The question was why do fiddlers not play jigs. I hope those with a more complete knowledge of our musical history than I have will jump in here and provide enlightenment. I'd like to know more. Meanwhile, I can add only that in my area of the Ga. mountains I never heard an old timer play in 6/8 time. They did play waltzes. The banjo pickers were usually hard pressed in 3/4 time but they tried because people wanted to play and hear and dance waltzes. So with jigs, which was missing? The dancers or the fiddlers?
Charcloth, How on earth do you get two licks in a row with the same finger at 100 b.p.m.? I would think it'd be easier to do a sort of (index), (slide, pull, hammer or whatever), (Thumb) and repeat. Two short beats in a row with the same finger (or the thumb) is hard to do.