The violin may be known for its soaring melodies, but chords are an essential part of violin playing. From double stops to full three- and four-note chords, this guide covers everything you need to know about playing chords on violin.
Songs with Iconic Violin and Fiddle Parts
These songs feature some of the most memorable violin and fiddle performances in popular music. Learn the chords and play along.
Classic Fiddle Songs
- Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
- Cotton-Eyed Joe – Traditional
- Cripple Creek – Traditional
- Soldier’s Joy – Traditional
- Boil Them Cabbage Down – Traditional
- Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
- Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
- Whiskey in the Jar – Thin Lizzy
Rock and Pop Songs Featuring Violin
- Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
- Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
- November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
- Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
- Viva la Vida – Coldplay
- My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
- Dust in the Wind – Kansas
- Galway Girl – Ed Sheeran
Folk Songs Perfect for Violin
- Amazing Grace – Traditional
- Danny Boy – Traditional
- Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Can You Play Chords on Violin?
Absolutely. While the violin’s curved bridge makes it impossible to sustain all four strings at once, violinists play chords by bowing across two, three, or four strings in quick succession. Double stops (two notes) can be sustained, and three- or four-note chords are played as a quick roll from bottom to top. Chords appear throughout classical, folk, fiddle, and contemporary violin music.
Double Stops: The Foundation of Violin Chords
Double stops are the most common form of violin chords. You play two strings simultaneously by placing fingers on both strings and drawing the bow across them evenly.
Thirds
Two notes a third apart, played on adjacent strings. Major and minor thirds are the building blocks of harmony on violin. Start in first position: place your first finger on the G string and third finger on the D string for a major third.
Sixths
A warm, lyrical interval. Sixth double stops are used extensively in romantic and folk music. The fingers are spaced further apart across the two strings.
Octaves
The same note played on two strings an octave apart. Octave double stops require precise intonation and are excellent for building left-hand strength.
Three-Note and Four-Note Chords
Full chords on violin are played by rolling the bow across three or four strings. The bottom notes sound briefly before the bow settles on the top two strings, which sustain.
How to Play Rolled Chords
Contact the lowest string first: Start with the bow on the bottom string of the chord.
Roll upward with arm weight: Use a quick, smooth motion to sweep across to the upper strings.
Sustain the top two notes: Once you reach the top two strings, hold the bow there for the full duration.
Common Three-Note Chord Shapes
G Major: Open G, B on the A string (1st finger), D on the D string (open) — a resonant open chord.
D Major: Open D, F# on the D string (3rd finger), A on the A string (open).
A Minor: A on the G string (2nd finger), C on the D string (3rd finger), E on the A string (open).
Chords in Different Violin Styles
Classical
Chords appear in solo Bach partitas and sonatas, Paganini caprices, and many concerto cadenzas. Bach’s Chaconne in D minor is perhaps the most famous example of chordal violin writing.
Fiddle and Folk
Fiddle players use double stops and chords constantly — droning open strings against melody notes is a defining characteristic of the style.
Contemporary and Jazz
Modern violinists like Stuff Smith and Jean-Luc Ponty use chords in jazz and improvisation, often with amplification to sustain fuller voicings.
Essential Chord Techniques
Bow Pressure and Speed
Chords require more bow weight than single notes. Use a slower bow speed with firm, even pressure to keep both strings sounding cleanly.
Contact Point
Play closer to the bridge when executing chords. This gives a clearer, more focused sound and makes it easier to catch multiple strings.
Left-Hand Preparation
Place all fingers simultaneously before bowing. This ensures clean intonation and prevents the chord from sounding scratchy.
Practice Tips for Violin Chords
Start with open-string double stops
Practice bowing two open strings evenly before adding left-hand fingers. Focus on getting a clean, balanced sound from both strings.
Use a tuner
Intonation is critical with double stops. Use a tuner or drone to check that both notes are in tune — even slight inaccuracies are very audible.
Practice scales in thirds and sixths
Play major and minor scales in parallel thirds or sixths. This builds the finger independence and intonation skills needed for all violin chords.
Study Bach
The solo violin partitas and sonatas by J.S. Bach are the ultimate workout for chordal violin playing. Start with the Sarabande from Partita No. 1 in B minor.