Aria’s Violin StudioAuckland · New Zealand
ABRSM Sight-Reading · Grade 5

Grade 5 Sight-Reading on the Fingerboard

200 new pieces to read at Grade 5 level. Take a 30-second look, then play it straight through, just like in the exam. If you get stuck, switch to Practise to see the fingers, or Learn to see every note light up on the violin fingerboard.

⬇ Grade 5 pieces (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: s semiquaver, e quaver, e. dotted quaver, q crotchet, q. dotted crotchet, h minim, h. dotted minim, w semibreve. 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 piece in sight-reading-grade-5.html.

How to practise sight-reading: pick a piece you haven’t seen (🎲 New piece), press 30-second look and check the key, time signature, rhythms, slurs and dynamics. Then play it all the way through in Read without stopping, keeping the beat going even if a note goes wrong. Press Play to listen and check, then go through any tricky bars with Practise or Learn. Find the highest note and decide your 3rd-position fingering before you start. Keep the pulse steady through the semiquavers. All pieces on this page are original and written for Aria’s students; for the official ABRSM specimen tests, watch Aria’s videos on the ABRSM Sight-Reading page.
Sight-reading · Grades 1–5

Grade 5 violin sight-reading, note by note

Sight-reading means playing a piece you have never seen before. In the ABRSM violin exam you get about half a minute to look at the piece and try parts of it, and then you play it. The best practice is reading lots of new music at the right level. These Grade 5 pieces are 8 to 13 bars long, in up to four sharps or flats, major and minor (including A♭ major, E major, F minor and C♯ minor), in 2/4, 3/8, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 time, and use 3rd position, accents and tenuto, ff and pp, dotted rhythms, semiquaver runs, up-beats, pizz. and arco and more accidentals. Each note lights up on the treble staff and on the violin fingerboard, with a coloured number for the finger and a Roman numeral for the string, so young players can check the notes as they go.

Grade 1200 pieces · 4 bars (8 bars in 2/4)Grade 2200 pieces · 8 barsGrade 3200 pieces · 8 barsGrade 4200 pieces · 8 bars, some with an up-beatGrade 5200 pieces · 8 to 13 bars
Questions
What is in Grade 5 violin sight-reading?

These Grade 5 pieces are 8 to 13 bars long, in up to four sharps or flats, major and minor (including A♭ major, E major, F minor and C♯ minor), in 2/4, 3/8, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 time. They use 3rd position, accents and tenuto, ff and pp, dotted rhythms, semiquaver runs, up-beats, pizz. and arco and more accidentals. They are written to match the level of the ABRSM Grade 5 violin sight-reading test.

Are these the pieces from the ABRSM book?

No. Every piece here was written new for this page, so it is music the student has not seen before, just like in the exam. To see the official specimen tests, use the ABRSM specimen sight-reading book, and watch Aria play them on the ABRSM Sight-Reading page.

How do I practise sight-reading with this page?

Choose a piece you have not read yet (the 🎲 New piece button picks one). Press “30-second look” and use the time to check the key, the time signature, the rhythms and the signs, like in the exam. Then play it all the way through without stopping. Press Play to listen and check. Use Read for exam practice, Practise to see the fingers, and Learn to see the fingerboard too.

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 notes.