Practice Library · Hi Violin! · Famous Songs · Grade 2

Grade 2 Famous Songs

50 famous tunes to learn at Grade 2 level: about one a week for a year. Listen with the piano, learn the notes on the fingerboard, then play along with the piano on your own and earn a ⭐ for each song.

⬇ Grade 2 songs (PDF)

Tap any note on the music to jump to it.
Tempo
Fingering for this note
✎ Your own fingering is saved on this device.
0 open string I E · II A · III D · IV Gstrings 1234 fingers

On a computer: → next note · ← back · Space play / stop. No sound on iPhone or iPad? Turn off silent mode (the switch on the side) and turn the volume up. Tap any note on the fingerboard to hear it.

For teachers: edit the fingering and the music

Each note is written as note/length/string+finger, for example F#4/e/D2. Lengths: t demisemiquaver, s semiquaver, s. dotted semiquaver, e quaver, e. dotted quaver, q crotchet, q. dotted crotchet, h minim, h. dotted minim, w semibreve; triplets e3, s3, q3. Rests: r/q, r/h … Use | for a bar line. Signs go after a 4th slash: ( slur starts, ) slur ends, ~ tie, . staccato, > accent, - tenuto, ^ pause, v up-bow, n down-bow, e.g. A4/q/A0/(.. Dynamics (p mf f …), hairpins (< or > … !) and words such as "pizz." go just before their note.

“Apply” saves it on this device. To change it for everyone, copy the code and paste it into the code line for this song in famous-songs-grade-2.html.

How to learn a song: press Play and listen first, with the piano. Then switch to Learn and play it slowly, note by note, with Next ▶, watching the fingers light up on the fingerboard. When you know the notes, choose Slow, untick 🎻 Violin tune, and play along with the piano on your own. Move up to Steady and Target, then press ☆ I can play it! to earn your star. Grade 2 songs stay in 1st position and add F and C major, minor keys, low 1st and 2nd fingers, dotted rhythms and slurs. Every song here is out of copyright, and every arrangement was written for Aria’s students.
Famous Songs · Grades 1–5

50 songs for Grade 2: about one a week for a year

These songs are arranged for Grade 2 violin (adds C and F major, minor keys · slurs). Grade 2 songs stay in 1st position and add F and C major, minor keys, low 1st and 2nd fingers, dotted rhythms and slurs. Each song has chord names over the music, so a teacher or parent can also accompany on piano or guitar. Press Play to hear the violin tune with a simple piano part, or untick “Violin tune” to play along with just the piano.

The songs
  1. Oh My Darling, Clementine American folk song (1880s)
  2. Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) Stephen Foster (1851)
  3. Flow Gently, Sweet Afton Scottish air; words by Robert Burns (1791)
  4. The British Grenadiers English marching song, 1700s
  5. Robin Adair Irish air (Eileen Aroon)
  6. Barbara Allen English ballad, 1600s
  7. Molly Malone (Cockles and Mussels) Irish song (1880s)
  8. Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Japanese folk song
  9. Heart of Oak William Boyce (1759)
  10. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen English carol (London), 1700s
  11. Be Thou My Vision Irish hymn tune (Slane)
  12. O Little Town of Bethlehem Lewis H. Redner (St Louis, 1868)
  13. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing American hymn tune (Nettleton, 1813)
  14. Shall We Gather at the River Robert Lowry (Hanson Place, 1864)
  15. Minuet in G minor Christian Petzold (Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 115)
  16. The Happy Farmer Robert Schumann (Album for the Young, 1848)
  17. Old French Song Pyotr Tchaikovsky (Album for the Young, 1878)
  18. The Keel Row English folk song (Northumberland)
  19. Aloha 'Oe Queen Lili'uokalani of Hawai'i (1878)
  20. Now Thank We All Our God Johann Crüger (Nun danket alle Gott, 1647); harmony by J. S. Bach
  21. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Hans Leo Hassler (1601); harmony by J. S. Bach
  22. Jesu, Priceless Treasure (Jesu, meine Freude) Johann Crüger (1653); harmony by J. S. Bach
  23. From Heaven Above to Earth I Come Martin Luther (Vom Himmel hoch, 1539)
  24. The Rakes of Mallow Irish dance tune, 1700s
  25. Highland Laddie Scottish song
  26. The Moon Has Risen (Der Mond ist aufgegangen) Johann A. P. Schulz (1790)
  27. Sleep, Baby, Sleep (Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf) German lullaby
  28. Innsbruck, I Now Must Leave Thee Heinrich Isaac (c. 1490)
  29. Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair Stephen Foster (1854)
  30. O Sanctissima (O du fröhliche) Sicilian hymn tune (1790s)
  31. The Linden Tree (Am Brunnen vor dem Tore) Folk song version of Schubert's Der Lindenbaum (1827)
  32. How Can I Leave Thee? (Ach, wie ist's möglich dann) German folk song (Thuringia)
  33. Ye Banks and Braes Scottish air; words by Robert Burns (1791)
  34. Blow the Wind Southerly English folk song (Northumberland)
  35. Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms Irish air (My Lodging Is on the Cold Ground); words by Thomas Moore (1808)
  36. Kelvingrove Scottish song (Let Us Haste to Kelvingrove)
  37. Bonnie Dundee Scottish song; words by Walter Scott (1828)
  38. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Blaenwern) William P. Rowlands (Welsh hymn tune, 1905)
  39. The Waters of Tyne English folk song (Northumberland)
  40. Twickenham Ferry Théo Marzials (1878)
  41. Highland Mary Scottish air; words by Robert Burns (1792)
  42. Nonesuch English country dance (Playford's Dancing Master, 1651)
  43. Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) Harry Dacre (1892)
  44. If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee (Wer nur den lieben Gott) Georg Neumark (1657); harmony by J. S. Bach
  45. How Brightly Shines the Morning Star (Wie schön leuchtet) Philipp Nicolai (1599); harmony by J. S. Bach
  46. Staines Morris English country dance (Playford's Dancing Master, 1651)
  47. Princess Royal English morris tune (from a melody by Turlough O'Carolan)
  48. Si Bheag, Si Mhor Turlough O'Carolan (Irish harper, c. 1700)
  49. The Minstrel Boy Irish air (The Moreen); words by Thomas Moore (1813)
  50. Hector the Hero James Scott Skinner (1903)
Questions
What is in the Grade 2 songs?

These songs are arranged for Grade 2 violin (adds C and F major, minor keys · slurs). Grade 2 songs stay in 1st position and add F and C major, minor keys, low 1st and 2nd fingers, dotted rhythms and slurs. Each song has chord names over the music, so a teacher or parent can also accompany on piano or guitar. Press Play to hear the violin tune with a simple piano part, or untick “Violin tune” to play along with just the piano.

Are these songs free to use?

Yes. Every tune here is out of copyright (traditional, or by composers who died long ago), and each arrangement was written for Aria’s students. You can print the PDF for your own practice and lessons.

How do I play along with the piano?

Press Play to hear the song with the piano. When you know the notes, untick “🎻 Violin tune”, choose the Slow tempo, and play the tune yourself while the piano plays the chords. Tick “Count-in bar” to get a bar of clicks before you start.

Which finger do I use for each note?

Switch to Learn or Practise. Each note shows a coloured finger number above the music (0 is an open string) and a Roman numeral for the string underneath: I = E string, II = A string, III = D string, IV = G string. Type a different string and finger under “Fingering for this note” to change it. Your change is saved on your device.

Does it work on a phone, and offline?

Yes. It works on iPhone, iPad and Android in portrait or landscape. After your first visit it also works without internet. On an iPhone, turn off silent mode to hear the music.