I have been playing my violin a lot lately. I really need some different songs to play around with. I am looking for a book with songs that I can actually use for learning and memorizing proper finger placements, so it will become natural when I pick it up. 

I am not interested in more fiddle songs, and classical drives me crazy, as I have stated before, I am just not up to it and I have issues learning anything from it. It is a constant battle if I have to fight to just understanding that music, figuring out what it is supposed to sound like, etc. I can’t learn and memorize finger placement for intonation, if the entire I am trying to figure out the tune itself.

That said, I am not looking for a discussion on why any of the above are issues or what I am not looking for, or ways to get over the classical hangup, I am really not a fan of at least 80% of classical music I have.

I am looking for a book recommendation that has commonly known pieces in first position, with alternative periodic stretches or touches of shifting, but enough of the 1st that I can actually play and get used to first. I am not looking to challenge myself, right now. That will come after I am comfortable with actually picking up the violin and can feel that I am in first position. 

I do believe the book would be like what would be considered beginner getting into intermediate. I am done with Twinkle Twinkle, Long Long Ago, etc.

I have been playing around with Fiddlerman’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow (lovely arrangement), although, I do have an issue with one part. I have been using the fourth finger, when appropriate, even when fingering still notates the open E, etc, to avoid the open string and try to make it a natural thing to do. I don’t want to get into the habit of always using open strings, I want fourth to feel natural, not a new thing later.

I am not a fan of downloading, I never find what I want anyway.

Does anyone know of a book of 60’s, show tunes, not really fast songs, etc that is written in a way that beginner to just beyond beginner, and maybe introducing to intermediate with a few pieces? I have one, but it has crazy key signatures and I have enough trouble following two flats, which I am working on, but I don’t want to have to skip or fight a majority of songs in the book. I just have trouble controlling my violin, at the moment with backing up to a b flat, etc. I need to get comfortable and secure, first.

I think I covered the issues I am trying to avoid with the book, I have too many books that I have purchased and had to put away, or giveaway because they were just way beyond what I will be able to do even in a year. I do need a book. The book in hand, making notes, etc, is how I learn. I know a fast song can be played slower, but if I know it is to be faster, I always play it faster that I am able to play and actually learn from it. Yes, I do scales, but it does not transfer to songs. They do not help everyone.

Thanks, until then, I will keep searching.