So you want to learn to play the fiddle?

Subject: RE: So you want to learn to play the fiddle?
From: Erin Alia
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 06:46 PM

As a practicing classical violinist, the first time I heard Celtic and folksy fiddling it spun my head faster than the wheels on a Roman Chariot. The style is so different from what I'm used to hearing that I literally can't follow or predict the notes (something I'm used to doing in a classical piece). I have the basic techiniqe of holding the bow and fiddle, but the style and the music--! Are there any violinists-turned-fiddlers out there that have some tips for coping with the stylistic differences?

Any help would be greatly appreciated-- Erin Alia

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Subject: RE: So you want to learn to play the fiddle?
From: Richk
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 09:17 AM

Hi,

I played guitar in standard tuning for years. One evening several many years ago I stumbled into Paddy Burke's Pub in Boston, Mass, and heard Brehan Law, a local Irish trio, and heard by first kick-a*s mandolin playing. I was hooked and bought a mandolin shortly after that.

Some time after that my grandmother's fiddle surfaced when one of my cousins didn't want it anymore and I took a few months of lessons right before I turned 30.

I found the basic fingering patterns easier to remember because of the mandolin background ( I had taught myself mandolin), but I definately lacked the skill of bowing.

It was right after that I met my wife while playing mandolin in a pub in the Bronx. Out of sheer love for her (and now our infant son) I've hung up the fiddle until we get a larger place with a sound-proof practice room.

It ain't a pretty sound.

Happiest New Year to everyone out there!

Subject: RE: So you want to learn to play the fiddle?
From: hank
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 08:34 AM

No, accually I want to be an expert player, doing Charlie Danails and the like with not problems. Without going through the bother of accually learning.

Learning fiddle is a second best option, but one that will wait until I can play the mandolin sounds in my mind, on a mandolin. I'd love to have a fiddle though, and may eventially go through the effort to learn.

Accually I was playing fiddle this past week at a friends, and I could make what most folks would recignise as twinkle twinkle little star, but thats about all you can say about it.

Subject: RE: So you want to learn to play the fiddle?
From: Musicman
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 03:19 AM

Fiddle is one of the many instruments I still want to learn. Unfortunately no-one has seen fit to give me one yet. I have had many other instruments given to me over the years, some from family, others by likable people. These include a button accordian, three piano accordians (1 12bass, 2 120bass, I am still wanting a 48bass which was my original request, but that's another story!), a Wheatstone Concertina (family) and a mandolin ( on loan, probably permanently!) But alas! no fiddle! I keep hoping that one day.......... However!!! I do love the music, the Irish, Scottish, Bluegrass, and East Coast styles and play whenever I can get the chance. I usually am playing guitar, Whistle or Bodhran.

Anyway, enough ramblin', keep on fiddlin'!!!

Subject: So you want to learn to play the fiddle?
From: Fidla
Date: 30 Dec 98 - 12:47 PM

Is there any interest out there from people who want to learn to play the fiddle? Maybe you took a few recorder lessons in grade school, or piano in college. Maybe your girlfriend plays guitar and you want to play with her in more ways than one? What's the consensus? Email me at [e-mail]