In this post, I'm going to share the top 10 pieces that adult beginners love to play based on my experience. The pieces are listed in order of difficulty, and you can grab the free sheet music for all of them via the link below.

#1 Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns can be played using just one string and 2 fingers (fingers 1 & 2), making it the easiest tune on the list. The melody is also very recognizable, and I'm pretty sure learning how to play this on the recorder in elementary school was a canon event 😅

#2 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle is another popular nursery tune with a very recognizable melody. It is a bit harder than Hot Cross buns for 3 reasons. First, the player needs to use more fingers (fingers 1, 2, and 3). Second, the tune does require the use of two strings. Third, the transition from open E string to 3rd finger on D string can be tricky at first.

#3 Ode to Joy

This is a really popular adult beginner piece because the tune is not only super recognizable, but also it's a piece from an actual Beethoven Symphony, not just a nursery rhyme! In my opinion, this tune is a great opportunity to learn or practice using the fourth finger. If you choose not to use the fourth finger, the piece would require the use of 3 strings. It also has slightly more complicated rhythms than the previous two pieces, incorporating dotted quarter notes and eighth notes.

#4 Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday requires the use of the low 2nd finger, which is the first time this has been necessary in the sequence I've laid out. It also has some dotted rhythms (dotted eighth sixteenth notes), similar to Ode to Joy.

#5 Jingle Bells

The difficulty of this song depends on if you're playing the entire song or just the chorus. If you're playing just the chorus, the song can be played entirely on one string using all four fingers. If you're playing the chorus and verses, you will need to use the high third finger, which is a slightly more complex finger placement.

#6 Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This song does also require the use of the high third finger. It's also a slower tune, which requires more finesse and control.

#7 Amazing Grace

This is another slower tune that requires long bow strokes and a singing sound. Although it does not require the use of more "advanced" finger placements like the low 2 or high 3, many students do find the string crossings quite tricky.

#8 Vivaldi's Spring

I know what you might be thinking...Meghan, isn't this piece really advanced?! And yes, you would be right. The full, original version of the tune is very advanced, however, there are several arrangements that are beginner friendly. The hardest things about this piece are the high third fingers and the trills. A trill means to move back and forth between two notes as fast as you can. In order to play trills properly, the player needs to release any excess tension.

#9 Ashokan Farewell

I must admit, I had never heard of this piece until I started teaching adult beginners, but it is by far one of the most requested tunes to learn! Part of what I think makes it so popular is that it is a fiddle tune, so it can be seen as more fun to play than classical. It does require the use of all four strings, and there are several different versions of it with tricky rhythms, shifting, and double stops.

#10 Canon in D

I would be remiss if I did not include this piece! Although this tune is not as popular or favorable with professional violinists due to its repetitive nature, it is still one of the most well known classical pieces that all violinists should absolutely learn at some point. It's the longest piece on this list, coming in at about 2.5 pages, and it has the most difficult rhythm (32nd notes!) and tricky bowings. It also usually does require shifting, unless you choose to play those notes down an octave.

What's your favorite piece to play as an adult beginner violinist? Leave a comment and let me know!