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How To Play THE VIOLIN - fingering

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Making Notes with the Fingers

After you are familiar with playing the open strings, the next
step is to learn how to make notes by putting your left-hand
fingers on the strings.

Here we come to two other special terms used in violin play-
ing—whole steps and half steps. These refer to the distances
between your fingers when they are placed on the strings to
make notes.

For whole steps the fingers are placed a little distance apart,
usually about three-quarters of an inch.

For half steps the fingers are placed close together.

Probably the most important point about how to hold your
left-hand fingers is to keep them arched when they are press-
ing down on the strings. Curve them nicely. Never let them
buckle in.

The First and Second Fingers

First learn to play the notes that you make with your first
and second fingers. You make notes with these fingers on all
four strings.

Begin with the E string, which is shown in Fig. 66. Curve
your first finger and put it on the E string, close to the nut.
Draw your bow across the string and you will hear the tone F,
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