G'day all,

Another distinction between violin and fiddle (one I consider to be critical) is that fiddlers play open strings whereas violinists would die rather that introduce such a change in tone from the consistent sound of stopped strings.

This love of the distinctive ring of the open strings shapes the tune (instead of the other way round, as in classical violin) and selects a small group of "fiddle keys": D and G, if your are Irish ... as well as A if you lean to the Scots. (Sorcha: This is probably why your 90 year-old fiddler uses re-tunings)

There are a lot more subtle (and not so subtle) differences, but this is the one that I find sorts out fiddlers from violinists fastest.

Regards,

Bob Bolton