10 Easy Violin Songs Everyone Should Know

1. Hot Cross Buns
   This song is a perfect beginner tune because it is played all on one string and only uses 2 fingers. You can also practice this tune on any string to get used to the different elbow levels.

2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
   This song is a bit more challenging than Hot Cross Buns because you must use 3 fingers and cross strings. This tune can be played on A and E strings, D and A strings, or G and D strings.

3. Ode to Joy
   This tune also must be played on 2 strings and incorporates some dotted rhythms. Additionally, I recommend using the 4th finger rather than the open strings where possible to prevent string crossings. Ode to Joy is most commonly played on the D and G strings.

4. Mary Had a Little Lamb
   If you choose to use the fourth finger then this song can be played all on one string. If not using the fourth finger, you must cross strings during the song. This song can also be played on any combination of adjacent strings (A and E, D and A, G and D).

5. Joy to the World
   You didn’t think I’d forget about Christmas tunes, did you?! This tune is played on 2 strings using the high second finger (just like all of the other previously mentioned tunes). However, it does go a bit faster than the others and you might consider adding slurs to help make the dotted rhythms sound smoother.

6. Silent Night
   This tune is full of dotted rhythms! I also recommend adding slurs during these dotted rhythms to help the song sound smoother. Additionally, the end of the song requires the use of the low 2nd finger.

7. Amazing Grace
   This song is a bit further down on the list because you must quickly change strings often throughout this piece. I also recommend adding slurs on the faster notes to help the song sound smoother.

8. Happy Birthday
   This song incorporates low 2nd fingers and dotted rhythms. If you’re familiar with low 2nd fingers, I encourage you to try to figure this tune out by ear! Happy Birthday is most commonly played starting on the D string, but you can also perform the tune starting on the A string.

9. Somewhere over the rainbow
   This song requires the use of the high 3rd finger.

10. Vivadi’s Spring
    I know what you might be thinking. “Isn’t this a really advanced piece?!” Yes, the original version of this piece is advanced, but there are many beginner versions available, like the one in the linked tutorial. The most challenging things in this version will be the high 3rd finger and fast speed.

Did I miss anything!? Leave a comment and let me know!