“Finger guides” are helpful for musicians who don’t know the names of the notes on their instrument or how it’s organized. Beginners don’t have to be too worried about where their fingers are on the notes – Strings VS frets. The strings on a guitar and violin are much easier to read, so no need for frustration. Below we’ve listed some of the best violin finger guides we know about. They can help you or your student get up to speed quickly.
Top Violin Stickers and Finger Guides
1. Fretless Finger Guide
THe Fretless Finger Guides by the company of the same name (Fretless Finger Guids) can help your new violinist get a firm grip with playing. Our favorite finger guides are easy to put on and take off with no residue left behind. These tape rolls work with your fingers and are so easy to apply that you can use them with no hassle at all. They don’t require you to guess where each note should be the way regular tape does.
2. Violin Finger Guide by FFG NOTE THE DIFFERENCE
This finger guide was actually created and patented by a violin teacher, so you know it will work for beginner violin students. To apply the decal, slide it onto the bridge of a violin and each note will appear in the correct position. You can then run your bow along those notes to play them as they are written. You get a new fingering guide in 30 seconds! Just peel and place, and then you’re ready to go.
3. Don’t Fret FF121 First Fret Beginners Fingering Decal
This fingering decal can be applied as one sheet so it is easy to apply and use. The color coded lines make it easy for students to remember where notes are. Very useful for beginners.
4. 3 Mini Color Violin Fingering Tape
Standard violin finger tape has been around for decades, but the issue is that it can be a bit of a hassle to put on and tends to leave sticky marks from where I don’t press down hard enough.
Goo-Gone! This is a product that is effective at removing sticky substances and works on fabrics, carpets and hard surfaces. If you need it, I highly recommend getting some of this as well. You will need knowledge of violin fingering for accurate application.
5. HOT SEAL Violin Finger Guide
There are several different package sizes available for this Finger Guide so that it fits 1/8 – 4/4 violin sizes. Its also designed with notes in first, second and third position so that you can continue to use as you become more proficient. Instrument maintenance is tough, so your violin should be water-proof, oil-proof, and wear resistant to protect it in your many hours of training.
Why Use Fingerboard Tape
The violin has a longer neck and different kind of frets on the fingerboard, making it more difficult to learn the fingering positions than with other instruments. It all depends on the person, but fingerboard tape is typically used for around the first year of learning.
When you first learn an instrument, the idea is that you’ll practice until your ear and muscle memory are fully trained. Doing so will then make the notes easier to hit once those have been figured out.
The first string of violin tape usually goes a tone after the open string, the second piece follows a tone later and the third tone a semitone after that. The width of a piece of tape is determined by the position of intervals in a major scale.
If that sounds complicated, an instrument called a violin is placed over your finger to play the tune “Do, re, mi, fa so.” You’ll start by playing the open D string.
Advantages of Using Violin Finger Guides
- One piece, reusable clear cling vinyl
- Easy to apply on your right handed violin
- Uses no glue or adhesive
- Leaves no sticky mess on your fingerboard
- Sticks to itself not your instrument
- No need to loosen strings to put it on
- Better than violin stickers or violin finger tapes
- Color coding can help you learn violin songs and scales. Once you know your notes and songs, it will be easier to choose which one matches the current level/arrangement
- Accurately accelerates finger memory
- Does not affect tonal quality or playability
- Takes the mystery out of the fingerboard
Violin Fingerboard Tape Placement – Ultimate Guide for Beginners
When you’re learning to play the violin, there’s a lot to remember. You’ll need to know how to hold a bow, string names, and of course finger positions. It may take time and practice for you to figure out how close or far away from the right note you are on your own without even an instrument in your hands.
Sometimes your bow might not sound and feel full as you imagined so fingerboard tape might help with things. If you’re learning how to play a violin, this extra step will help with finding the right notes on the strings.
Step 1. Make Your Measurements
So, first we need to measure the distance so that you can place your first strip of tape.
The size of the instrument will affect how long you need to measure in order to find the correct distance. For full-sized instruments, the measurement is 35mm (1 3/8 inches) and for 3/4 sized instruments, 32mm (11/16 inches). See the bottom of this page for more information.
You know that in order to alleviate the tension, you need to make sure your violin is not touching the ground (or any other surface). You just place one end of your ruler or tape measure in a good spot, then hold it there for about 30 seconds and measure out a straight line. Make a small mark where your pencil touches the instrument with its tip.
Once you’ve added your pencil markings for the standard sizes, check the measurements and add your violin finger tapes.
Step 2. Place the Tape on the Fingerboard
When you’re taping the guitar strings, make sure you tape them straight across the fingerboard and then it can be hard at times to get it under the string if they are in close proximity. But if you put in some effort, this task will be worth the trouble! And, you can slowly feed it up higher.
Step 3. Check with Tuner
If you have an electric tuner — and it’s probably worth the extra cost if you’re going to use it regularly — now is the right time to start using it! These types of apps (that come with built-in microphones) can assist in telling you when your guitar or other instrument is out of tune.
The easiest way to check is to pluck the string with your finger and listen for the right pitch. If it’s still wrong, move the string slightly. Tuning is more important than a physical sound measure of accuracy.
On the first piece of tape:
- Your G string should flash up as an A.
- The D string should come up as an E.
- Your A string should become a B.
- Your E string should be an F#.
The second piece of tape should go: B, E, C#, G# on the G, D, A and E strings respectively.
The third piece should make the notes: C, F, D, and A.
The fourth should play: D, G, E, and B.
Don’t settle for anything less than perfection! You won’t be able to remember this article without having your fingers typing in the positions.
Violin Tape Placement Measurements for Different Size Violins
To get the positioning of the tape right, you’ll need to know the size of your violin. Adults are likely to start with a full-sized violin, but children often have smaller instruments from 1/8 to 3/4 size.
If you’re not sure how long a violin should be, it’s best to measure it. A whole-sized violin has a body of around 35.6cm while a 3/4 sized one has a 33cm body and so on. Another handy tip is that 1/2 sized instruments are 31cm and 1/4 sized ones are 27.9cm.
Not all izakayas have the same size, but this izakayas location has a lot of custom options:
Full Size Violin (4/4)
Tape 1 – 35mm (1 3/8 inches)
Tape 2 – 66mm (2 5/8 inches)
Tape 3 – 80mm (3 1/8 inches)
Tape 4 – 106mm (4 1/8 inches)
3/4 Violin
Tape 1 – 32mm (1 1/4 inches)
Tape 2 – 61mm (2 3/8 inches)
Tape 3 – 75 mm (2 7/8 inches)
Tape 4 – 100 mm (3 7/8 inches)
1/2 Violin
Tape 1 – 28mm (1 1/8 inches)
Tape 2 – 54mm (2 1/8 inches)
Tape 3 – 68mm (2 5/8 inches)
Tape 4 – 91mm (3 5/8 inches)
1/4 Violin
Tape 1 – 25mm (1 inch)
Tape 2 – 48mm (1 7/8 inches)
Tape 3 – 60mm (2 3/8 inches)
Tape 4 – 79mm (3 1/8 inches)
Conclusion
Tape can provide a great learning tool on the violin, allowing you to focus on the other things you’re learning too: bow technique, string names, note names and fingers. You don’t have to worry so much about that single note either to find later — it’s already marked!
Tape positioning gets a lot of attention, and so it’s important to make sure that you do it right. It helps to avoid bad habits and make good use of your time. When you are applying your pinky, it should sound like “Do, re mi fa so”. Don’t shy away from using that pinky!
When you’re ready, take that tape off the track — you’ll know because the music will sound great!
FAQ for Best Violin Finger Guides
What is a violin finger guide?
The violin finger guide is a technique that helps players learn how to play the violin. It is a way of playing notes on the violin by pressing down on certain points of the instrument.
A string player can use this technique to play different notes in different keys. Some people may also use it to play other instruments like piano or guitar. The finger guide is also known as “the pinkie” in some countries for its shape, which resembles a woman’s hand with long fingers and pointed nails.
What are the benefits of using a violin finger guide?
The violin finger guide is a tool that provides players with a way to learn how to play the violin. It helps them identify the correct fingers to use for notes and also provides them with information on how to properly hold their instrument.
One of the main benefits of using this tool is that it makes it easier for people who are just starting out and have never played before. The guide also helps those who struggle with memorizing notes by providing them with an easy-to-follow map for where each finger should go during different notes.
Do you need experience to use a violin finger?
People who want to use a violin finger can choose from two types of devices – one for adults and one for children. The adult device has sensors that detect pressure and movement, while the child device has sensors that detect sound, light, and vibration.
What are the leading companies in the market for violin finger guides?
In the past, people who struggle to play the violin would have to practice for hours at a time. However, with the invention of violin finger guides, practicing is now much easier and more efficient. The leading companies in this market are Orff-Schulwerk and Luthier.
Orff-Schulwerk has been around since 1848 and is one of the world’s leading makers of violins and other string instruments. They are known for their high quality products that offer an excellent playing experience for any musician.
Luthier is a French company that specializes in making Fiddle Guitars, Violin Finger Guides, Violin Bows and Viola Bows. Their wide variety of instruments has made them a popular choice among violinists all over the world.
What is the difference between a violin finger guide and a violin scale?
A violin finger guide is a type of fingering chart that provides the fingerings for a specific scale or song. The chart provides the notes to play in order from low to high.
A violin scale is a musical scale that is used in playing the violin. The notes of the scale are divided into two groups – one group on either side of the string, and these groups are called octaves.
What kind of violins are most commonly used to play scales and finger guides?
Different kinds of violins are used to play scales and finger guides. The most common types of violins are the violin, viola, and cello.
The violin is the most commonly used instrument when playing scales and finger guides. It has a sound that can be heard in many different styles of music. The violin is also very versatile and can be played by people with a range of skill levels from beginners to professional players.
The viola is also very common among players who want to play scales on their instruments. It has a fuller sound that makes it ideal for classical music but it also works well for jazz, folk, ragtime, and other genres that use more complex harmonies than the violin does.
What are the different types of finger guides?
Finger guides are a type of finger rings that have a variety of designs. They are worn on the fingers and can be bought in various colors, materials, and styles.
Finger guides are available in different types like:
- Finger rings: These are made out of metal or plastic and come in various shapes and sizes.
- Finger bracelets: These have a thin band that goes around the finger and they can be made out of metal or plastic.
- Finger armbands: These are usually made out of leather and come in many colors.
Who would benefit from using finger guides?
Fingertip guides are an alternative to the traditional mouse and keyboard interface, which is often difficult for people with disabilities to use.
This technology can be used in any industry where a person needs to move their hands around a mouse or keyboard. It is also useful for people who have arthritis, tremors, or other physical impairments.
People who would benefit from using finger guides include:
- People with arthritis
- People with tremors
- People who might struggle with dexterity issues because of an injury or illness
What is a good replacement for a violin finger guide?
A lot of musicians have been searching for alternatives to the traditional finger guides. One such alternative is the use of a digital violin.
The digital violin has been able to replace the traditional finger guides and provide musicians with an easier way to play their instrument. It is also an option that can be used by beginners who are just starting out with their instrument.