Top 10 Hardest Violin Pieces of All Time

What are the hardest violin pieces of all time?

Well, “hard” is relative. What may be hard for me might not be hard for you, and vice versa. However, there are certain techniques and elements of pieces that can significantly increase their difficulty level.

What makes violin pieces so hard?

There a few techniques that notably increase the difficulty level of violin pieces.

Double stops

Double stops require the player to play two strings at once. This could be two open strings, one finger and an open string, or two fingers on different strings, which is the most difficult. Double stops are notoriously difficult to play in tune due to the way the violin is tuned. The violin uses just intonation, which means that the notes can be in slightly different places depending on the key and/or the notes that are sounding at the same time. In other words, when playing double stops, notes may not be in the same place as they are when played by themselves, and note placement may need to change between double stops-even if it’s the same note!

Chords

Chords, also called triple stops or quadruple stops, require the player to play three or four notes at once. When playing three or four notes, the player could have three or four fingers on the string! In addition to the problems caused by just intonation as mentioned above, in passages with lots of chords, the player must reconfigure his hand multiple times and place each finger in the exact right spot each time, which is very difficult! Chords also require the player to use the exact right amount of bow speed and arm weight or run the risk of sounding “crunchy”.

Up-bow staccato

Up-bow staccato is a bow stroke requiring the player to play multiple notes on an up bow with a slight space in between each one. In advanced pieces, there could be as many as 40-60 notes played in one bow!

Left hand pizzicato

Left hand pizzicato requires the player to pluck the string with the third or fourth finger of the left hand. Left hand pizzicato is often presented in passages requiring the player to alternate between left hand pizz and arco (bowed) notes. These notes should ideally sound the same, which requires a lot of strength from the left hand to make the notes sound loud enough, and a lot of control from the right hand to make the notes sound short enough.

Harmonics

There are two types of violin harmonics: natural harmonics and artificial harmonics. Natural harmonics are those that are naturally occuring on the violin. To produce a natural harmonic, the player must land his finger on the exactly correct spot and use a very fast bow speed to get the harmonic to sound. Artificial harmonics require the player to use two fingers: one on the bottom note with normal pressure (usually first finger), and one on the top note with harmonic pressure (usually fourth finger). These are twice as difficult because BOTH fingers must land on the exact spot to make sure it sounds!

Speed

I’m sure it goes without saying that playing fast is harder than playing slow! Many of the pieces on the list below truly test the limits of how fast humans can play the violin.

Atonality

Atonality is a musical style that doesn’t use a central key or tonal center. Atonality is commonly attributed to Arnold Schoenberg. Schoenberg saw all 12 chromatic pitches as equal, and used them as such in his music. Atonal music does not have a true “melody” or chordal structure, which can make it very difficult to hear and play.

This is by no means a comprehensive list-there are many other things such as intonation, bow strokes, dynamics, vibrato, shifting (to name a few 😅) that make violin pieces challenging. I personally find that double stops, chords, and atonality really challenge me! One of the most difficult pieces I’ve personally played was the Korngold violin concerto. It was extremely difficult for me to hear the melody because of the unique tonal structure. And if you can’t hear it, you can’t play it!

With all of that being said, here are what I believe to be the top 10 hardest violin pieces of all time.

10: Bach Chaconne

Bach's Chaconne in D minor is the final movement of the Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 for solo violin, composed between 1717 and 1720. The Chaconne is a set of variations based on a repeating bass line (a chaconne form), showcasing Bach's mastery in counterpoint, harmony, and emotional depth. In my opinion, the two things that make Bach's solo works so difficult are the purity of sound they require and the intonation. Since these are performed solo, there is truly nowhere to hide! Bach also writes countless perfect intervals (fourths, fifths, and octaves) that absolutely must be in tune because it is extremely obvious when they are not. This piece is also incredibly long (about 17 minutes) so it requires a lot of stamina from the performer. There are also several spots that are difficult to remember because they are so similar. I played this for my master's recital and spent about a year learning it.

9: Locatelli Labyrinth Caprice in D Major

Pietro Locatelli's Caprice No. 23 in D major, Op. 3, "Labyrinth", also known as "L'arte del violino", is one of the most challenging and virtuosic pieces in Baroque violin repertoire. Composed in 1733, this caprice is part of a collection of 24 violin concertos with integrated caprices, but the "Labyrinth" stands out for its extreme technical demands, the two most challenging fast string crossings and intricate double stop passages. This is not a particularly well known piece within the current standard violin repertoire, but it deserves its place on this list due to its difficulty.

8: Wieniawski #1

Henryk Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 14, composed in 1853, is a highly virtuosic and technically demanding piece that showcases Wieniawski's extraordinary skill as both a composer and violinist. The piece begins with 10ths and only gets more challenging from there. It incorporates lightening fast virtuosic passages, double stops, ricochet, and up bow staccato. I once heard a story of a famous violinist who was performing this piece with an orchestra. He was so worried about playing the opening tenths in tune that he walked on stage with his hands already set! After bowing, waiting for the orchestra to tune and play the intro, he boldly played the opening tenths...and his hand had shifted so they weren't in tune! 😅

7: Bartok Violin Concerto #2

Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 2, Sz. 112, composed between 1937 and 1938, is a landmark work in 20th-century violin repertoire. Commissioned by Hungarian violinist Zoltán Székely, this concerto combines Bartók's innovative harmonic language with Hungarian folk music influences, creating a blend of modernism and traditionalism. In addition to the incredibly fast speed, this concerto incorporates a number of diminished arpeggios in all possible octaves. Many violinists also say that the passages are awkward, meaning they do not work well within the hand frame. There are also several double stop passages that require the player to play two separate lines of music at the same time. Although I've never played the solo part of this piece, I did play the orchestra part in college.

6: Ysaye Solo Sonatas

Eugène Ysaÿe's Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27, composed in 1923, are a set of virtuosic and highly individual works that reflect Ysaÿe’s deep understanding of violin technique and musical expression. Each sonata is dedicated to a famous violinist of the time, with Ysaÿe tailoring the style and challenges of each sonata to match the unique playing characteristics of its dedicatee. There are many things that make these pieces challenging from double stops, to harmonics, to speed, to musicality-they really have it all. I have never played any of these pieces, because in all honesty, they terrify me. But the third sonata is my favorite. :)

The top four most difficult pieces to play on the violin

When I was trying to determine which of these were more difficult than the other, I honestly couldn't tell. All four are extremely difficult pieces that only the true greats can do justice.

4: Bartok Solo Sonata

Béla Bartók's Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz. 117, composed in 1944, is one of the most significant 20th-century works for solo violin. Commissioned by and dedicated to violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the sonata reflects Bartók's deep knowledge of both folk music and advanced compositional techniques, blending these influences with the traditional structure of a Baroque sonata.

3: Der Erlkonig

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst's Grand Caprice on Schubert's "Der Erlkönig" is a virtuosic solo violin piece based on Franz Schubert’s famous song Der Erlkönig. Composed in the mid-19th century, Ernst’s adaptation is one of the most demanding works in the violin repertoire, showcasing extreme technical difficulty while preserving the dramatic narrative of the original song.

2: Ernst's The Last Rose of Summer

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst's The Last Rose of Summer is a virtuosic solo violin piece based on the well-known Irish folk song. Composed in the mid-19th century, Ernst's arrangement transforms the lyrical melody into a technically demanding work that showcases the capabilities of the violin.

1: God Save the King

Niccolò Paganini's God Save the King (also known as Variations on “God Save the King”) is a virtuosic work for solo violin that showcases the composer's exceptional skill and innovative approach to violin technique. Composed in 1820, the piece is a set of variations based on the British national anthem, presenting a series of increasingly complex and elaborate passages.

What do you think the most difficult violin piece of all time is?