Where to buy violin sheet music with words UK.

[Retired]

Hi,

I'd very much welcome suggestions as to where I can either obtain free or buy violin music scores with words in the UK; Amazing Grace etc; I did buy "Somewhere my love" a copy of the original score with words but at around £8 through eBay I could soon run up a big bill.

I can now play Somewhere my love so want to move on trying to play new songs.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[TalismanRich]

Have you considered joining something like ToPlayAlong.com? There are a few of those types of services, where you join, and for an annual or monthly fee, you can download sheetmusic.

I haven't personally used any of these, since I play by ear. Occasionally, I'll find a tab, if I have trouble figuring out some chords. I found this searching with Google.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks for your useful reply TalismanRich I'll have a look ideally I'd like sheet music accompanied by words like this;

I've only just started searching the web and find there are lots of music stores selling sheet music; on YouTube there are many tutorials to play along with; at the moment I'd be happy to have sheet music as seen above to play around with; I'm still very much a novice but am gaining experience.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

What you want is musicnotes.com - traditional, ochestral, pop and movie music and loads specfically for violin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Excellent rob aylestone Many thanks; it should keep me busy for quite a while; I've so far just had a brief look at the site but what a huge selection on offer. I've just enjoyed an hours violin practice; I'd turned the studio heating on before breakfast this morning but should have waited a bit longer befor going in; it's a cold morning and will become colder as winter bites.

I'll update once I've spent more time viewing the musicnotes site.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

My studio is freezing, my wife says turning the heating on is NOT an option. My friend who we used to record together - his classic piano pieces has discovered he can make more money with the sheet music than the recording!

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks @rob aylestone Making money selling sheet music must be easier and quicker than recording after all I've come to realize just how big a business selling sheet music is.

I've had a good browse of the musicnotes you kindly recommened but am still struggling to get music I like complete with lyrics. I've found another huge site whilst browsing;

https://musescore.com/

Over 138,000 violin pieces but few I know although there are lots with lyrics; I'm not hard to please but it seems everytime I want something I've got to fight for it.

I'm not keen on subscribing to a sheet music site because I won't be buying lots of sheet music just tunes I like and would like to learn to play; I see musescore has a good copy of violin solo Amazing Grace with lyrics.

Lots of the sheet music at the moment would go straight over my head because I've a great deal to learn.

Not having an holiday away from home for 45 years being content here my wonderful wife and we planned for retirement 45 years ago when we married; we're in the position now that heating bills won't worry us too much; I can heat both the studio and workshop as needed; now aged 75 I've no intention of freezing to death and we're going to be warm.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

OK - how good are you at playing from musical notation - because you can buy karaoke style backing tracks that are .kar format - which is basically .mid with a text file for the vocal lyrics.

You're looking for treble clef top line music, or do you need the violin version for the articulation and bowing marks? Violin specific is not commonly available with lyrics, because you play the top line not sing it? I don't think exactly what you want is common at all, Your bottom note is G3, so that's a fair number of ledger lines below middle C in treble clef - so most piano style accompaniment with top line and lyrics is playable.

What exactly are you doing? If you have a recording system, then there are so many midi files out there that could easily be modified.

If I need cello music, it's a quite simple way to get music on a stave. Fair enough, you have to faff with the key signatures and do a little editing, but it's simple to do when your comfy with the software. Cubase - my DAW can produce playable music reasonably easily, but it's not as good as Sibelius?

 

[TalismanRich]

A couple of those music sites have trial periods, like 14 days or 30 days. Get a cheap ring binder, and whenever you think of a song you might want to learn, or one that you like, if you can find a copy of the music, print it and put it in the binder. Trial periods are great for that type of stuff.

Lyrics for many songs are freely available on places like AZLyrics.com, SongLyrics.com, Genius.com or Lyrics.com, especially old traditional songs. Once you get the music, and learn the songs, it's a trivial matter to find the lyrics.

I have a little ring binder with lyrics for songs that I've learned over the years. Occasionally, I'll have one with chords attached, so I can easily remember where it starts, or it will help the bass player learn where to go next. I could probably play 100 songs right now, just from memory. My biggest issue is remember which songs they are. 50 years ago, when we had a real band, we quickly learned to make a set list because when the pressure is on, you can NEVER think of the next song to play!

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for asking and for your help @rob aylestone Playing from musical notation no good at all; I'm still a novice violin player although I'm progressing in my own way; starting from scratch aged 74 I was finding it very hard going at first this new world of stringed instruments never having even touched a violin previously. I've watched hours of YouTube violin playing/tutorials; I really do appreciate your help; at the moment much of what you kindly suggest I don't understand but it doesn't mean I can't learn to understand; I find information such as you supply to at first go over my head but as time passes by and I gain more experience things do click into place so I welcome all replies. In reply this is what I'm doing;



I've struggled with just about everything; my wonderful wife spoils me rotten and I've now got a nice small comfortable studio; four violins including a German 1880 now fitted with a Fishman piezo pickup; more recently in August for my 75th birthday I was spoiled further with a new electric Yamaha YEV-104 violin and also a used but new condition Yamaha THR 10 amplifier these two are just lovely as is the German violin; I also have a Laney guitar amp which was a first buy; powered monitors; Tascam 8 track pocket studio I'm using for recording; Rode microphone; Line 6 Relay; Meris Enzo synthesizer; laptop just for the studio; Beringer interface which I've still to learn to use; a car radio I power from a 12V adapter allowing me to play Andy Williams Somewhere my love via memory stick; and even a genuine Russian balalaka; we've got funds to support our various hobbies so the studio is set up and kitted out in readiness for this coming winter.

My wife and I haven't had an holiday away from home for 44 years using our money instead to better our home and lifestyle year on year up to now when we feel very content indeed each having multiple hobbies supporting each other; we lead a very simple lifestyle happy in each others company; in recent years I've learned how to TIG weld aluminium also metal spinning; I've a well equipped workshop so this winter my time will be spent between studio and workshop; my current workshop project is rebuilding a vintage Howard Bulldog petrol rotavator; I like all aspects of woodworking from furniture making to veneering.

The YouTube video I posted was my first attempt at getting the music from the bow to play on YouTube; this alone involved a big learning curve with simple editing and converting file types; I've used Audacity & VEED; I'm learning everything the hard way because I don't have friends into music; I was more interested in creating the video as an experiment choosing a random violin recording which wasn't my best effort but served the purpose.

I've had little studio time all year due to many problems like felling 15 very tall trees and disposing of them; in August our two roomed rear extension which includes the studio detached itself from the main bungalow so I repaired the lot; we don't get anyone in I do all modifications/repairs excluding anything to do with gas. I'm an old fashioned Mechanical engineer taught to make things from scratch.

The reason I would like violin music with lyrics is the way I play my violins; I'm a mechanical engineer not trained in any way with a musical instrument so if I don't understand something I change it until I can understand it;

As yet I can't read music and I found normal music scores too small to read; I tried a number of ways to get around this and here's the method I now use hence the need for music with lyrics; I can break this down as shown; the top lines are the song words below are the string to play and the note; it takes a lot of time to make my own score like this but it sure works for me; struggling for studio time I've progressed from never touching a violin to now playing the full Lara's Theme as sung by Andy Williams.

This is my stepping stone to reading music; I picked up notes as I copied and now I can easily follow this method I think next step is to simply enlarge music & lyrics allowing me to clearly see them; I've now bought Amazing Grace through eBay music with lyrics so this will be my next song to play and when the sheets arrive I'll scan then enlarge them; I'll never play in a band because it doesn't interest me but I think I've adopted a lifelong hobby playing my violins just for pleasure.

Thanks @TalismanRich for your very welcome reply; I've seen the free trial periods in fact I used VEED to transfer my music to YouTube but VEED only allows three tries then rightly asks to be paid; I'll have a look at your kind suggestions but at the moment until I gain more experience I need music with lyrics; once fully into winter I should progress further not having lots of work to do around home and gardens.

Here's the kind of thing that prevented me getting into the studio this year just one of the jobs I carried out working on my own; our site is very steep it being a valley side; just trying to walk up the rear garden is hard work so this kind of work gives me a good workout.

This year started well with storms damaging another tree so I decided enough is enough of this constant tree damage so I felled and logged 15 very tall trees here's one of them at 65' the logs were given to neighbours who have woodburners the brash I shredded; working conditions were atrocious on the steep garden with wind driven sleet showers at times; I was younger then aty 74 but now 75 I was on our extension roof doing subsidence repairs; as long as I'm busy I'm happy.

I've rambled on enough; the studio should be warmed up so I'll wander in for a violin practice.

Many thanks once again for your useful replies.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[rob aylestone]

Blimey! It took me a while to figure out your system - forgive me, but this is a completely confusing way of learning (ex-music teacher hat on). The reason is that using Lara's Theme as an example, the actually first four notes are B, D, A Sharp, B - your GB, DD, AA, AB is wrong. This piece of music has a key signature - it's actually in G Major, so it has one note - F sharp in this case, that is always F sharp but shown on the music as just F - the little hash symbol next to the clef tells you all F notes will really be F sharp. That A sharp doesn't really fit in to the key, hence why it has an A with a sharp symbol. If youre an ex-engineer, you will get this if you look at the music theory - it's rules, and youre used to those. Your system - and I cannot work out what the double letters actuall represent, doesn't seem to cater for sharps or flats at all. If you have a good musical ear, and know the song, then perhaps your brain tells your fingers that it is A sharp you need to play, not A natural - but that will fail as soon as you play music you don't know.

I'd strongly urge you to stop for a break, and learn the names of the notes on a five line stave - the lines of course are E,G,B,D,F with F,A,C,E in the spaces, reading upwards. The hash sign is a sort of version of the sharp sign, as in one step up, and the b substitutes for the flat symbol, one step down.

If this makes sense - let me know and we can go further. You can play by letter names, but there is a major problem. How long do you play them for? Your system, even if the letter names work, falls down on the length of each note.

 

[rob aylestone]

The other thing you then can work on is pitch. So much depends on your ear, but if you play totally on your own with no track to play to, your intonation will drift. The youtube music will help you make sure every note is what it should be. Not sure what you are recording on, to get it onto youtube, but that might be able to help?

 

[Retired]

Hi,

This is really decent of you @rob aylestone thank you. I'm aware my method of playing isn't the correct way and as you kindly point out is badly flawed but it has got me playing a violin; I've so much yet to learn.

I'm interest in your information regarding the first four notes of Lara's Theme I'm attempting to play;

B, D, A Sharp; B.

I confess I struggled but here's what I came up with; first word "Some" I list as string G first letter followed by the note B which I thought pretty near; the double letters as in "Where" are String D open D; "My" then is String A open A.

I need to learn what sharps & flats are as I need to now learn to read music as I previously explained; this method of mine was just to get me playing because I know three ladies who tried to play a violin but gave up it being too hard; I'm a great deal more stubborn and being an absolute novice with no outside help other than the web even if my version of Lara's Theme is totally wrong at least I won't be giving up.

Length of notes I've tried listening to Andy Williams singing but my short term memory is poor so I quickly forget; it's been one huge frustrating struggle to get violin time since I started and with so much heavy work I've been doing many days I've worked myself to a standstill ending up aching all over with stiff joints and fingers; I doubt many soloist professional violin players will be felling trees or doing roof repairs before being on stage; it's just the way my life has been so far this year.

At last I'm on top of all the heavy work and look forward to a steep learning curve this coming winter; I fully understand rules are needed and I've bypassed so many but it's got me started and now I can at least play a tune I can now move forward; I'm totally new to playing any instrument so I'll fall down every hole but pointed in the right direction I'll succeed however long it takes. I'm relying at the moment on my violin electronic tuners but this is fine as a start.

I'd very much appreciate your help @rob aylestone if you could please tell me my next most important step; I can't take it all in at once but I can surely nibble at it. The information on the web is overwelming leaving me confused as to steps to take; I don't agree with the online violin tutors who say learning to play a violin can be achieved in a few days; it takes a great deal longer than this just to get a decent note without horrible noises. Considering my hard life so far this year I have made decent progress so I'm happy; you really are kind taking time to reply with useful information; if I've got it totally wrong I'll put my hand up and admit it; I can always start over at least I've stopped attracting the local moggies with my playing.

Thanks again.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks again rob;



I've just done a quick browse of YouTube and now I'm aware of violin sharps & flats next session I'll practice finding them; my electronic violin tuner quickly gets the strings in tune so now I know what I'm after I'll have a go. Seeing the explanation shown on the piano I grasped it easily enough.

When the Amazing Grace grace sheet music with lyrics arrives I'll scan then enlarge allowing me to clearly see what I'm doing and start to really learn how to read violin music; anything don't understand I research; all I need are simple suggestions then I take up on it; I don't waste anyones time because it wouldn't be fair of me; time is precious to everyone.

Here's an example of my life so far this year; it's been hard; I'm eagerly looking forward to quality studio time.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/threads/tascam-dp-008ex.415080/

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Hi Colin,
I have yet to read all the comments above.
I discovered a website where you can download all manner of classical sheet music for many instruments, for free.

IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download

imslp.org

I've had loads of Bach and classical guitar stuff from there.
Maybe not the songs of yesteryear like you seek, but it is worth a look.

 

[rob aylestone]

I've got your cunning system now! I totally missed the string name. What you've done is miss that the A you are playing is not actually an A at all, it's an A sharp - you are sort of playing ONLY on the piano white keys, but for that song there are a number of notes that would be black ones on the piano. Even worse, and to add confusion it uses C sharp and D flat, on lines two and one. These two notes are the SAME pitch. D flat, is the same note as C sharp - so each is written differently, really, just to make the music look nice. (It is a bit more complicated than that really, but the aim of sheet music is to present it in the easiest way to play) Even odder is that usually every F is really F sharp in this key, but for good measure, Jarre slips in the odd F natural in bar 21! Like his son, Jean-Michel - he of the Oxygene music from the 70s, they are quite clever!

I've done a quick link for you. Hopefully you can spot the difference between the A and the A Sharp.

[/URL]

 

[TalismanRich]

Colin, that's quite an interesting system you've devised. You can easily add the sharp as # and flat as b. AA# DEb

I have never tried violin. My instrument is guitar, and from there I've played bass, and dabbled in ukulele. I have a lap steel guitar as well, but haven't really tried playing that yet.

For me, the big task was learning how to fingerpick. All my life, I played with a pick. It's different trying to get the fingers to work in a different manner, and my fingernails are horribly soft, so every time one would grow out enough to pick a string, it would split. Now, I just keep them short, and use the pads, which gives a much darker sound. I still can't do "Travis picking" with the thumb doing a bass line and the fingers do the melody. I would give anything to be able to play like Tommy Emmanuel (he's amazing), but the ol' brain just doesn't function that way.

I've piddled with piano, even bought a used Yamaha piano, but I don't have the dexterity anymore to stretch the fingers out, and I can't get the left hand to work independently of the right.

One thing I've done is to keep a guitar next to my recliner. I'll grab it while watching TV, and start playing. Sometimes I'll think of a song and start working it out. Before long, I've forgotten about the TV show, and am lost in playing.

Keep at it.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

My studio is freezing, my wife says turning the heating on is NOT an option.

That's where a big old console comes to the fore. Perhaps a 1KW one.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I've got up to date on all the comments now.
I think you would do best by getting to grips with reading music.
That woud allow you to play any tune.
I sight read for classical guitar, and have worked hard at trying to do the same for piano.
I find that by reading music, you only have to consider the moment you are at, and obay the symbols.
Your system falls down due to there being no timing in it.
Mind you, I did invent my own system for playing the trumpet and flute. That gave me a short cut to making the notes, but didn't have any timing either.

 

[rob aylestone]

Yep - my sight-reading on piano is better than it was but still dreadful, however, I've always had a great memory, so if I go through a piece of sheet music slowly till I'm not making mistakes, I don't have to go back to the beginning for verse 2, my memory seems to talk to my fingers. This, I'm told is actually bad!