Fiddle Basics
If you've ever had the chance to see and hear a fiddler play the violin, you know it's much different than a night at the symphony. Fiddle music is shorter and uses different rhythms and melodies from what you may find in, say, "The Barber of Seville." "Fiddle music" encompasses violins playing bluegrass, Irish, square and contra dances, Latin dances, Cajun dances, and so on. The fiddle has been played all over the world, and its tunes were made for dance.
Getting Started
You will need to find yourself a fiddle and get immersed within its musical circles.
"Try to be around fiddlers when they're playing," said David A. Kaynor, a self taught fiddle player and teacher. Watch them and listen to how they play. Immersing yourself in fiddle music, preferably live fiddle music, will help you learn it yourself. Look for live fiddle music event announcements in the media and attend social dances, such as local square dances. In addition, you'll want to meet people who play the fiddle and get into fiddle playing networks.
Holding the fiddle
There isn't one set way players have to hold a fiddle.
"The correct way to hold a violin for fiddle playing is any way which allows you to play the notes you want to play as comfortably as possible," Kaynor said.
Typically, the violin is held at the shoulder, with your chin or cheek on the chin rest and the bow held at the frog (the end with a black piece). However, not all fiddle players hold it that way.
The Four Strings
The fiddle's strings are: G (the lowest), D, A and E (the highest). Each string has a continuous number of notes. When you place a finger on the string, it shortens it, making the note higher. Depending on how you space your fingers, the note will go up a half or a whole step.
Starting to play
"Start with the music that you like and the music that you know, because it will be easier for you to translate," said Maria McCullough, Old Town School of Folk Music fiddle teacher. For example, one of McCullough's students liked Elvis' music. So, they started playing Elvis.
One beginning song Kaynor recommended is "Old Joe Clark." Two that McCullough mentioned included "Shortening Bread" and "Angeline the Baker."
YouTube is a good source to watch videos of people playing these songs and to hear the song's melodies. To learn songs, practice often: 30 minutes a day if possible. If you live alone, leave your fiddle out, McCullough said. If it's already out and ready to play, so you can pick it up whenever you feel like it.
Reading music
Reading sheet music can be challenging at first, but stick with it and it will be worth it.
Fiddle music is written in treble clef. The lines on the staff from lowest to highest represent the notes: E, G, B, D, and F. The open D string note can be found written in the space below this E note. The spaces on the Treble staff from lowest to highest represent the notes F A, C, and E, or FACE. The C on the G string is one line below the Treble staff. The A on the G string is two lines below the Treble staff.
In music, there are quarter notes (a solid colored note with a stick coming off of it) that get one beat, eighth notes (identifiable from the flag coming off of the note's stick) that get half of a beat, half notes (identifiable from a stick coming off the note and a hollow center) that get two beats, and whole notes (a hollow note with no stick extending off of it) which are played the entire length of a standard (4/4 time) measure.
Last, but not least...
There are plenty of different music available today. If you don't like something, you don't have to play it. So, go out, get involved and get immersed. Until you hear it, you may not believe just what a little fiddle and a skilled player can do.
Happy fiddling!
Tags: lowest highest, Treble staff, below Treble, below Treble staff, coming note