Violin Finger Chart — 3rd Position
Third position, every note · strings G–D–A–E · the hand shifts up a 3rd · tap to hear
How to play
- In 3rd position the whole hand slides up the fingerboard so the 1st finger takes the note the 3rd finger played in 1st position — a perfect 4th above the open string. On the D string that means 1st finger is G, not E.
- Tap any dot to hear the note and see its name, finger and placement. The top dot of each string is the open string, kept for reference.
- Because the violin is fretless, each finger has a low and a natural spot a half step apart. On the D string in 3rd position: 1 = G, 2 = A, 3 = B, 4 = C — and the low variants give you A♭, B♭ and so on.
- Why shift? Third position reaches higher notes without crossing to a thinner string, keeps a phrase on one string for an even tone, and puts awkward passages under one hand shape.
- Use Highlight scale to light up just the notes of a key (and its root). This shows the finger pattern for that key across all four strings.
- Open strings plays G–D–A–E. Play runs up through the highlighted notes. Vol sets volume. Keyboard — Tab + Enter/Space.
The following is a link to this widget which acts as an interactive finger chart of the violin in third position. Simply click on any note on virtual fingerboard with your mouse or trackpad to move around. Alternatively, without needing to be too accurate with aiming you could try using keyboard on the computer instead to make it sound and alter settings.
On the left-hand side, you can see the four string found on violins ranging from E through to G. Next to these is a sequence of circles with numbers within them that represent the note on the string that would be played. These are playable notes for each string. The number in each of the circles refer to the corresponding finger. You’ll also see where there are two positions for some fingers, as they reflect the low and naturaly placements on a fretless instrument.
How to Use the Violin Chart
When you click on a note it lights up and you hear sound of that note. At the top is a display showing which finger to use for that note. It also shows its frequency and the note itself. In this way you can link the chart with the pitch and see how tone changes as you travel up the fingerboard.
Just above the fingerboard there are highlight buttons that let you filter out the notes you want to see. They relate to various keys (e.g. These include A minor and G major. Once a key has been chosen, the notes outside that key will be dimmed making it easier to see the finger patterns needed for a piece of music. There is also a highlighted outline on the root note of your chosen key.
On the open strings button it will sound the G string, then the D string, followed by the A and finaly the E string. It is great to use if you want to check your tuning as well as hear what pitch the open string are on before moving into position.
The play button sounds out the notes that is highlighted under the key selector. In ascending order. So you can get a feel of how they sound in context.
The sound level is adjustable with a volume slider so that you can tailor it to suit you. This makes it comfortabley for you in whatever environment you listen to it in.
There is an option to go into full screen mode, which expands the chart and provides it with more room. This is useful if you have a smaller screen or prefer to see fingerings clearly.
The widget is also usable with keyboard-only, as it can be moved around by the Tab key, and the Enter key allows you to select and trigger different buttons. This makes it another option for navigating the interface rather than relying solely on your mouse. It’s intended to work with multiple types of input.
Choose a key and try moving around the string changing finger shapes. For example, patterns will look different in third position because your hand is further up the neck then it was in first position. Play each of scales that you are practicing. This helps embed what you can see on chart into your memory.
By combining this with the key filter, you can isolate sections of a piece that may pose problems for tricky finger crossings. You’ll then be able to hear where your intonation might create issues using the low and high finger placements. These are highlighted in the chart below on each string.
If you’re looking for a fast refresher on playing in the 3rd position, try using our help panel. It covers why fingers are placed where they are, why changing the position is beneficial, and it’s all explained with an animated diagram to give you a better idea of what it means. Having this guide up as you practice will accelerate your learning time.
The best way to use the tool is to explore both the audio and visual sides. You should of explored both. Begin with one of the keys that corresponds to whatever piece of music you’re practicing. Click on each note as the scale are played, and listen carefully to see if you can match what you hear. Because the chart is interactive, you can easily check to see how well you understand where your fingers should be placed.
Now go ahead and get practicing!