I'm looking for a beginner's violin method book but can't find anything suitable. The problem is that because I'm familiar with the cello, piano and guitar I can read music already. I can't seem to find a beginner's violin book that isn't 75% "this is a crotchet, this is a rest, this is a sharp" etc. Can anyone point me at a good introductory violin method that doesn't go into all this painful detail? I'm currently working towards Grade 6 cello, but there's a borrowed violin sitting in the corner of the room just begging to be played too

Try the Fiddle time range of books. It has about 45 pieces in with backing CD. The 1st 10 are just reading open strings and getting used to them. Then the next 10 or so are using 1st finger on all strings then the next 10 are 3rd and 4th finger plus a few other exercises. It gradually introduces each finger with a chapter like on each. Then the next book Fiddle time joggers moves onto other 1st position notes with 2nd finger and these pieces are also faster. The Sprinter books gives alot of pieces in lots of styles. There are scales books of fun to accompany this series.. I used this series with all my beginners as it has lots of variety and an excellent CD backing which helps with keeping tempo.

The main difference between cello and violin. Is in cello 1st position you have a semitone between fingers 2-3 and 3-4. In 1st position to make semitones you have finger 1 then a gap then finger 2 and 3 close together. The semitone is finger 2 and 3, finger 4 is your open string note too.
Hope this helps you

Thanks for that - I'll check out the Fiddle time stuff at my local music shop the next time I'm in town. The explanation of the violin's 1st position helps too - I managed to work out G major using the fingering you mentioned, but didn't really understand it (other than it just sounded "right"). The violin is so *tiny* compared to the cello

Hi, I am in the same position as you, being grade 8 on another instrument already. I found the Eta Cohen books are good, they go fairly quickly. I didn't like the fiddle time books, altough the repetoire is good it seemed a bit kiddish.

sorry that is the only problem with fiddle time it is design for children but the CD is great. Sorry dont have any idea how old any you guys are.....

Glad you worked out the scale of G major... if you do the same fingering starting on D string you get D major and for A major you start on the A string.

An arpeggio is open string followed by 2 on the 1st string then the next open string followed by 3 fingers.

hope this helps you a little bit more.

40 (well, in April anyhow)

I'll check the Cohen stuff out too. Yeah, once I'd cracked G major the other two were a doddle. Can't get used to how tiny the violin's fingerboard feels though! I'm looking for a reasonably comprehensive book that goes through the basics pretty quickly - looks like there's a heck of a lot to learn - 10+ positions, for example. Shudder