Best Violin Books for Beginners: The Essentials to Learn the Basics

More than talent, experts say that determination and the right knowledge are the essentials for learning how to play the violin. The right teacher and the best violin books for beginners will get you started in the right direction. Discipline, persistence, and drive in picking up the right skills would take you far. Also you need to choose the best violin as a beginner.

Is the violin the hardest instrument to learn?

You might be worried about the difficulty level of learning the violin if you’re not well-versed with it but your child is showing interest in the instrument. It’s said that the violin is indeed one of the most challenging string instruments there is. The finger placements, posture, bowing techniques, and reading notes all need to be mastered if you wish to master the instruments.However, again, as mentioned above, with the right teacher and beginner violin books, you can learn the basics. Combined with practice and a knack for music, then a beginner should be able to learn how to play.

What does books teach you as a beginner violinist?

Picking up the right violin for beginners book will give you a reference guide when learning the basics of playing the said string instrument. Here are a few things you can expect to learn the following essential elements of violin-playing with its help:Finger placement through fingering charts and scalesProper posture tipsWarm-up exercisesIntroduction to musical notationOther violin techniques

Best Violin Books for Beginners: Must-Have List for Beginners and Advanced Violinists

Which title should you get your budding violinist? Here is the essential list of violin books for beginners that you should consider getting:

​In a hurry? Check the Best Violin Books for Beginners from Amazon.

Product Name		Rating & Highlighted Features		Price
Hal Leonard Essential Elements for Strings – Book 1 with EEi: Violin by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, and Pamela Tellejohn Hayes		Contains familiar songs that are great for practice.
Violin For Dummies, Book + Online Video & Audio Instruction by Katharine Rapoport		Can help those who want to learn on their own.
The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner: Violin by Janice Tucker Rhoda		Suitable for beginners of any age.
Learning the Violin, Book One: Expanded Edition by Cassia Harvey		Simple and friendly way of providing information and instruction.
Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part, Volume 1 by Shinichi Suzuki		Very useful for instructors.
Introducing the Positions for Violin: Volume 1 – Third and Fifth Position by Harvey S. Whistler		Thorough and comprehensive style of instruction.
String Builder Violin Book One (Belwin Course for Strings) by Samuel Applebaum		Will not overwhelm users with new terms and definitions.
The Ultimate Songbook for Beginner Violinists: 50+ Easy Violin Arrangements with Violin Tabs by Julia Termeer		Very friendly style of instruction.
All For Strings Theory Book 1: Violin by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson		Very friendly style of instruction.
Easy Pop Melodies: for Violin by the Hal Leonard Corp.		Wide selection of songs in various difficulty level.

​Hal Leonard Essential Elements for Strings – Book 1 with EEi: Violin by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, and Pamela Tellejohn Hayes

The Hal Leonard Essential Elements for Strings – Book 1 with EEi is a beginner violin book crafted for sound pedagogy and practice. It’s filled with the basic information a budding violinist will need, especially while they learn the ropes and try to improve their skills through practice.Designed to be a companion book to in-class learning, this title can be used by beginners and advanced violinists who are looking into instructing those who wish to learn. It’s packed with materials that can be useful for mastering violin playing.

Made for classroom setting so those who are planning to use this book for self-             learning

Interactive access requires class information.

Violin For Dummies, Book + Online Video & Audio Instruction by Katharine Rapoport

A good number of people that look for the best violin books for beginners intend to use the books themselves. This is why there’s also a great need for violin books that are very basic and can be used for self-learning. Violin for Dummies is one example of such options.As its name suggests, this book is a part of the Dummies series of books so if their style of instruction works for you, this violin beginner book might give you the instruction you need to learn how to play the violin. It covers all of the basics so you can still learn a good deal even without a violin teacher.

Method Features:

• Basics on reading and playing music
• Finger placement and bowing technique
• Exercises
• Tips on playing different genres
• Tips on finding a good violin teacher to help you move forward in the learning               process

Pros:

• Can help those who want to learn on their own, without the help of a professional        instructor.
• Uses the same non-intimidating teaching techniques as other ‘for Dummies’ books.
• Can be useful for beginners who are older.
• Gives tips on choosing and caring for violins.
• Very comprehensive.

Cons:

• Contains jokes and puns that might distract some folks from the task at hand.
•  Material organization can be improved.

The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner: Violin by Janice Tucker Rhoda

The ABCs of Violin for the Absolute Beginner is pretty much a classic and an institution when it comes to violin books. It was released in 1998 but continues to be a top pick for beginner violinists due to its coverage and way of presenting information in a way that’s very easy to understand.This pick is also a good choice for those who are looking for a violin book for beginners with free downloads. Most new titles provide access to online content nowadays but some might prefer not having to connect to the internet for the extras every so often. This book comes with MP3 files of violin pieces with piano accompaniment and pieces of piano accompaniments only for play-along. You’ll also get a printable PDF file of the piano accompaniments which can further help with practice.

Method Features:

• Instructions for learning the basics of violin playing.
• Provides warm-up exercises and study pieces that are also suitable for advanced           violinists.
• Illustrations of finger placements.
• Discusses instructions on scales and simple duets.
• Provides note-reading worksheets and free MP3 downloads for play-along practice.

Pros:

• Comes with free MP3 and PDF sheet music downloads for convenient self-learning       and practicing.
• Suitable for beginners of any age.
• Sample pieces are played by concert violinist Emil Altschuler.
• Useful for self-teaching.

Cons:

• Requires a bit of basic knowledge on music theory.
• A bit pricey.

Learning the Violin, Book One: Expanded Edition by Cassia Harvey

Another book that is good for absolute beginners of all ages is the Learning the Violin by Cassia Harvey. This instructional title is presented in a very friendly manner with simplified instructions so everyone who has never picked up a violin before can learn the basics without feeling intimidated.

A notable feature of this title is its large print. This makes it easier to see, especially when you’re already trying playing and the book is on a stand. It’s also a lot less intimidating for young users.

Method Features:

• Provides a fingering chart and note-reading instructions.
• Large print text makes its contents easy to see.
• Step-by-step method of instruction.
• Starts with open string letters and finger numbers.
• A part of a string class series of books.

Pros:

• Has a very simple and friendly way of providing information and instruction.
• Suitable for young and old beginners but are written for young users who struggle       with note-reading.
• Large print makes it easy to see even from a distance.
• Good for those who are teaching themselves how to play the violin.

Cons:

• Some might feel like they need an instructor along with the use of this book.

Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part, Volume 1 by Shinichi Suzuki

The Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part, Volume 1 is one of the earliest instructional books for teaching young children how to play the violin. It’s based on the Suzuki method which has a philosophy that learning music is like learning language: done by ear. This is why the process used in this book is different from other titles on this list.

Those with initial knowledge on music and string instruments tend to find this book easier to work with than those who are complete beginners. However, with the help of a music teacher that uses the Suzuki method, this book will prove to be very useful.

Method Features:

• Provides instruction in the Suzuki Method of Talent Education.
• Provides musical notation and fingerboard position guides.
• Glossary of terms in French, German, English, and Spanish.
• Includes several exercises.

Pros:

• Uses the Suzuki method in providing instruction to learners.
• Designed to build on the skills of a budding violinist.
• Very useful for instructors and those with teachers who are using the Suzuki                 method.
• Provides visual instructions.

Cons:

• Can be quite complex for those who are learning on their own.
• Will require basic music knowledge if you intend to use it as a self-learning book.

 

Introducing the Positions for Violin: Volume 1 – Third and Fifth Position by Harvey S. Whistler

This book is not a suitable choice for your very first violin instruction book but it’s a great choice for those who want to take their skills to the next level. This will teach you how to play in the third and fifth positions, allowing you to extend your range, be more confident in playing the violin, and transition towards becoming an intermediate player.

Features:

• Provides crucial instructions on playing the third and fifth positions.
• Provides basic exercises for users to learn scales in the third and fifth positions.

Pros:

• Thorough and comprehensive style of instruction.
• Useful for those who are learning on their own.
• Extremely affordable price tag.
• Helps develop good technique.
• Useful as a teaching resource.

Cons:

• Some feel like it needs more structure and flexibility in its teaching style but others     like it the way it is.
• The print is quite small and can be difficult to read.
• Lack of instructions on shifting.

String Builder Violin Book One (Belwin Course for Strings) by Samuel Applebaum

A no nonsense pick for learning how to play the violin and read notes is Samuel Applebaum’s String Builder Violin Book One. This string class method title is realistically graded and doesn’t require a lot of explanatory materials so it can be a good choice for those who are both beginners and those with some background in music.

This book is also written for children who are learning to read notes but it’s technique weaves the definitions with the instructions so it’s not so overwhelming.

Features:

• Contains illustrations and notes on open strings.
• Provides a logical way to learn how to read notes.
• Teaches a good technique for the left hand and bow arm.
• Features a string class method.
• Contains about 170 exercises.

Pros:

• Will not overwhelm users with new terms and definitions.
• Has a good sequence of instructions.
• Also suitable for those who are teaching themselves if they already have initial              knowledge on playing string instruments.
• Highly recommended by beginners and experts alike.

Cons:

• Can be very straightforward and unexciting.

The Ultimate Songbook for Beginner Violinists: 50+ Easy Violin Arrangements with Violin Tabs by Julia Termeer

Despite its title, this book can also be classified as a beginners violin book. It’s primarily a song book with violin tabs but it also has instructions on how to play the violin. It uses a different approach from the others on the list as it doesn’t focus on teaching you to sight read but instructs you how to start playing your violin right away.

Features:

• Demonstrates finger placement through illustrations.
• Contains violin tabs for 51 songs.
• Indicates song difficulty ratings to help pace users.
• Uses a technique that will help speed up the learning process.

Pros:

• Will allow budding violinists to play different songs even without mastering sight         reading yet.
• Very friendly style of instruction.
• Good selection of songs.
• Made specifically for adult beginners.
• Helps build confidence among beginners.
• Available for free for the Kindle format.

Cons:

• Doesn’t cover all of the basics of violin playing.

All For Strings Theory Book 1: Violin by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson

All for Strings Theory Book 1: Violin is exactly as its name suggests. It talks all about the violin, from the structure and composition of the musical instrument itself to the basics of how it’s played. This makes it one of the ultimate best books to learn the violin with as it covers a lot of material that lots of learners will find useful.

Features:

• Discusses the system of scales.
• Provides instruction on finger positioning and proper bow hold.
• Discusses the basics of the violin as a musical instrument.
• Includes basic and rhythm exercises.

Pros:

• Suitable for learners of all ages.
• Not overwhelming for users of any skill level.
• Contains a wide range of songs, some are simplified classical music.

Cons:

• Some exercises require more advanced learning.

Easy Pop Melodies: for Violin by the Hal Leonard Corp.

After learning about the best violin books for beginners, you might also want to get something that will help you play fun pop songs that can make the whole process more fun and enjoyable. The Easy Pop Melodies for Violin can do the trick as it offers 50 arrangements of pop songs. These include some popular titles like ‘All My Loving’, ‘Every Breath You Take’, ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, ‘Unchained Melody’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘My Heart will Go On’, and more.

Playing familiar tunes can be a great way to improve one’s skills with the violin as you will already know the timing and the general sound of the songs you’re going to play so you can also easily tell if you made a mistake. These promise great practice pieces for those who already have some skills with the said instrument.

Features:

• Contains arrangements in accessible keys and ranges for 50 pop songs.

Pros:

• Suitable for beginners and those who are relearning how to play the violin.
• Will help boost your confidence and perfect your sight reading skills.
• Wide selection of songs in various difficulty levels.

Cons:

• Younger players find the song selection to be quite old.

Getting Started with the Violin

If you’re thinking of getting your child started in playing violin, there are a few things you should consider. We’ve rounded up a number of considerations, including more information on the best violin books for beginners below.

What is the Ideal Age for a Child to Learn the Violin?

According t  o experts, children aged three can already start playing the violin. With the right teacher, a scaled-down instrument, and the use of the Suzuki method, doing this is possible. However, some kids are just too young and small at this age so starting them from four to seven years old can also be done without any problems.

Take into consideration the child’s interest in the violin, attention span, and patience. If your little one doesn’t exhibit a certain level of maturity yet, delaying the start of their violin lessons might be ideal.

Of course, adults can also learn how to play the violin. The learning process will greatly differ from a young student from a matured one, however, as their knowledge in music theory and skill levels in playing string instruments tend to vary. The same things are still required, though: the determination to practice and the right information to learn how to play.

Why Use Books to Learn the Ropes in Playing the Violin?

Using books in learning how to play the violin will allow you to get written instructions that you can come back to as you try to hone and refine your skills. As this musical instrument requires constant practice to master, being able to go through the instructions and notes will come in handy for learners. Books are the best references for such instances, so they can prove to be indispensable on your learning process.

Is it easy to read through violin books?

It depends on the book and your learning style. This is why it’s crucial to find the best violin books for beginners that will suit the way you pick up instructions and techniques. Some books might prove to be too complex while others might be very useful for you depending on its instruction method.

Is it enough to use books to learn how to play the violin?

In most cases, no. Some areas of playing the violin require visual instructions like the finger positioning. Not all books get to demonstrate and illustrate this effectively, so additional resources for learning are required.

Some folks are also not cut out for learning with just words. If you’re a visual and auditory learner, you might also have a hard time learning from just books.

How Do You Choose the Best Violin Books for You?

For absolute beginners, choosing the best violin books can be quite a great challenge as you might not know where to start looking. This list can be a great reference but as there are no guarantees that all titles will work well for you, you should also make sure to make additional research. Read reviews so you can be sure that you’ll learn something from the book you’ll get.

What kind of violin book should you get?

Look for beginning violin books that suit your knowledge and skill level, for starters. If you want to learn on your own, go for something that other self-learners recommend. If you’re taking violin lessons, go for your instructor’s recommendation as they will most likely use the same title for reference. You can also get song books if you want to practice songs that you know while you hone your skills on the violin.

Where Can You Buy the Best Violin Books?

There are lots of great places to buy the best violin books. You can get them both online and offline from bookstores and retailers that sell music-related products.

Conclusion

As our list above proves, there are lots of great options to choose from so you don’t have to worry about the best violin books for beginners. The challenge is in finding which one will work for you best and which one you’ll enjoy the most. As learning how to play this musical instrument can be a challenge, you might want to make the process a lot more fun with the help of an instructional book that will make things less strenuous and stressful.