Pop Songs You Didn’t Know You Could Play on the Violin
Contents
- “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber
- “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
- “Havana” by Camila Cabello, Young Thug, and Pharrell
- “Attention” by Charlie Puth
- “No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande
- “All of Me” by John Legend
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
- “Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara
- “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey
- “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
Looking for some new and interesting songs to play on the violin? Check out our list of pop songs you didn’t know you could play on the violin!
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber
“Despacito” is a reggaeton and Latin pop song composed in common time (4 4 time) with a length of three minutes and forty-seven seconds. The song was written by Luis Fonsi, Erika Ender, and Daddy Yankee, and produced by Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres. “Despacito” was first released by Universal Music Latin on January 13, 2017. A remixed version featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber was released on April 17, 2017.
The remix helped to improve the song’s popularity in Europe and North America, resulting in peak positions on the charts of numerous countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the United States, “Despacito” became the first song primarily in Spanish to top the Billboard Hot 100 since “Macarena” (Bayside Boys Mix) in 1996. It is also Bieber’s sixth number-one on the Hot 100 chart as a featured artist. The original version of “Despacito” won three Latin Grammy Awards including Record of the Year at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
“Shape of You” is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released as a digital download on 6 January 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album ÷ (2017), along with “Castle on the Hill”. The dancehall-influenced pop song…
“Havana” by Camila Cabello, Young Thug, and Pharrell
“Havana” is a song recorded by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, featuring vocals from American rappers Young Thug and Pharrell Williams. It was released on August 3, 2017, as the lead single from her eponymous debut studio album. The song became Cabello’s first number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Attention” by Charlie Puth
“Attention” is a song recorded by American singer Charlie Puth for his second studio album, Voicenotes (2018). The song was written by Jacob Kasher, Puth and its producer DJ Frank E. “Attention” is a mid-tempo pop power ballad with smooth R&B sensibilities. The lyrics find Puth begging for a lover’s attention.
The song received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and Puth’s vocal delivery. “Attention” peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. Internationally, the song topped the charts in New Zealand and peaked within the top ten in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Malaysia, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.
“No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande
“No Tears Left to Cry” is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. The song was released on April 20, 2018, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Sweetener. The song was written by Grande, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson and its producers, Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. “No Tears Left to Cry” is a midtempo pop and R&B song with house and trap influences.
The song’s music video was released on the same day as the single and was directed by Dave Meyers. It features Grande dancing in various locations throughout New York City. “No Tears Left to Cry” received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and praised Grande’s decision to return to uplifting messages following the Manchester Arena bombing. The song entered the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Grande’s ninth top 10 single in the United States. Internationally, it topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary and Scotland.
“All of Me” by John Legend
John Legend’s “All of Me” is a beautiful love song that has become a popular choice for weddings over the past few years. The lyrics are simple and romantic, and the melody is both haunting and unforgettable. While the original version is played on the piano, it turns out that this song is actually quite easy to play on the violin as well!
To play “All of Me” on the violin, you will need to know how to read sheet music, as well as how to play some basic chords. The good news is that there are only a few chords in this song, and they are all fairly easy to learn. Once you have those down, you will be able to play this lovely tune for your friends and family in no time!
“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
“Perfect” is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 26 September 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album, ÷ (2017), along with “Castle on the Hill”. The lyrical content is based on his past relationships. The song debuted at number four in the UK and has since peaked at number one, becoming Sheeran’s sixth UK number-one single.
The violin solo in “Perfect” is played by Ann Marie Calhoun.
“Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara
Here’s a fun one! “Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara is a popular song that you can easily play on the violin. The key to playing this song on the violin is to use your bow to create a “bouncing” effect. This will create the right rhythm and make the song sound great!
To play “Stay,” start by placing your violin in the correct position. You’ll want to hold the violin under your chin and support it with your left hand. Then, place your right hand palm-down on the strings.
Next, use your bow to play the string in an up-and-down motion. Be sure to use a light touch so that you don’t create too much noise. You can also use your pinky finger to lightly touch the string as you’re playing to create a softer sound.
Finally, experiment with different speeds and rhythms to find what sounds best for you. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to play this song!
“Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey
The Chainsmokers are an American electronic DJ and production duo consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. Halsey is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. “Closer” is a song by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey. The song was released on July 29, 2016, as the lead single from The Chainsmokers’ debut studio album, Collage (2016). “Closer” became both The Chainsmokers’ and Halsey’s first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The violin part in “Closer” is actually quite simple, and can be played by beginner violinists. The melody is mostly in the first position, with a few notes in the second position. The song uses only natural harmonics, so there are no accidentals (sharps or flats).
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay is a song that you can play on the violin! This song is perfect for beginners, as it only requires you to know a few basic notes. The song is also great for more experienced violinists, as it provides a good challenge.