Do you play the violin and are you a beginner? In this article, we're offering you 5 exercises to practice the scales of G major, A major, D major, C major and E major. Thanks to the Tomplay interactive sheet music, you will have the opportunity to practice these scales accompanied by an audio recording of the second violin synchronized with the sheet music.

1. The G major scale

The first scales you learn are the scales of G major, D major and A major because they encourage the development of a musical ear, as well as the technique of the left hand.

Let's take a look at the scale of G major: it includes the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, F sharp (and G). There is therefore one sharp in the key.

As it's easy to play, it's, without doubt, the most-used scale, whether in classical music or in more current compositions. 

The G major scale is sometimes called "the people's scale" and was considered the key of benediction during the baroque period. 

Click on the video below to practice the G major scale accompanied by the second violin. 

▶️ Explore some other exercises for practicing the G major scale on the violin

2. The D major scale

Let's continue with the D major scale. It has two sharps in the key (F and C).

For example, the famous Canon by Pachelbel was composed in the key of D major (originally written for three violins with basso continuo).

Click on the video below to practice the D major scale accompanied by the second violin.

▶️ Explore some other exercises for practicing the D major scale on the violin

3. The A major scale

The A major scale (more precisely, its second octave) is played in the first position and is therefore widely used by violin teachers and it can also be found in learning methods. It is the starting point for learning to play the instrument.

The A major scale gently and intuitively works on the finger positioning of the left hand.

Click on the video below to practice the A major scale accompanied by the second violin.

▶️ Explore some other exercises for practicing the A major scale on the violin 

4. The C major scale

Violin teachers and learning methods use the first octave of the C major scale to illustrate the specific position of the fingers on the neck of the instrument after the A major scale.

Practicing the C major scale allows you to train the placement of the left hand, the rocking of the elbow, and a different fingering for the middle finger.

All the notes in this scale are natural, in other words, no note is altered: there are neither sharps nor flats. You go straight from C to C.

Click on the video below to practice the C major scale accompanied by the second violin.

▶️ Explore some other exercises for practicing the C major scale on the violin

5. The E major scale

Let's finish with the E major scale. This key has four sharps: F, C, G, and D. 

Among the most famous works composed in the key of E major is Spring from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the famous Bach Violin Concerto BWV1042, and the first movement of Debussy's Arabesques.

Click on the video below to practice the E major scale accompanied by the second violin.

▶️ Explore some other exercises for practicing the E major scale on the violin 

We hope this article will have given you a helping hand with practicing scales on the violin. You can find all the scales for two violins in the Tomplay Shop and download the scales Collections classified by level.