First Frets – Violin intonation guide

Position template for violin. Available for sizes 4/4 to 1/4.

• Specially designed for beginners and students
• Makes learning and playing the instrument easier
• Developed by Dr. Phillip Coonce, violinist and teacher
• Easy to apply and remove without leaving residue

In music, the word “fret” refers to the raised strips found on instruments such as guitars – but it also means worry or frustration. And that is exactly what many beginner string players, as well as their teachers, parents and neighbours, experience when it comes to intonation.

That is where the position templates from the US company Don’t Fret come in. The self-adhering templates require no adhesive and stay in place by static cling, leaving the fingerboard completely untouched.

They provide beginners and their left hands with clear guidance on the fingerboard. And for anyone questioning the educational value of such aids: Shinichi Suzuki himself used position markings – and they were already recommended in the Baroque period by Francesco Geminiani, Michel Corrette and Leopold Mozart.