Proper Positioning of Fingers on the Violin Fingerboard: An Essential Guide

If you are not working with a teacher I recommend consulting the book by Ivan Galamian, Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching. This book, written by one of the most outstanding violin teachers of the 20th century, dedicates an entire chapter to your specific question. Although the book was out of print for a while, it has now been re-issued in a budget-friendly format by Dover. I highly recommend it, even if you have a teacher, as not all violin teachers are equally insightful.

Why You Need a Teacher

It is logistically challenging and beyond the scope of this text to provide detailed guidance on how to hold your hand, space your fingers, and find the notes on the fingerboard. The nuances and subtleties of finger placement, especially when it comes to vibrato, require the guidance of a professional teacher.

General Guidelines for Fingering

Even though you will need a teacher for precise guidance, you can still understand the basic principles of fingering. Most methods begin with first position. This is akin to the "Home Keys" in touch typing. You place your fingers here by default and then adjust for accidentals and intonation.

First position is based on a simple interval pattern: the distance from the nut to the first finger is a whole step, another whole step to the second finger, a half step to the third finger, and finally a whole step to the fourth finger. This interval pattern facilitates the playing of a major scale starting from any open string, making it easy to hear and remember.

You can then walk this pattern up, keeping the same intervals but shifting where the first finger started. This leads to second, third, and fourth positions. Some schools start from third position because the curve of the violin’s body can help locate your fingers in first position as a crutch.

Additional Tips for Fingering Technique

Several general tips apply to proper fingering on the violin:

Curved Fingers: The tips of your fingers should come nearly straight down on to the strings, and your hand should be turned so that the knuckles line up along the strings. However, the most important thing is to get the meat of your hand off the neck to allow only your fingers and thumb to make contact, essential for arm vibrato. Hand Position: The hand should not be collapsed, meaning it should not be folded over under the violin. Ideally, the knuckles line up along the strings, and the hand should not line up with the arm. No Grip: The violin is not a guitar, and you aren't gripping it with your fingers. Instead, you are holding it on your shoulder and stabilizing it with your chin and the hand gently balancing it to counteract the tendency to swivel.

Important Considerations

Please remember that you aren't gripping the violin; and it will feel strange at first, leading to tension and even pain. If it hurts, stop. Attempting to force the placement of your fingers can result in permanent injury.

In contrast to the bowing hand, the finger placement is simpler to learn but still requires guidance from a teacher. Positioning your fingers correctly on the fingerboard can significantly improve your overall technique and prevent injuries.