Ranking PAGANINI 24 Caprices 🎻 [Difficulty Tier List]

Want some free practice motivation? Join the practice community on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/practice-together 🎵 Open to all instruments and levels.
Do you know which Paganini Caprices are the most difficult/which one you’ll need to spend the most hours on? Watch this video to find out!
0:00 - Intro
00:47 - Power scaling
01:34 - No. 1
01:57 - No. 2
02:26 - No. 3
03:20 - No. 4
04:08 - No. 5
04:50 - No. 6
05:16 - No. 7
05:59 - No. 8
06:25 - No. 9
06:51 - No. 10
07:17 - No. 11
07:59 - No. 12
08:30 - No. 13
09:43 - No. 14
10:15 - No. 15
11:14 - No. 16
12:07 - No. 17
13:17 - No. 18
13:48 - No. 19
14:56 - No. 20
15:46 - No. 21
16:43 - No. 22
17:42 - No. 23
18:30 - No. 24

[@RayChenViolinist]

Now that you know which caprices to practice, go join the others on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/join-in 🎵

[@juliancardenas4474]

@RayChenViolinist could you do a rank of "show pieces"? That would also be very cool 👏👏👏

[@user-lf2tj9xv5s]

8:26 There are so many notes that you have to rate, sir?? Come on 😭😭😭 there is so hard 🙌🙌🙌

[@user-gb6fk5rz1z]

tonic is scam

[@Kai.942]

So Ray I've been looking for a violin to play and I'm looking at sum in my price range but idk which one to get for a starter

[@ElsweyrDiego]

Remember, kids: 1 week for a soloist = 6 months (being very optimist) for mortals who got there finally!

[@Marguerite-Rouge]

That's exactly what I thought when I heard the meaning of each category. And it depends on many techniques you have practiced before (for example, I am not afraid at all of octaves or chords, but crazy bowing, ricochet, and neat staccato are way more difficult for me).

[@M_SC]

Mortals who have played for 10 years already

[@ElsweyrDiego]

10? you are being veeeery optimistic. 10 years is just to finish suzuki books... another 10 years to reach paganini-level!@@M_SC

[@anja9528]

I mean if you want to prepare them for a CD recording level then the 1st and 24th are way higher up... especially the 24th, there isn't a single flawless performance or one that does exactly what's written - that one is a trap

[@ElsweyrDiego]

@@anja9528 it's because it uses many techniques, like Ray said everyone is good at something and not so good at something. very rare someone who plays perfectly with each technique, bowing, etc. the violin has to offer

[@sergeirachmaninoff7805]

putting no. 1 in a tier is, to say the least, very bold 😭

[@Zareh_Abrahamian]

Those double stop scale runs are impossible to play fast for normal humans.

[@jamestsai4315]

Yeah. Generally speaking, I put 1-8 as a level above the others, the middle third 9-16 is probably the easiest, and then 17-24 in the middle, even keeping in mind that there are ways to cheat the first 8 (detache on 5, unmetered trills in 6 etc...). But who knows, if you've been at Curtis since the age of 12, maybe scales in 3rds, fingered octaves, and high arpeggio jumps are straight up not a technical obstacle.

[@andrewzhang8512]

carl flesch on steroids bahahahaha

[@jason101other]

Chen has not been at Curtis since 12. Try 16. He was not accepted tge first time he auditioned

[@fateindustry]

I played 1,2,16, and 24 before. I think #1 is not as difficult. Personally, I believe #3, 4, 7 and 17 are the hardest out of all 24. I strained my hand playing the #3.

[@diorviolin]

Ray: it’s not difficult at all and very friendly Me: “practicing for a year and still bad at it”

[@Gemoraly-iv2fz]

I mean he thinks everything is easy but maybe just because hes a soloist

[@user-db6dq6je3r]

​@Gemoraly-iv2fz we do have to keep in mind, the list starts at A at bottom. The easiest is still above most pieces.

[@apz202]

april fools.

[@devyysk]

keep at it. ray is one of the best talents of our age, so please dont be discouraged by his hard work

[@legend6663]

Dion ur not that bad

[@ryanschlimme]

I practiced No 16 for months and it still turned out terrible with stage fright hahaha. These caprices (even the easiest ones) are super difficult. Who would've guessed?!?

[@bobhail4348]

The picture of Paganini in the background is fire 🔥🔥

[@txsphere]

Does Ray not realize he opened a can of worms with this as now we want to hear him play all 24 of them.

[@user-xq9li5rn5e]

I’m so impressed with the editing, it’s so good. Editor San, you have competition

[@M_SC]

Editor-san means mr/ms editor. It’s not a name like editor Bobby. Unless you’re arguing that twoset’s editor is THE editor.

[@priscillamacias-rosa3385]

I was just thinking the same thing! Great content with great editing makes for a great video!!

[@xandraxandra1437]

​@M_SC It's a joke from Twoset. Never mind, they have quit KZbin.

[@rozyrose210]

I’d love to see a Bach Sonata & Partita tier list!!

[@margaritaalves3513]

Hello Ray. I'm 65 years old, I live in Portugal and I really like your music and I hope you give a concert in this country again. I wish you a lot of happiness. Keep making your videos. Congratulations on your success. You are a great talent! A hug and a kiss. (this is the affectionate way the Portuguese have of ending messages. Goodbye.

[@user-ce6ic1ds9e]

There are lots of people who want Ray to do a concert in their country.

[@margaritaalves3513]

Wrong answer.

[@iwatchtoomuchtwoset]

My fingers hurt form just watching this

[@kirstenkolkman6758]

omg I love your profile pic!

[@lingodelfo5415]

I have always been wondering this, and now there's a video to answer this question, and with explanations too!

[@heitron81]

I really enjoy the editing of your videos. It is entertaining and fun, yet tasteful and not too distracting. ❤

[@agathaknive3321]

Love the editing!!

[@spencers4092]

I've been struggling with no. 11 for a while. Ray: "pretty simple"

[@freeziez8569]

Here’s my 2 cents: S-Tier: 1, 4 A-Tier: 2, 3, 7, 8, 17, 23 B-Tier: 6, 11, 12, 21, 24 C-Tier: 10, 15, 18, 19, 22 D-Tier: 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20 - just as a violin-player trying to get them up to performance level :)

[@freeziez8569]

I might move 17 up to the S-Tier. I can imagine it would be hard to get those fingered octaves up to a decent speed.

[@marceloalbuja]

A much more realistic tier 😉

[@stevengu1253]

Funnily enough, 4 is long but still somewhat playable. Some of Paganini's caprices are just hard to impossible to play.

[@Matematica-LinguaDelMondo]

Thank you, that's more realistic. Maybe I would put 7 with 4 and 1, it's way difficulter than 23, I'm now playing them with 22 in some concerts, and I would say that the chords part of the number 7 is savage

[@freeziez8569]

@@Matematica-LinguaDelMondo Wouldn't know. It's like back in elementary school trying to wrestle one of those big guys who are now 6'5".

[@amandacollecutt2491]

cool video! Ill be getting back on tonic when I get a new phone! Im really checking your technique now. You are one of my favourite players!

[@philosophicalmeditation4969]

Thank you for taking your time to make the video, very helpful and inspiring....

[@alessioandreoli2145]

Fantastic Ray and everybody else.

[@eshleynn7142]

Nice, never watch such a detail explanation for Paganini’s pieces.Btw, loves the panini bun popping up 😆

[@Lauren-xp8wo]

Ray chen, thank you so much! because of you, I could take part in the solo because of your summer lesson. Thank you so much!!!!!

[@kittykate5402]

Great video!! Thank you so much! I've been wanting to start learning these but haven't quite known which to start with. Could you do a video on ranking Bach's Partitas and Sonatas?? That would be great!!

[@crispyfrank]

Love the coffee setup, including the Niche grinder! Oh - and nice violin work too.

[@vivianchongziqingmoe5943]

This is amazing

[@MineKnightus]

Sweet coffee setup! The niche grinder, the fellow kettle, and the water spritz bottle. I see you're a guy who enjoys coffee 👀

[@vanessachromik3879]

Can't wait to find out which caprice I'll try out (and quickly be humbled by) first, tbh with probably way too little experience / technique. But nothing a lot of (smart) practice can't fix 😄

[@DavidBergman1776]

I would try 16 or 20. You won't get so demoralized :D

[@jurjenbos228]

"I suck at arpeggios". That's how to recognize an expert: they will never claim to know it all

[@ShruthiM_7344]

RayChen Sir my favourite violin music start from 4th till to end it will be super I have seen this in your KZbin channel it will be very nice to hear & see 😳 thanks Sir🙋🏻( I don't have any knowledge about violin & have not learn only I can listen the music feel it ☺️)

[@Itsyoboyjy]

The editing is great

[@shannonmoro401]

You did fantastic at the concert in LA and San diego. Thank you for remembering me from Feb. Thank you for signing my violin and liking my jacket.

[@M_SC]

Signed your violin!!!

[@chia_s_ee_d]

Ooooh can’t wait for this!!!!❤❤

[@jh.y00N]

It's so awesome that it hurts to say👍🏻👍🏻✨🥇👑

[@annapap6535]

Amazing ❤

[@AAA-bh9ko]

Cannot wait for release

[@troyjarrett4348]

Now as a French horn player I shall transpose my faves and practice

[@FabianLopez-sf1ol]

Mr. Chan, you are a fantastic violinist, no limits for your mastering of the violin technic, please tell us how to practice them and what to do!

[@user-sp7re7ei6d]

Fantastic ❤

[@marcomensing4862]

Excelente,Ray Chen 🎻🎵🎶

[@agatafurczyk9149]

YT has recently suggested some videos to me with titles like 'classical music is dying'... But I say: It depends where you look! 😁

[@riddhiphatak9529]

Whatttt

[@7kaisheba]

I love the passion for the music, even though I can not play the violin, a little bit keyboard.😊

[@mathieudg6915]

Wasn't expecting the Dark Soul and Mob Psycho references! Nice video as always.

[@tiffcat1100]

Love the floating cowboy hat! ❤

[@joshablatzheim9075]

Great 🎼🎶🎻👍🎉 Greetings from 🇪🇺 🇩🇪 , JB 🙋‍♂️

[@gracejosepheyoh9417]

Wow great skills 😮😮😮

[@Hieuhoi2623]

Hâm mộ anh quá ❤

[@josephkalbach468]

Mr Chen - Thank you for taking time to spend with Karolina Protsenko, I just came across her and you a few days ago from the street performance, your both down to earth. I like all types of music and a Show that I loved was the Carolina Christmas Opry Myrtle Beach back in Nov 2001 and then again Dec 2004. Spirit of the Dance also there at the Palace Theater. I love to see where a classical concert musician just playing somewhere where they people have no idea who they are. Do you play other insturments?

[@killerecho]

After the TwoSet prank, I was expecting this to be another April Fools video, but it wasn't. Or maybe it is, because I'll never be able to play any of these =(

[@M_SC]

😂

[@glma2711]

So in essence, for normies, the unit of measure for how fast one could learn it would be in years instead of weeks. LOL

[@TheVinylFactor]

Great video as always. I love that blue paganini image, does someone knows where I can get it?

[@Samstercraft77]

maybe replace the word "week" with "year" or "decade" but other than that W tierlist

[@constantinemacris9047]

editor is goated

[@JphillipsIII]

Ray you are litteraly my idol i hope to go to curtis someday

[@Skw-ij7jg]

Could you please make a video about "A Day in the Life of the World's Famous Violinist - RAY CHEN"....I mean a normal day VLOG for what you do throughout the day (just curious about your daily routine)

[@anitacestari4949]

Sublime👏👏👏👏👏

[@agatafurczyk9149]

Now I know where my pitchfork was when I needed it! 🤣

[@iwatchtoomuchtwoset]

20 + 21 = 22 *✨r a y m a t h✨*

[@chrishart9377]

MORE...MORE...MORE!!! C. Thomas

[@MattLeGroulx]

You should do this with the Bach Sonatas and Partitas. I think that would help a lot of people.

[@justusforviolin2719]

Gotcha covered 1)Emaj 2)Gmin 3)Dmin (not the Chaccone though) 4) C Maj 5) Bmin 6) Amin 7) Chaccone (mostly due to the fact that it is 14min long and requires a good amount of emotional maturity to perform well and compellingly)

[@bindak]

I am totally distracted by the S-tier (or, ???-tier in this case 😂) coffee and tea setup. I’d be down with your making something on it as a video ☕️ 🫖

[@handsomeayden]

The list can be suggested by twoset’s😂

[@XianahHikaru]

Frr

[@anitacestari4949]

Sublime👏👏👏👏👏

[@j7...]

But twoset announced quitting KZbin in favor of their bubble Tea Empire xD

[@nancyjfs]

@@j7... Not Exactly!

[@j7...]

@@nancyjfs wooosh

[@amandas.6500]

My mouth was open the whole time... these are all so complicated.....😮

[@lardgedarkrooster6371]

When I was a wee lad in my first year of highschool, I almost completely learned 23 (the first one I ever tried), which was probably way too high above my skill level and teachers would always doubt me, but I almost could play at least the octaves and could do the mid section if slowed down a bit. I can't really play it now anymore nearly 6 years later (although maybe I could if I got back into playing again, but I'm really rusty atm), but I'm surprised at how high my skill level was at the time and kinda miss it. I also tried to learn 4, 14, 17, 19, 20, and 24. Keep in mind, I was almost entirely self-taught. It goes without saying though, these caprices are extremely challenging (as is almost anything written by Paganini). I can't really rank all of these pieces as I haven't tried them all, but the ones I have tried are probably around where I'd put them. Great video

[@DOORNAILS100]

Paganini is the original shredder, you can't change my mind!

[@brent3522]

Vivaldi would be offended lol

[@tiffcat1100]

Sitting in UK eating an ice cream (ok, 3, since the others will melt before they reach my freezer) & just enjoying listening in my car! ❤

[@oxoelfoxo]

3 in one sitting!? i always keep a small, lightweight cooler bag with me in case i ever buy on a whim anything that needs to be kept cold

[@tiffcat1100]

@@oxoelfoxo It was an executive decision! 😂🐷😂

[@selgeaus]

Next tierlist should be how nice the melodies are

[@nicolassantos3362]

Ray chennn came to Brazilllll, especilly Curitiba - Párana because the center of music of the country is in a near by state, so its close to them came e then i can watch you also because i live in curitiba ahahhahah

[@willemklose]

As a viewer from Germany I'd avoid naming a Tier SS 🌝

[@M_SC]

😂

[@xandraxandra1437]

Though about that too.

[@karindwarswaard]

Good call😂

[@doginrefrigerator]

i forgor about that 💀

[@wojtekdobrowolski8084]

As a viewer from Poland, I couldn't agree more.

[@amoxicillin1123]

Wanna enjoy the full version from u Ray!

[@user-fi9ug1vb5j]

I can’t believe that ray said caprice 5 is “fun”

[@JacquesLuu]

you used to not have upbow staccato, you got it now. how about you make us a little tutorial how you develop it ? :)

[@nickcarroll8565]

Bro he already made an upbow staccato tutorial

[@hazzatsa]

Caprice No. 1 in a week? Have you only just played the first 3 lines? It’s definitely on the SS side especially those stretches and getting every single note clear as crystals!

[@siananaomi]

Yes I would agree! It says Adagio however to play it rhythmically correctly in a MM stating Adagio, it is very FAST!

[@krisbethbenitez]

Hello, oh I'm not late for Tonic, I wanted a violin but congratulations to the winners

[@krisbethbenitez]

I wrote on Instagram

[@krisbethbenitez]

on telegram, I didn't have it but I already have it

[@maddiegonzalez263]

I want Two Set to react to this and get their opinion cause they always mention Paganini lol

[@rjkbuny]

Ray's such a humble human being that sometimes I forget just how ridiculously good he is until he says stuff like, paganini caprice 1, hmm... maybe can get it ready in a week?

[@yarieliszayas]

This gives me a headache but in a good way

[@GrimReapeRmP]

Having played them all for my teacher at decent but not concert quality i can say this is for sure a weird list. Bro put the no 1 where u need good technique just to play the first chord xd side with no 9. My take is that even at the highest level the main goal is to be in tune with the spirit of the caprice and not hit every single note. I even believe that in many occasions few notes slightly out of tune can produce more interesting intervals and reinforce the diabolical vibe that paganini intended to create. The tier list is depended on he type of performance one has in mind. Maybe for a Markov type performance 12 will be on A tier and 15 on the SSS and for a Midori/Hilary accuracy 15 or even 17 can be on A tier while 12 is SSS. Of course my list is based on me playing them at 90% accuracy..not great not terrible. ??? 1,2,3,4, sss 5,7,8,11,12 ss 6,15,17,18,21 s 16,19,22,23,24 a 9,10,13,14,20

[@sabrinai]

When hearing no. 9 my brain just immediately goes to twoset: dundundun dundundun and everyone at the con playing it.

[@xandraxandra1437]

It's a chame they left KZbin, I'll miss them

[@DavidBergman1776]

@@xandraxandra1437 ITS AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE WHYYYY

[@totalwar1793]

All the A tier ones are basically the next step up after you're done with Carl Flesch scales before you start any of the other Pag Caprices.

[@maxfloresydamienflores2740]

Can you review Roman Kim for a video?

[@kimi-euriii]

omgggg i love niccolo paganini

[@kaloarepo288]

Rachmaninoff of course used this variation in his "Paganini Rhapsody" and in the course of it he turns the theme backwards to create that lush romantic section. Lloyd Webber also used it in the musical "Song and Dance."

[@Deadbushfan1618]

There's a cool story about the 9th caprice that I read up somewhere, where the young Ernst went to Paganini to have his technical abilities evaluated. However, Ernst misinterpreted the marking 'flautando' at the start, and played the whole piece in double harmonics to Paganini! After Ernst stopped playing, Paganini said 'It's a little devil!' (which essentially means 'hey boss what's up')

[@piano.is.a.language]

Can I please ask you what do you whisper when you play violin? I notice some musicians do that, are you counting? Just curious 👀

[@TeddyBilly]

I want you to know i bought a violin because of you

[@guskelly4995]

You know Ray’s good when he says A tier takes one week to learn

[@susanbryant6516]

Some are appealing to listen to than others, but all are nteresting.

[@user-ce6ic1ds9e]

To Ray Chen or anyone who can answer my question: How do you get the Tonic sticker? ( I am asking as a tonic member)

[@selgeaus]

"After this, you can finger any octaves" that comment killed me

[@coltonclark1901]

Man Paganini Caprice 24 hits different when it's played by Ray Chen as an encore!

[@piano.is.a.language]

"Friendly" he says. 😆😆❤️

[@doginrefrigerator]

he should have name the highest tier "lingling"

[@quest-cequecesttonvisage]

please make a website for Tonic, I love the app but can't use it on my phone

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

nice tier list. as a not-violin-pro, i can't relate or easily understand the ranking of these caprices.

[@TheBigOG1971]

Ray, can you make a video of yourself learning and playing The Devil Went Down To Georgia by the Charlie Daniel’s Band??!!

[@Iem0nADE]

Paganini: this is my gratest music Lizst: *our music*

[@obsidianquill7949]

This is completely off topic from the video but what keyboard do you have there? It looks custom

[@ahwahwahwa3944]

0:18 I'm dying lol 'YOU DIED'

[@ElsweyrDiego]

So number 6 is easier than devil's trill sonata and can be used as a preparatory?

[@mariapaulraj263]

I'm havin a good time blinking 😳😢🤐 lol 😂🤣

[@insunkhe777]

Господи!!!! Он разговаривает так же быстро, как играет!!! 😂😘😘 Но играет просто бесподобно!!!! Обожаю профессионалов и талантливых, провяленных людей!!!! Удачи!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@ctrl-del630]

я полностью согласен😊