Violin Fingering Chart — First Position Notes on All Four Strings

Last Updated on July 15, 2026 by folkstrings

This fingering chart covers all four violin strings in first position — the starting point for every beginner and the position used in the majority of beginner violin repertoire. Use the toggle to switch between the two main second-finger configurations. Click any note position to see the note name, finger number and which musical contexts it appears in.

How to Read This Violin Fingering Chart

The violin has no frets. Finger placement is not fixed by a physical marker the way it is on a guitar or mandolin — it depends entirely on where you place your finger and whether you are playing in tune. This is what makes the violin more challenging than most other stringed instruments at the start, and why ear training and a tuner are both essential tools from the beginning.

Finger numbers: 0 means open string, no finger on the string at all. 1 is the index finger, 2 is the middle finger, 3 is the ring finger and 4 is the little finger (pinky). These numbers are universal in violin notation.

High 2 vs Low 2 — The Most Important Variable in First Position

The 2nd finger is the most variable position in first position violin playing. It can sit in two places depending on the key you are playing in:

High 2 places the 2nd finger a whole step above the 1st finger. This gives you the sharped version of the note — B on the G string, F♯ on the D string, C♯ on the A string, G♯ on the E string. Used in D major, A major and other sharp key signatures.

Low 2 places the 2nd finger only a half step above the 1st finger, so it sits very close to the 1st finger. This gives you the natural version of the note — B♭ on the G string, F on the D string, C on the A string, G on the E string. Used in G major, C major and minor key signatures.

The 3rd finger and 4th finger positions do not change between the two configurations. They are fixed at the perfect 4th and perfect 5th above the open string respectively.

Why First Position?

First position is where the left hand naturally sits at the top of the fingerboard, close to the scroll. It is the starting position for all beginners and covers roughly two octaves of notes across the four strings. Most beginner pieces, scales and exercises are written in first position. Shifting to higher positions (second, third and beyond) is learned gradually as technique develops.

Many beginners use coloured finger tapes on the fingerboard to mark the standard high-2 positions. These are training aids and most teachers eventually ask students to remove them as they develop their ear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is first position on violin?

First position is the default hand placement closest to the scroll (top of the violin). Your first finger sits one whole step above the open string. All four fingers cover the notes within a span of roughly a perfect fifth on each string. Most beginner violin music is written in first position.

Why are there two positions for the 2nd finger?

The 2nd finger can sit high (whole step from the 1st) or low (half step from the 1st) because different scales and keys require different pitches at that position. High 2 gives you a sharp or natural note depending on the string; low 2 gives you a flat or lowered version. You will often shift between the two within a single piece depending on the key signature and accidentals.

Do I need tapes on my violin fingerboard?

Finger tapes are common for beginners and help with initial note placement. Most teachers use them at the start and gradually remove them as the student develops their ear and muscle memory. Tapes are placed at the standard high-2 positions. If your teacher uses a different method book or plays in a lot of flat keys, the tape positions may be placed for low-2 instead.

What is the range of first position on violin?

First position covers the notes from G3 (open G string) up to B5 (4th finger on E string). This gives you just over two octaves of notes. Within first position you can access all twelve chromatic pitches by adjusting individual finger placements up or down a half step from their standard locations.

Is violin harder to tune than other stringed instruments?

Violin intonation is harder to learn than fretted instruments because there are no physical guides for finger placement. The same note can be played slightly sharp or flat depending on finger pressure and position. This is why tuning by ear is a core skill from the very beginning of violin study. Many beginners use a tuner or a drone note during practice to check their intonation until muscle memory develops.

Author Profile

Daniel Johnstone

Daniel Johnstone — Dániel to his friends back in Miskolc — is a Hungarian folk musician and writer who has been playing stringed instruments for over twenty years. Growing up in northeastern Hungary with a family steeped in folk music, he developed an early obsession with Celtic and Appalachian styles that eventually brought him to the UK. He worked his way through tenor banjo, 5-string banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, harp and kalimba — most of them acquired through trial, error and more money than he'd like to admit. He founded Folkstrings.com to cut through the noise: practical, experience-based guides to instruments, strings, gear and accessories for folk players at every level.

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