as well as your bow technique are up to a challenge :).

After a mini second movement where you can catch some breath, we’re moving to the 3/8 rhythm of the third movement. Here you can practice some more fast runs, spiccato and in the last bit some fast string crossings.

Now why are some pieces called concertino and others concerto?

A violin concerto consists of three movements: the first movement, usually a slower second movement and a fast finale. A concertino is a student piece made to prepare you for more advanced concertos. They are shorter, more like one concert piece, and don’t have three full movements. Like this Küchler concertino they do have three segments with the musical message of the traditional three movements.

Can’t wait to play this piece? Download the free violin sheet music right here for Küchler op 15 Concertino in the style of Vivaldi or get my full FREE sheet music collection of 107 intermediate violin concertos right here.

The first step to prepare to play this piece is to listen to the recording a couple of times:

Wow! This violin teacher shares the free violin sheet music of 107 student violin concertos. Check it out: #learnviolin #violinist #violin Share on X

#2: Vivaldi RV310 Concert in G Major

Now here’s the first Vivaldi concerto I promised. Very fun to play a ‘real’ concerto by one of the biggest composers. At the same time it’s way easier than for example the four seasons.

You’ll quickly notice that if you’ve studied the Küchler concertino above, it will be really doable to study this Vivaldi concerto.

Click here to download the sheet music for Vivaldi RV310 Concert in G Major or get my full FREE sheet music collection of 107 intermediate violin concertos right here.

Besides this one, you could consider studying Vivaldi’s concerto in A minor RV 356. You can also start Vivaldi’s concerto for two violins if you have someone to play together with.

#3: Rieding op 21 Concertino in Hungarian style

My students LOVE this piece. It’s a classical concertino, but it has the gypsy sound that reminds you of Vittorio Monti’s Czardas.

It’s great to study position shifting (only first and third) and work with rhythmical patterns that are very different from the pieces mentioned above.

Click here to download the sheet music with my fingering and bowing notes for Rieding op 21 Concertino in Hungarian style or get my full FREE sheet music collection of 107 intermediate violin concertos right here.

Click here to join my free 40 lesson violin beginner course for extensive tutorial videos on this piece.

#4: Seitz Op 15 Student concerto nr 4

Seitz has composed a lot of student concertos and I can recommend them all. They have beautiful melodies and lots of opportunities to develop your violin technique and learn new stuff. Also… good spiccato practice!

Fun thing is that they sound a LOT more difficult than they are, so you can really impress your audience with them. For example in this piece the harmonics, double stops and left hand pizzicato’s are fairly easy, but give you virtuoso sound.

Enjoy the beautiful romantic melodies and this piece and a completely different style than the pieces above.

Mind that this concerto is quite a bit more difficult than the pieces above, so make sure you can play them easily before you study this one.

Click here to download the sheet music for Seitz Op 15 Student concerto nr 4 or get my full FREE sheet music collection of 107 intermediate violin concertos right here.

Hi! I'm Zlata

Classical violinist helping you overcome technical struggles and play with feeling by improving your bow technique.

READ MORE

#5: Accolay Concerto in a minor

When you can play the fifth position as well, this concerto is a great challenge for you. Just as the Seitz concertos it already gives you a bit of the feel and sound of the romantic violin concertos.

Funny thing is that it’s called a concerto although there’s just one movement. This makes it not too long and a little more doable for you.

Click here to download the sheet music for Accolay Concerto in a minor or get my full FREE sheet music collection of 107 intermediate violin concertos right here.

Let me know in the comments below which of these pieces you’re going to study first!

38 Student violin concertos in the 1st position

Click here to download the FREE violin sheet music for ALL violin concertos below.

  • Beer, Op.47
  • Beer, Op.81
  • Brown, Op.10
  • Brown, Op.11
  • Brown, Op.13
  • Essek, Op.4
  • Huber, Op.7
  • Huber, Op.8
  • Huber, Op.11
  • Huber, Op.30 (2 vln)
  • Huber, Op.36
  • Járdányi
  • Jockisch, Op.6
  • Küchler, Op.11
  • Küchler, Op.14
  • Mendelssohn, L., Op.213
  • Millies, Style of Mozart
  • Mokrý, in G major
  • Portnoff, Op.9
  • Portnoff, Op.13
  • Portnoff, Op.18
  • Rago
  • Rieding, Op.34
  • Rieding, Op.35
  • Rieding, Op.36
  • Röntgen, Op.85
  • Röntgen, Op.88
  • Sartorio, in C major
  • Sartorio, in F major
  • Schmidt, Op.54
  • Seitz, Op.13
  • Seitz, Op.22
  • Sitt, Op.93
  • Söchting, Op.95 (2 vln)
  • Söchting, Op.138 No.1
  • Szerémi, Op.63
  • Veit, Op.25 (open strings)
  • Yanshinov, Op.35

34 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 3rd position

Click here to download the FREE violin sheet music for ALL violin concertos below.

  • Althaus, Op.72
  • Bohm, Op.377
  • Coerne, Op.63
  • Dessau, Op.60
  • Hofmann (R.), Op.128 No.2
  • Hollaender, Op.62
  • Huber, Op.5
  • Huber, Op.6
  • Jansa, Op.54
  • Küchler, Op.12
  • Küchler, Op.15 Style of Vivaldi
  • Perry
  • Portnoff, Op.1
  • Portnoff, Op.14
  • Portnoff, Op.86
  • Rieding, Op.21 Hungarian
  • Röntgen, Op.87
  • Rowley, Miniature Suite
  • Saenger, Op.83
  • Schatz, Op.23
  • Schatz, Op.26
  • Schmidt, Op.52
  • Schmidt, Op.55
  • Seitz, Op.15
  • Seybold, Op.96
  • Seybold, Op.112
  • Sitt, Op.31
  • Sitt, Op.108
  • Sitt, Op.133 (2 vln)
  • Söchting, Op.138 No.3
  • Szerémi, Op.64
  • Vivaldi RV310 Concert in G Major
  • Vivaldi RV356 Concert in A minor
  • Wiltberger, Op.75

10 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 5th position

Click here to download the FREE violin sheet music for ALL violin concertos below.

  • Accolay, No.1 in A minor
  • Hofmann (R.), Op.128 No.3
  • Portnoff, Op.8
  • Portnoff, Op.80
  • Rieding, Op.5
  • Rieding, Op.24
  • Rieding, Op.25
  • Seitz, Op.12
  • Sitt, Op.70
  • Sitt, Op.110

25 Student violin concertos in the 1st to 7th position

Click here to download the FREE violin sheet music for ALL violin concertos below.

  • Accolay, No.2 in D minor
  • Accolay, No.3 in E minor
  • Althaus, Op.90
  • Althaus, Op.104
  • Carse, in D minor
  • Drdla, Op.225
  • Millies, Style of Haydn
  • Moffat, in A minor
  • Muldermans No.1
  • Muldermans No.2
  • Muldermans No.3
  • Muldermans No.5
  • Naef, Op.1
  • Rieding, Op.7
  • Seitz, Op.7
  • Seitz, Op.25
  • Seitz, Op.50
  • Seitz, Op.51
  • Seybold, Op.121
  • Shebalin, Op.14 No.1
  • Sitt, Op.28
  • Sitt, Op.46
  • Sitt, Op.65
  • Szerémi, Op.65
  • Venzl, Op.112