Learning to recognize intervals is of critical importance on the violin for any musician looking to develop their relative pitch. It allows the violinist to tune the violin properly (as there is a fifth between each open string that the player must learn to recognize).
Also, it assists in intonation by allowing the player to compare a pitch to an open string or an unfamiliar high note to a familiar note in first position. For instance, a first finger A-natural in first position on the G string forms a perfect fourth with the open D above. Similarly, the E-natural first finger on the D string in first position forms a perfect fourth with the open A string above. Knowing this helps the violinist know exactly where the finger should be placed. Of course, key to this process is that the violin must be in tune with itself.
For some, learning to associate intervals with the first couple of notes of a song they know well can help with learning intervals. For instance, many people can hum “Here comes the Bride” but it can be useful to know that the first two notes form an ascending perfect fourth. A good goal for a violinist is to apply this knowledge to playing with good intonation in every position through comparing notes to open string, or to other notes elsewhere on the instrument.
Songs
minor second (half-step) M2 minor 2nd
Ascending
Jaws
What's New?
Nice Work if you can get it
San Francisco (Left my heart)
I Remember You
I'm Getting Sentimental over You
Bye Bye Black Bird
Stormy Weather
It's Been a Hard Day's Night (Beatles)
Descending
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Joy to the World
The Theme (M. Davis)
Sophisticated Lady
Stella by Starlight
The Lady is a Tramp
Solar (M. Davis)
Shall We Dance (The King and I)
Fur Elise
Hernando's Hideaway
Major Second (whole-step) M2 Major 2nd
Ascending
Happy Birthday
Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Silent Night
There Will Never be Another You
Tennessee Waltz
My Funny Valentine
Body and Soul
They Say, Ruby
Frere Jacques
Doe, a Deer (Sound of Music)
Descending
Mary had a Little Lamb
Deck the Halls
Away in a Manger
Yesterday (Beatles)
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Freddie Freeloader
Three Blind Mice
Whistle While You Work
Mary Had a Little Lamb
M.A.S.H.
Blue Moon
Satin Doll
Tune Up
My Girl
The First Noel
minor third (m3, minor 3rd)
Ascending
Work Song
Confirmation
Georgia on my Mind
A Foggy Day
Moontrane
The Impossible Dream
Somewhere my Love
O Canada
Oh Where, Oh Where has my Little dog Gone?
Brahm's Lullaby
Greensleeves
So Long, Farewell (Sound of Music)
Descending
Frosty the Snowman
What is This Thing Called Love?
500 Miles High (C. Corea)
Misty
When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Hey Jude
Peter Gunn
You're a Grand Old Flag
This Old Man
Jesus Loves Me
Star Spangled Banner
Major Third (M3, Major 3rd)
Ascending
Oh When the Saints
I Can't Get Started
Kum Ba Yah
While Shepherds Watched
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Well I Come From Alabama
From the Halls of Montezuma
{Big Ben Sounding the Hour?}
Descending
Beethoven's Fifth
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Good Night Ladies
Summertime
Giant Steps
Come Rain or Come Shine
Bessie's Blues
Perfect Fourth (P4, perfect 4th)
Ascending
Here Comes the Bride
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Oh Christmas Tree
Doxy
'Round Midnight
Maiden Voyage
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
All the Things
Ornithology
Song for my Father
Love me Tender
Auld Lang Syne
Aura Lee
The British Grenadiers
Amazing Grace
Someday my Prince Will Come
Day is Done (Taps)
Descending
Shave and a Haircut
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Valse Hot (Not Intro!)
Yardbird Suite
Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise
I Didn't Know What Time it Was
Almighty Fortress is Our God
Baseball Chant
Bizet's "L'Arsienne"
Make New Friends
Bizet's Farandole
Born Free
I've Been Working on the Railroad
Tritone (augmented fourth (4th) diminished fifth (5th)
Ascending
Maria (West Side Story)
The Simpsons
Descending
Blue Seven (Sonny Rollins)
European Siren
Perfect fifth (P5, perfect 5th)
Ascending
Twinkle, Twinkle
Theme from 2001
Whisper Not (Benny Golson)
Theme From Peanuts
Bags Groove
Lavender's Blue
Hey There Georgy Girl
Blackbird (Beatles)
Descending
Feelings
7 Steps to Heaven (M. Davis)
Have You Met Miss Jones?
The Way You Look Tonight
Mozart's Minuet in G
Flintstones
Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella
minor sixth (m6, minor sixth)
Ascending
Love Story (third and fourth notes)
The Entertainer
Morning of the Carnival
Go Down Moses
The Entertainer (third and fourth notes)
Descending
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Love Story Theme
Please Don't Talk About me When I'm Gone
You're Everything (C. Corea)
Major Sixth (M6, major 6th)
Ascending
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Theme from "The Sting"
NBC
Dashing Through the Snow
Descending
You're a Weaver of Dreams
Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen
O-ver There
Gonna Lay Down My Sword and Shield
minor seventh (m7, minor seventh)
Ascending
There's a Place for Us (West Side Story)
Old Star Trek Theme
Have You Driven a Ford?
Somewhere (West Side Story)
I'll Close My Eyes
Descending
Watermelon Man (H. Hancock)
Theme from American in Paris
Little Red's Fantasy (Woody Shaw)
Major Seventh (M7, Major Seventh)
Ascending
Cast Your Fate to the Wind
Ceora
Theme from Fantasy Island
Superman
Bali Hai (South Pacific)
Descending
I Love You
"Hee Haw" From the Grand Canyon Suite
Perfect Octave (P8, Perfect 8th)
Ascending
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
A Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
Let it Snow!
McDonald's Commercial (?)
Del Sasser
Blue Bossa
Descending
There's No Business Like Show Business (Notes 2-3)
Willow Weep for Me
I Love You (The Other One)
