Violin Tremolo: What is it and how do I do it?

You may have come across the word “tremolo” in your violin studies (or late-night googling) 😂. But what is tremolo exactly?
Tremolo is the unmeasured, rapid alteration between notes. Unmeasured means that the player is free to go at their own pace, rather than playing steady notes with the beat or trying to play at the same time as others.

There are two types of tremolo: bowed tremolo and fingered tremolo.

Bowed tremolo is notated by three slashes above or below the note, as seen below.

To perform bowed tremolo, place your bow at the tip, and move your bow in small, quick bow strokes. Try to primarily use the hand and fingers to move the bow rather than the whole arm to prevent fatigue. Bowed tremolo can also be performed in the middle of the bow and with more bow when notated in louder passages.

In fingered tremolo, players move the bow freely and alternate between two written notes as fast as possible with the left hand. The graphic below represents fingered tremolo notation.

Tremolo is most often used as an effect, primarily in orchestral repertoire; however, it does occur in some solo pieces.

Check out the video below for a demonstration of tremolo.