Fiddle Hangout - Playing Advice Forum Feed

how does that go?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:30:25 CST

OK. I thought I would share an experience. Several times over the past few years I have expressed my frustrations with learning to play new tunes, but never being able to recall them by name (title), or recall how they are played when I remember the name. I hate it when someone says “whatcha got?” at a jam, and my mind is just a total blank. Even a list doesn’t help. The frustration comes from knowing that I can play a number of tunes. I’ve resorted to using my smart phone as a resource, and that helps. All I need is to hear about 2 seconds of a tune – and I remember everything I need. But – for me – it is embarrassing. I shouldn’t have to depend on that.

I have started a regime that is helping me – a lot. I have created playlists with tunes categorized by keys. And I’ve created spreadsheets with the names of all the tunes. I place the player on shuffle (random) and then select play. Without looking I tried to remember the title. I’ll use the list to help me, but I won’t look at the player until I have made a choice. If I’m right – I’ll make a mark in a “right column”, if I’m wrong – I’ll make a mark in the wrong column of the correct tune title. Then I select “next” and continue until I grow tired of the “game”. This lets me know where I need to focus. I don’t always do it the same way, and I have made lists for tunes I know, tunes I’m learning, tunes I’m having trouble with, but that is the jest of it.

Next level is to look at the title in the playlist and try to recall how the tune is played – then start it and make my marks on the same list.

I want to eventually include the key for each tune.

Successful? Yeap. I think so. I’ve been doing this now for a bout 3 weeks – when I think about it and have the time. This morning I went through the first level game, twice, with a list of 67 tunes, and only made one mistake. And I’m at about 70% (my worst) on level 2. That pleases me.

I’m sure there are folks who don’t need to go to these kinds of extremes. Unfortunately, I guess I’m one that does. And I am determined to find a way to get past this – and, right now, this is working for me. I would enjoy hearing what other folks are doing.

Thinking of starting a one man band..

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:11:41 CST

Maria Rainwater, Robert Mcnally, Susan Menhunin, Rosemarie Combs, Connie Marie Sunday, Jennifer Hobbs....they all seemed to pull it off pretty well.

I don't know, what do you think?

https://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.makers.bowed-strings/tree/browse_frm/month/2004-02/1d7f8f5a853289e9?hl=en&rnum=71&_done=%2Fgroup%2Frec.music.makers.bowed-strings%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fmonth%2F2004-02%3F#doc_6dbd1be8aad34145

or better yet:

http://www.disease-treatment.com/showthread.php?t=23207

hmm...interesting stuff,

and in public forums.

Howdy

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:44:29 CST

Hey there,

Just saying hi as I'm new to this site and new to fiddle playing. I'll check back in alot but right now I'm looking for a fiddle. I'm looking at an older, higher end Cremona Friday, have read about the Song violins from China and will likely contact a couple of forum members that have been spoken of in high regard. Let me know if you have any other advice to start and thanks in advance.

-jeff

Tommy Peoples BOW ornamentation

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:03:51 CST

OK, I've come up with the correct video that demonstrates CLearly that Tommy Peoples is doing something very interesting with his bow to get the special sound that I am trying to identify.. Watch, and tell me what he is doing with his BOW hand when he plays what seem to be triples? or is he dropping the bow on the strings? You tell me. I have been seeking that little embellishment for a long time.. HELP! LEE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqFlS3gNMs

sligo "cut"

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 13:58:08 CST

In Sligo fiddling, what is the embellishment called a "cut"? LEE

Sligo 'bow drop' sound

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:33:03 CST

It seems that the little "bow drop" sound that I hear in Sligo fiddling is just that... the bow dropping on the string. It doesn't seem to be an ornamentation done by the left hand.. Am I right? I often wonder how they get that sound. Can anyone enlighten me?? You can hear it in the youtube video listed below. I don't know how to "activate' it, sorry.. LEE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_flqxFuNM4

rosin buildup

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:09:36 CST

.. From time to time I wonder why my playing doesn't sound smooth. Then, I remember to wipe off excess rosin from THE STRINGS.....Duh! I always sound better after that..LEE

Cajun style

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:52:04 CST

I have played the occaisonal Cajun tune and always loved them even though most of what I know and care about is Appalachian. A recent trip through Louisiana has my juices flowing. Any of you Cajun fiddlers have any "Cajun 101 for Dummies" advice?

Maybe some starting progression of easy to more difficult tunes? Also, I see that "seconding" is an important part of the genre. Anybody able to or interested in discussing that?

thanks

Greg

Irish Fiddle - Good Starting Tunes

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:09:02 CST

I'm looking for some suggestions on good Irish tunes to introduce my 11 yo daughter to. She's been playing old time for a couple years and playing basic melodies well with some nuance, she can't read music on fiddle, but learns by ear quite well. I'm pretty well versed in Southern Old Time and Missouri Fiddling, particularly Missouri Valley, so when she asked if I knew any Irish tunes she could learn from me I was at a loss, but I figured I could come to this online community and get some good feedback on where to start.

Any tune suggestions?

Starting song on up stroke?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 18:03:44 CST

Is there any rule for starting a song on the up stroke rather than on the down stroke? I see a lot of back-up fiddlers using an up stroke to start a lick when starting their breaks.

Which Tuning for Black Mountain Rag?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 13:21:42 CST

Standard, or cross tuned, or something more funaklicious?

New Here!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:46:59 CST

Hi, thought I'd introduce myself as I'm new to this forum. I heard about this forum through someone who had come across this site and was directed to a thread re: Virtual Fiddling Festival. Sounds like this would be fun and thought maybe I'd give it a whirl! I'm fairly new at playing violin. Had a few months lessons a couple of years ago, put the violin away for a bit (life!) and then started up again late October/2011. Though I'm currently being classically trained, fiddling has been an interest of mine as well! I'm hoping that I'll be able to get some good tips here and make some new friends!!

New England Bluegrass fiddlers - 2012 Joe Val festival coming up soon

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:42:40 CST

One of the best winter events for bluegrass fiddlers in the northeast (US) is the Joe Val festival, coming up Feb. 17-19 in Framingham, MA. Darol Anger is doing a workshop and Michael Cleveland is headlining. Great kids academy in all bluegrass instruments. And LOTS of indoor picking - an entire hotel is the festival venue, which gives a whole new definition for "elevator music" ;) More info at http://www.bbu.org/jvhome.htm

Strange Experience & Bluegrass fiddle arpeggios.

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:14:59 CST

I very often attend the local Bluegrass jam. Fairly often I'm the only fiddler there, and they seem glad to have me. Much of what I do is pretty Old Time sounding, though, very melody oriented.

Saturday, I had an experience upon leaving the jam, and it occurred to me that I've had it several times before. I was the only fiddler, and most of what I played was melodically based. As I was walking to my car though, I could hear bluegrass fiddling in my head, but it wasn't that melodically based. And I could hear it in my head all the way home in the car. But when I get home, I'm tired and get distracted by stuff and home, and the bluegrassy stuff in my head disappears before I can get my fiddle out. And it's not like a melody or a tune that I could do a search on to refresh my memory. It occurred to me that it's something like the Lydian "arps" blueviolin is talking about in the theory section, but it's NOT Lydian.

Is there some kind of arpeggio that Bluegrass or at least some of them fiddlers typically riff out of? What mode or scale is it? Where can I find an example of it on line? Which fiddlers use this technique a lot?

Are you coming to the virtual fiddle festival?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:11:15 CST

Where? Right here, of course, in virtual fiddle-land!!! Please see the sound off forum for all the juicy details!

Upcoming Carpal Tunnel Surgery

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:55:30 CST

I have to have surgery on both hands. Any fiddlers been through this? Did it hurt or help your playing?

String Suggestion

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:53:20 CST

I've been using Thomastik Dominant, Set No. 15 on my fiddle. I like the gauge, but on this particular fiddle, I'm not happy with the amount of responsiveness. Any suggestions on what to try on it?

Ornaments

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:35:14 CST

In classical music there is a set of ornaments that are frequenly found. I have a one page handout I give students for that:

http://beststudentviolins.com/ornaments.html

But I'm dying to know what the ornaments are in fiddle styles. Someone mentioned Irish rolls? Can anyone point to an MP3 file that demonstrates those? In some of my books there are triplets, used as pickup notes; is that what it is?

Main categories of fiddle styles in the US?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:30:11 CST

Without a lot of fine detail, I'm curious what the primary fiddle styles are in the US? I really need to get these straight in my mind. My guess is something like the following, but I don't know:

Old Time
Irish
Cajun
Western
??

Be nice if there were maybe 10-12 basic styles. And then, to determine how they are recognized.

book for the second stage of learning fiddle

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:23:03 CST

i've ben learning from Old-Time Fiddling for the Complete Ignoramus, i feel like it's time to take it up a notch. only other book i have is old time fiddle/round peak style, witch is to much, although i love to learn from it, just not there yet. is there a good book for the in-between.

p.s i don't read music just tab

Celtic Women - books?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:40:07 CST

Can anyone recommend a book or books which have easy (1st position) songs that are similar to that from the Celtic Women group? There are many celtic fiddle book online, but I don't know which might be best. Students are asking for them.

Thanks!

Left Hand Position

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:31:59 CST

I have been playing for about four months now, and have a couple tunes under my belt. I am noticing that as I play, my left hand has a tendency to creep towards the bridge and . This happens especially when I play notes with the pinky. Is this a muscle memory thing or strengthening the pinky and hand to reach the note, or could it be something else. I hold to fiddle under my chin, and try to make an effort to keep everything "where it belongs" that is to say left elbow under the fiddle, decent posture, etc.

Any thoughts?

Books for studying fiddle (repertoire question)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:27:09 CST

Fiddle nowadays is very mainstream and it is common to find a fiddle class at Suzuki summer institutes. I've talked to other teachers about this, and one set of books recommended for fiddle, which work well with the Suzuki materials, is:

The American Fiddle Method: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

I have found, however, that these get too hard, too quickly and recently discovered some material which I like much better, the Fiddle Time books:

Fiddle Time Joggers, Bk. 1

Fiddle Time Runners, Bk. 2

There is also a Sprinters book which I ordered today; I don't know what it's like yet.

The Runners book is supereasy, but the Joggers is just excellent, with beautiful tunes on almost every page and lots of duet material; it's really good for sightreading practice for a student who has been studying about a year, and has lots of little techniques in it that students need to know about, like tremelo, triplets, counting rests. It's really a good book.

I know that, more often than not (?), the fiddle tradition is an aural tradition, but I'm curious to know what books, if any, you may be using with your teachers or using to teach yourself.

2 Kenny Baker workshops in Seattle Sunday

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:10:10 CST

These workshops are at Dusty Strings Sunday January 29. For information and to register, go to

http://tinyurl.com/6uhzqtm

Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe Workshops

Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe 1

In this workshop we will learn two pieces from this landmark recording, Big Sandy River and Jerusalem Ridge. While no prior Bluegrass fiddle experience is necessary, you should be able to play at an intermediate level (workshop not for beginners). Jerusalem Ridge requires 2^nd position in the key of C.

Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe 2

In this workshop we will learn two more pieces from this landmark recording, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz and Road To Columbus. While no prior Bluegrass fiddle experience is necessary, you should be able to play at an intermediate level (workshop not for beginners). Both tunes require 3^rd position playing.

faster fiddling?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:32:35 CST

I am by nature slow, and pushing me to hurry up just makes me cranky! Still, I want to learn to fiddle at a faster tempo; Irish jigs and reels, or bluegrass, just won't work at 60 bpm . I suspect as my fiddling improves (I've been at it about a year), I'll learn some bowing techniques that will help me achieve a faster tempo, but I'm not sure learning those techniques at this stage is what I need. What do folks think? Is it best just to keep trying to play everything a little faster? Actually, I find that sort of constant pushing of the tempo to detract significantly from the pleasure I find in playing. (Long ago in my youth, I played guitar, and while I loved to listen to bluegrass, it was generally too fast-paced for me to play.) I'd welcome any suggestions. The best I've come up with is splitting my practices between Push Sessions and Pleasure Sessions! That's led to a major decrease in the joy I take from fiddling, however, and that sounds plain WRONG!

Byron Berline Will Be Teaching in Southeast Florida 1-28 & 29th (this week)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:57:04 CST

The schedule is now posted and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Byron Berline this next weekend (January 28-29th) in South Florida. We have an excellent turn out of registered attendees, some great sponsors who are giving away various prizes and we will have an excellent time. Joining Byron is the legendary Alan Munde on banjo and the great Jim Hurst on guitar. Please come join us. See details at www.fretmentor.com

Here is a link to the online brochure and schedule of events:

http://www.fretmentor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224:banjo-a-guitar-florida-workshop&catid=60:fretmentors-3rd-annual-worlshop&Itemid=24

See you all soon.

Dave

www.fretmentor.com

Online Jamming Workshop Tomorrow Night!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:04:29 CST

Please join me and the incredible Ned Luberecki and Stephen Mougin for the first ever Hangout group workshop for all instruments! We're going to talk about and demonstrate every aspect of jamming that you could possibly need to know. It's only $20 and you can sign up right here on the Hangout. You don't want to miss this, it's a huge value! It's 5-6:30 Pacific Time and it's only $20...

Cheers, Megan

Combating Frustration

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:40:23 CST

I bought the Books CD & DVD of Brian Wicklunds American Fiddle Method 1, to see if I could find out where my mistakes are and try to correct them. Thought if I went back to the beginning it would help and get me over some of the frustration I've been having. I now understand why he is one of the best teachers, I can understand him and he explains the why and why nots. I have alot to unlearn and relearn, bow hold, fiddle hold, speed and bow pressure but in the long run it will help.

I was so proud of myself this morning, I learned a song and what I couldn't hear on the CD I found I remembered enough to read the music. I wasn't perfect but didn't feel I was bad either. I picked up the fiddle this afternoon and got a surprise, I couldn't remember the tune and when I put the CD on I couldn't even play with it! After half and hours practice I did better but not as well as this morning. Can only wonder shy this happens.

how to avoid rough and callused fingers

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:49:08 CST

Hi, I am an absolute beginner on the fiddle, and never played a stringed instrument before. I have my first lesson in a couple days and am VERY excited. However, until just now, I hadn't thought about the possibility of having rough and callused fingers from playing. Can this be avoided? I know that sounds wimpy. But, I am a massage therapist and smooth hands are needed for paying the bills. (So, I do have oils, waxes, and such on my hands a lot.) Any hints or suggestions? I'd probably do about anything if it works.

Thanks,

where can one find the best bluegrass arrangements

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:27:47 CST

I'm in the process of learning all the "GCD tunes" of bluegrass. By that I mean things like Mountain dew, 9 pound hammer, lonesome rd blues, and all the "standards". Anyway, I want to learn the best , bluegrassy arrangement possible and am finding a lack of material out there. Does anyone have any recommendations for instructional material for straight bluegrass tunes, and good arrangements??? any help appreciated.

I've been trying to learn by ear from just youtube arrangements and that has been fun but that is hard and would like to have instructional stuff that lays it out.

Slow jam tempos

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:53:24 CST

Hi all,

I'm trying to work up some tunes to slow jam tempo. I recognize that 120 is more or less dance tempo, but what would average slow jam tempos be? 80? Many thanks for any input!

From "violin" ..to..."fiddle" / South Plains College

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:10:23 CST

Hi: This is my first post. I hope I'm posting in the right location.

I've played the violin all my adult life, played (and teach) professionally, but really don't know how to fiddle. As a new direction in my career as a string player I'd really like to play more in the big venues with 30,000+ people, onstage as a sideman, versus my usual gigs which are in pickup orchestras. I should say that I can sightread anything, have a very good instrument, and two university degrees in violin performance (Rice & North Texas).

But I've been thinking about going to South Plains to learn to how to fiddle and play in bands. I just wonder if I'd be welcome there (I promise you I'm not a snotty person, a snob - I'm Native American from Oklahoma, and my grandfather was a banjo player, and both my grandmothers were church organists). I won't be displaying any attitude, in other words.

But I have, on at least one occasion when I was teaching, found that the students resented me and it did not go well. I don't want to move to Levelland and find that I'm not welcome or I can't learn, there, what I want to learn (how to fiddle and improvise.)

The gigs that I've had which are closest to what I want to learn to do, are small pickup orchestras out of the AFM (Musicians' Union) books in Memphis, Dallas, Tulsa, Houston, etc. but with music written down, two to a stand, and a conductor/pianist/arranger in charge. In this format I've worked with Smoky Robinson, Burt Bacharach, and a host of older musicians (not that they know me from Adam).

What do you think?

TIA

Half Past Four, does anyone play it in G?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:04:49 CST

Recently I learnt the tune Half Past Four from guys in the chatroom. That is, heard folk play it on a couple occasions and then decided to learn it, got a link to a youtube of it and later Don C. played it for me slow so I could record to learn from.

Anyway, the first couple times I heard it that was on banjo, and the pickers in question didn't bother to capo to A, so I heard it in G first and started noodling along trying to work it out. Thought it'd sit nice on fiddle in G, so tried it, and I really like it there.

So my question is, does anyone else play it in G on fiddle?

String Theory

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:34:59 CST

So many strings and so little time to try them all...

I tend to get new strings after 5-6 months. Consequently, it would take me years to try all the different strings I read about on Hangout posts in order be sure of my "Chosen Ones" ...one brand...one guage...one winding, one core...ect. Do some of you switch strings every time to constantly evaluate the market opportunities? Or throw in a new option every once in a while---but go back to your current "chosen ones"? ...or rarely change?

Finger Flicks or grace notes?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:04:23 CST

Hey there everyone!

I am taking lessons and right now my fiddle teacher is trying to teach me something we are calling finger flicks, but i see on youtube that these are also called grace notes. Here are a couple links to show you what I am talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cp7fx1kd8o

Bruce MacGregor Fiddling Snippet 'Grace Notes' - YouTube

I am having a hard time with these, i was hoping some kind person could give me some pointers? Thank You!

~Eleshia

online lessons

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:14:05 CST

Has anyone had a positive learning experience with online lessons? . I am kind of isolated from other fiddlers. I play my fiddle a lot but lack some confidence.

I know lots of fiddle tunes and play mandolin in a bluegrass band and am a decent musician. Has anyone had good results with the online studies? thanks

D'Addario Prelude Strings

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:48 CST

I tried them and did not like them at all. I was hoping to find something a bit easier on the wallet than Helicores, but it's worth the extra $. Lesson learned. Of course the problem may be my lack of skill.

Question about fiddle bridges

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 19:02:06 CST

Hello all! This is my first post. My background is classical piano/violin but fairly recently I've taken up fiddling. I love it. I have no formal teacher as I live in a small town (no teachers here). Here is my question - I have heard that slightly flattening the bridge of a fiddle makes it easier for double-stops and speed. Is this true? Would you recommend this?

I have access to a luthier but he is over 200 miles away. Would like to get some opinions.

Thanks a million -

Ginger

P.S. This is a great forum.

Yet another "Strings" question...

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 09:31:07 CST

Much has been written on this subject, or should I say--debated, argued over. Many have been criticized for their respective (if not respectable) admonitions concerning one over another "brand" of Strings; nonetheless, I'll hazard disparagement and deprecations and lay it on the line. Never has there been a better Strings made than the one found in Elk Grove, CA. Their psghetti beats Psghetti Factory; their salads trump B J's. Their linguini tops Aldo's, their pizza delivers in so many ways.

http://www.stringscafe.com/locations.html

Wound E or not?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 09:26:57 CST

Is having a wound E better than not having it? Helicores with it are pricier than without. Does a wound E string make those high notes easier on the ears?

strings

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 08:14:12 CST

hello i'm new the fiddle(second day) and i was think this morning that i should get some back of strings. just incase one brakes, as strings do. I've notice s wide verity of price. so wondering what would be the best set to get for the buck.

thanks

jeff

bow weight vs. balance

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 8 Jan 2012 09:59:40 CST

In the category of "I really don't need to know this, but I'm curious anyway", I recently surprised myself by weighing my two bows. Before putting them on the scales, the carbon fibre bow seemed clearly heavier than my wooden bow (both are unquestionably starter bows). But on the scales (scales only lie after the holiday season....), each weighs 62 grams. So why does the CF bow SEEM so much heavier? I've tried to find the balance points of each (do you do this with the hairs taut or loose or does it matter?), and the balance point of the wooden bow (ie, the one that seems lighter) is a bit nearer the frog than is the balance point on the other bow. Is this difference in balance points what makes one seem heavier than the other? By the way, I don't especially prefer one bow over the other. When my playing is going particularly poorly, I just switch to the other bow and the bad-music hex seems to have broken!

Vibrato

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 7 Jan 2012 15:48:31 CST

I've been working on vibrato for the past 2+ weeks. I know I'm a long way to becoming any kind of vibrato player. However, I know when (and if) I get it, it will be worth all the trouble. I know I need to relax my shoulder, arm and wrist, and this is easier said than done. I get cramps in my hand and my shoulder sometimes during practice. I stop, shake my arm and hand a little bit and press on. I probably spend 15 minutes on vibrato during my practice each day. I will do a very bad vibrato with my third finger on the D string then the A string for about a minute, then do something else, and come back to vibrato. I also realize this is something new for my body. But, has anyone else experienced this? Any advice and /or comments are appreciated.

bow woes

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 7 Jan 2012 09:37:05 CST

I bought a Chinese, unknown maker fiddle in early November, and also bought a slightly-better-than-I had bow. The bow has a nice tone, feels great at the tip and the frog, but has a terribly, uncontrollable bounce in the middle. The faster you play, the worse it gets, until it nearly jumps off the strings. I've called my luthier, and he told me he would try to fix it for me, if not, it'd be a new bow for me. But in the meantime, I"ve gone back to my student outfit bow, and while my control is much better, my tone tanked on me. I'm so frustrated. In addition, my husband just purchased an incredibow (it hasn't arrived yet), and I have no idea what that one will feel like. At this point, I'm so frustrated with the whole thing! Will all this jumping back and forth between bows trying to find the right one negate the progress I've made these last few months, or will it straighten itself out? PLEASE tell me it will straighten itself out! I don't want to blame my equipment for poor progress or tone, but I realize that poor equipment can destroy what you've gained as well....

Frustrated fiddling...but still fiddling :)

bowing tip for beginners like myself

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 7 Jan 2012 01:56:53 CST

while standing in direct sunlight the other day during practice, i happened to notice the shadow of my bowing hand plodding through its usual, stiff, wooden-like maneuvers. in trying to make the shadow move more elegantly - more smoothly and flowing - my wrist loosened up, my shoulder dropped - bowing began to be directed from the lower half of my arm.

i'd read that watching this procedure in the mirror is a good way of loosening up but in my case, the "chiaroscuro" version worked better.

Camp at the Fiddledan Cabin?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 05:52:29 CST

Starting to get questions about this year east. Any interest in coming to camp at the cabin in Ohio this year? Would be weekend of July 27-29. Clawhammer and Fiddle mixed workshop.

Let's chat!

Play Nice,
Dan
www.Clawdan.com

First Lesson

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:22:14 CST

I just had my first official violin lesson tonight. I was encouraged by my teacher on my hand position.... I've owned my fiddle since March of last year and it's a beauty; a Joh. Bapt. Schweitzer knock off dated around 1880. I've played guitar professionally and semi for about 46 years, banjo for eight years and upright bass and mandolin for about three. What she told me to work on was my bow and gave me some exercises to do to help my technique.

When I started the banjo I made a conscious effort to not even touch the left hand for two weeks, but rather work on the right hand picking patterns with a metronome. It really paid off... tortured the neighbors, but really helped me focus on the important part of the instrument.. the right hand. I'm assuming that with the fiddle, it's kind of the same thing....the bow is the key. Anyway, I'm looking forward to this fiddle journey and can't wait till I'm proficient enough to pull out the fiddle for some of my gigs.

Similarity between Sally Johnson and Piney Wood Gals

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 14:14:57 CST

I recently played Piney Wood Gals and a friend said that the high part sounded like Sally Johnson... I play Sally Johnson and don't see too much similarity. The versions I play are close to those listed in the Phillip's Collection, volume 1...What do you think? I am referring mostly to the high part. LEE

medieval or renaissance vielle

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 04:40:11 CST

i've been given the use of this instrument - though it has 6-strings, i think it's a vielle. if anyone have any experience with this or similar instruments and has a suggestion as to its tuning, i'd be very grateful to hear it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7738680@N05/sets/72157628712251521/with/6633695361/

Need player input for decision on set-up

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 3 Jan 2012 15:16:35 CST

I've been learning to play with a nice old German fiddle. This fiddle has a very narrow neck so the strings are very close together. I reached the point where the close string spacing is a problem in both finger positions and bowing, I can have the nut and bridge replaced to get maximum string space but they will still be tight and I'd have virtually no margin between the E and the side edge of the fingerboard. Its not a major job, but the closest competent luthier is 50 miles away. I'm looking for player opinions, especially with regard to having no margin next to the G & E strings.