Violin fingering charts

These first-position charts show the notes on G, D, A and E, plus one-octave scales in G, D and A major. Print the PDF for your music stand or download a chart below.

How to read the charts

0 means an open string. Fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are your index, middle, ring and little finger. The nut is at the top of each diagram; moving toward the bridge raises the pitch. Adjacent horizontal rows represent one semitone, not equal physical distances. A low finger moves toward the nut; a high finger moves toward the bridge.

Notes include octave numbers: open strings are G3, D4, A4 and E5. A # means sharp. The equivalent flat name can refer to the same equal-tempered pitch: A# is Bb, C# is Db, D# is Eb, F# is Gb and G# is Ab. The score’s key and spelling determine which name to use.

Finger spacing gets smaller as you move up the string. The diagrams aren’t drawn to scale, so don’t use them to measure fingerboard tape.

Start with tuned open strings

New to note names? Read the violin notes guide for open strings on the staff and a first-position reference.

Use our violin tuner to check G, D, A and E before practicing. This tuner checks open strings. For fingered notes, use a chromatic tuner or ask your teacher to check your intonation.

G string: first-position notes

G3 is the lowest open string. Fingers 1, 2 and 3 give A3, B3 and C4. Finger 4 plays D4, the same note as the open D string. A low second finger gives A#3, also written Bb3.

Download this chart (SVG)

G string: first-position notes: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
G	0	G3
G	low 1	G#3
G	1	A3
G	low 2	A#3
G	2	B3
G	3	C4
G	high 3	C#4
G	4	D4

D string: first-position notes

On the D string, finger 1 plays E4. A low second finger gives F4; the usual second-finger position gives F#4. Finger 3 plays G4, and finger 4 plays A4, matching the open A string.

Download this chart (SVG)

D string: first-position notes: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
D	0	D4
D	low 1	D#4
D	1	E4
D	low 2	F4
D	2	F#4
D	3	G4
D	high 3	G#4
D	4	A4

A string: first-position notes

Start with open A4. Finger 1 plays B4. Move finger 2 closer to finger 1 for C5, or leave a whole step for C#5. Finger 3 plays D5; finger 4 plays E5, matching the open E string.

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A string: first-position notes: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
A	0	A4
A	low 1	A#4
A	1	B4
A	low 2	C5
A	2	C#5
A	3	D5
A	high 3	D#5
A	4	E5

E string: first-position notes

On the E string, a low first finger gives F5 and the usual first-finger position gives F#5. Finger 2 plays G#5, or G5 when lowered. Finger 3 gives A5 and finger 4 gives B5.

Download this chart (SVG)

E string: first-position notes: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
E	0	E5
E	low 1	F5
E	1	F#5
E	low 2	G5
E	2	G#5
E	3	A5
E	high 3	A#5
E	4	B5

G major: one-octave practice

Play G3, A3, B3, C4, D4, then E4, F#4, G4. Use fingers 0-1-2-3-4 on the G string, then 1-2-3 on the D string. Play the scale back down slowly.

Download this chart (SVG)

G major: one-octave practice: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
G	0	G3
G	1	A3
G	2	B3
G	3	C4
G	4	D4
D	0	D4
D	1	E4
D	2	F#4
D	3	G4

D major: one-octave practice

Play D4, E4, F#4, G4, A4, then B4, C#5, D5. Use fingers 0-1-2-3-4 on the D string, then 1-2-3 on the A string. Play the scale back down slowly.

Download this chart (SVG)

D major: one-octave practice: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
D	0	D4
D	1	E4
D	2	F#4
D	3	G4
D	4	A4
A	0	A4
A	1	B4
A	2	C#5
A	3	D5

A major: one-octave practice

Play A4, B4, C#5, D5, E5, then F#5, G#5, A5. Use fingers 0-1-2-3-4 on the A string, then 1-2-3 on the E string. Play the scale back down slowly.

Download this chart (SVG)

A major: one-octave practice: notes and fingers

String	Finger	Note
A	0	A4
A	1	B4
A	2	C#5
A	3	D5
A	4	E5
E	0	E5
E	1	F#5
E	2	G#5
E	3	A5