Hatsing · Violin
Note reading
Note reading is a chain of skills stacked in order: name the note, read the structure, hold the rhythm, then play a whole piece. Practise whichever link is missing.
Eight practice tools
Each tool trains one link only. Five to ten minutes a day beats one long session at the weekend.
- Learn the notesAll 17 stops: where they sit, what they are called, which finger
- Note-name flashcards1.5 seconds per note, so you stop counting lines
- Ledger linesAbove and below the staff, drilled separately
- Note valuesFrom whole note to sixteenth, dots included
- RestsWhole and half rests differ by one line
- Rhythm tappingTap along with the metronome before you play
- Singing the scoreTap any note to hear it, or listen through the piece
- Name and positionSee D, think third finger on the A string
Common questions
How long should I practise?
Five to ten minutes, often. Saving it up for an hour at the weekend works far worse than five minutes a day.
Which tool comes first?
Learn the notes. See where all 17 stops sit, what they are called and which finger takes them, then move to the timed flashcards. If naming is slow, ledger lines, note values and singing all stall at the same point.
When have I stopped counting lines?
When you can name a note within one and a half seconds without counting lines and spaces. Anything slower is still arithmetic, not recognition.
Why group by string instead of the alphabet?
G, D, A, E is the layout of your own instrument. Grouping by string trains “see the note, know the finger”. Reciting letters only stores names that never connect to the violin.
The violin only reads treble clef. Do I need bass clef?
No. The violin reads treble clef throughout, which is half the work a pianist faces. You can skip bass clef entirely.
How far do ledger lines go?
Down to G3, two ledger lines below, and up to B5, one above, covers first position. Beyond that you are changing position, which is a different exercise.
Is my progress saved?
In this browser only. Changing devices or clearing site data loses it. No account, nothing uploaded.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Buttons are 44px tall and scores scale with the screen; longer scores wrap on their own.
How do note values, rhythm and singing relate?
Note values tell you how long one symbol lasts. Rhythm is how a run of symbols lands on the beat. Singing reads pitch, duration and rhythm at once. The order matters.
Does this map to graded exams?
It follows no syllabus, but it covers what note-reading exams test: naming speed, ledger lines, values and rests, rhythmic accuracy, reading an unseen score.