Where it comes from
The bourrée is a French dance that typically begins on a weak beat.
Bourrée
G major · 4/4 · 28 bars
Score
- Level
- Intermediate
- Key
- G major · F♯
- Time
- 4/4
- Bars
- 28
- Range
- D4 – B5
- Fingering
- not marked
How to practise this piece
Take it at 77 BPM first, then move up to 96 once the notes sit under your fingers.
What this piece trains
Pickup and accent placement: the phrase starts light and the weight lands later in the bar.
Where it usually goes wrong
Playing the pickup as a strong beat displaces the whole rhythm; fast string changes blur the notes.
Does it need shifting?
Range D4–B5; the top notes go beyond comfortable first position, so expect shifting or an extension.
Practice steps
- Speak the rhythm on an open string first and find where the weight falls.
- Add the pitches and repeat the first two bars until the accent is stable.