Violin

The Fiddle

When played as a folk instrument, the violin is ordinarily referred to in English as a fiddle.

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One very slight difference between "fiddles" and ordinary violins may be seen in American (e.g., bluegrass and old-time music) fiddling: in these styles, the bridge is often shaved down so that it is less curved. This makes it easier to play double stops, and often makes triple stops possible, allowing one to play chords.

Related Topics:
Bluegrass - Old-time music - Bridge - Double stop - Triple stop - Chord

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Most musicians agree that the technical difference between a violin and a fiddle is the bridge. Most classical violinists prefer rounded bridges that allow them to more easily articulate the notes which have better clarity. Fiddlers often prefer flatter bridges that allow the playing of double notes and shuffles. In practice, most instruments are constructed with a rounded bridge to better accommodate the shape of the fingerboard.

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Historically, the word fiddle also referred to a predecessor of today's violin. Like the violin, it tended to have 4 strings, but came in a variety of shapes and sizes. Another series of instruments which contributed to the development of the modern fiddle was the viol, which was played while held between the legs, and has a fretted fingerboard.

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Fiddle styles

To a greater extent than classical violin playing, fiddle playing is characterized by a huge variety of ethnic or folk music traditions, each of which has its own distinctive sound, including, but not limited to:

Related Topics:
Violin - Fiddle playing - Folk music

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• American fiddling, including
• Old Time fiddling
• New England style fiddling
• Cajun fiddling
• Texas style fiddling
• Contest Fiddling
• Bluegrass fiddling
• Balkan Music & Táncház (Transylvanian) or Romanian Music
• Canadian fiddling, including
• Cape Breton fiddling, with a distinct Scottish and Acadian influence
• Québécois fiddling, influenced from the Brittany area of northern France
• Newfoundland fiddling, with a strong Irish Sliabh Luachra style of playing
• English fiddling
• French fiddling (including a rich Breton fiddling tradition)
• Irish fiddling (with many distinct styles, including, for example, the Donegal fiddle tradition)
• Nordic folk fiddling (including Hardanger fiddling)
• Scottish fiddling
• Slovenian fiddling
• South Indian Carnatic fiddling

Fiddle players

Mark O'Connor is a well-known fiddler who mostly plays American styles.

Related Topics:
Mark O'Connor - American

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English folk fiddle players include Dave Swarbrick and Ric Sanders, both of whom have been members of Fairport Convention, and the "darling" of the new generation of English folk musicians Eliza Carthy.

Related Topics:
English - Folk - Dave Swarbrick - Ric Sanders - Fairport Convention - Eliza Carthy

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Famous Bluegrass fiddle players include John Hartford and Alison Krauss.

Related Topics:
Bluegrass - John Hartford - Alison Krauss

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Charlie Daniels is a famous fiddle player in southern rock. He is perhaps most famous for the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".

Related Topics:
Charlie Daniels - Southern rock - The Devil Went Down to Georgia

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Famous Canadian fiddlers include Nova Scotian fiddlers Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster and Newfoundland fiddler Patrick Moran.

Related Topics:
Nova Scotian - Ashley MacIsaac - Natalie MacMaster - Newfoundland - Patrick Moran

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