How to play with the bow and reading the music notes

In step 4 you learn how to play with the bow and how to read the notes. You already know the notes of the open strings G, D, A, E.

G        D         A       E

Violin strings in notes

You need to know in what direction you have to move your bow. I will explain you the two directions.

Down bow:

moving the bow from the frog to the tip.

Position of the bow starting down bow

Up bow:

moving the bow from the tip to the frog.

Position of the bow starting with up bow

We usually start with a down bow. There are exceptions but let’s start with the most common bowing. The exercises you see next begins with a down bow. The second note is up bow etc.

Excerise playing all the violin strings low high

Try to only look at the notes and not at the violin. With this exercise you can learn to play the violin blindly. You have to feel it where the strings are. Then you remember it better. After you played, check if your right hand is still in the right position on the bow. If not, make sure it is in the right position again.

Tip! In up bow, your wrist is also going up ( make your wrist round) This is for a better sound because your bow will not go on the fingerboard or too close to the bridge. So don’t push your wrist down in the up bow. For an example look at the next picture.

Position of the wrist in up bow

Play it a lot of times for a better progression. At the end of step 4 you will find a few exercises to practise playing with notes.

Exercises to master the notes

Always listen to your own sound and look if your right hand is still in the right position. I say this a lot of times because it is important you learn it right. It is something you forget because you’re also focusted on the sound you are making on the violin.

Exercise playing G and D string

Exercise playing D and A string

Exercise playing A and E string

Something to think about when you are done playing an exercise: Was your bow going straight on the strings? Is your right hand still in the right position? How did it sound?

Exercise playing all the violin strings ( this is one exercise)

Exercise playing all the violin strings 2( this is one exercise)