I took up fiddling a couple three years ago while recuperating from a broken leg. My wife promptly shut me down. We live in a VERY small house and even with a full mute she couldn't get away from my @#%$ attempts to draw a decent sound from my fiddle. Occasionally I got lucky! I was able to practice some in the summer, outside and away from the house while checking cattle, fences and all the other sundry ranch duties but I seemed to lose everything over the winter.

She suggested that I take up mandolin. I did. I've learned to play a repertoire of about 65 songs of all genres from Bob Dylan to Erin Copeland, John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot to Bartok, New Mexico Hispanic traditional tunes, klezmer and a few old timey things for good measure.

Also took a run at tin whistle, harmonica and I can play a few dozen tunes on guitar.

BUT I still wanted to try my hand at the fiddle. There is, as you all know, something about the instrument that speaks to me on a level that guitar or mandolin don't.

I figured different strings might help. Not really.

Finally she suggested the "v" word. I bought an internet cheapie and had my way with it for awhile. New clef, new sound, new experiences to keep my aging mind and body active and no complaints from downstairs. I finally upgraded and still no complaints from below. And I have to admit, I like the depth and mellowness of the instrument.

I know there are others out there who play the big fiddle (this is after all the fiddlehangout). I tried to look in the archives for references but either I'm not a very good internet researcher or there are few.

Any thoughts, observations etc?

By the way I bought a Johannes Kohr (Core) with Thomastik Dominants. Thank you to Steve and Gianna Perry who took excellent care on me on this purchase (AGAIN).

Posted - 10/13/2008 :  09:47:16    

I found a "no name" in a music store on consignment - $60 and it was a few days before last Xmas so I added it to my collection. It takes a little to get used to but I agree about the depth and mellowness - much like Nancy Blake accompaning Norman on her cello. I'm at my office now so I can't tell you the correct title or source, but at home I have a book called "Old Time tunes for the Viola".

Haven't played much on it, loaned it to a school teacher for her music class, but this winter I had planned on taking at it.

I'll dig the title up when I get home tonight and send it to you.

"Never met a fiddle I didn''t like." anon

Posted - 10/13/2008 :  10:21:09  

I picked one up also one day in Amarillo. A 2 1/2 hour drive.

It's title is "Fiddling for Viola" by Michael H. Hoffheimer. It's a little advanced for me right now but by next spring ..... quien sabe?

I'll appreciate the name of the one you are referring to. I also found another one on the internet (I'll buy it later). I think it's called "30 Old Time and Country Tunes (maybe songs) for Viola" or something like that. They also have them for guitar, violin and other instruments

I gained a few good insights from the Hoffheimer book by reading his introductory pages, although he does say it's not for beginning players and recommends lessons. Living where we do, that's not going to happen. I could barely find someone to help me with the violin/fiddle within 100 miles. There are players but they felt that they couldn't teach. I go once in awhile to hear them play at informal venues in town. The stores I did get to didn't even sell violas or strings for them.

I have found that patience with myself is the most important lesson in learning any instrument. I know VERY little about music theory but have gatherd a decent and varied collection of books and CDs.

Posted - 10/13/2008 :  10:28:12    

That's the one! I remembered the author's name...Traditional and "Irish" tunes are covered.

If you've played fiddle for awhile it's somewhat easy to fall into it. I was lucky, for the time I had mine the teacher was helping me out. She was classically trained so I kept getting lectures on straightening my wrist, don't choke the bow, etc....but she's a cutie so I didn't listen....

"Never met a fiddle I didn''t like." anon

Posted - 10/13/2008 :  14:46:43  

Just realized that I posted this under the wrong place but oh well, I'll learn.

I found that other book. Its title is "Thirty Bluegrass and Country Tunes for Viola" sold by Sibelius Books. They also have them for other instruments.

I'll probably break down and order a copy.

Posted - 10/14/2008 :  06:51:13  

I used to play a 5-string fiddle, but wasn't satisfied with the tonal quality that I was getting from my C-string. So I went back to playing 4-string fiddle.

Eventually, I was able to get a viola. It has a wonderful, big, rich sound. I actually used it some with a Bluegrass band and found that it worked really well on certain songs. I like playing hymns on it too.

I initially strung the viola with D'Addario Pro Arte', but currently have it strung with D'Addario Helicore.

Posted - 10/14/2008 :  10:13:16  

Thanks fer chiming in.

Since all of this music stuff is new to me (I started playing guitar five years ago) I appreciate any information I can glean. The folks on this forum have been very informative.

I think the viola has more of the sound I was initially looking for in the fiddle/violin. Although I have to admit I really like the sound of SuperDave's fat sounding German strad.

I like Bluegrass alright, but I also like just about ANY other music. Of late, I have been concentrating on New Mexico traditional Spanish tunes. The viola works well with them but of course I haven't had the opportunity to assault the public with my efforts.

Makes it kind of tough to settle on one particular instrument or another.

Although it does present a challenge to coax different sounds from a particular instrument.

By the way did you know that Jimi Hendrix started out on the viola? Or so I have been told. There is also some outragreous viola playing on U tube.

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  13:36:37        

When you play viola, what tuning are you usually in? Something other than GDAE, I would guess, since it's lower pitched than a fiddle.

PS While I'm at it, I'm going to move this to a more appropriate forum.

Janet
"Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back." -my grandmother, Bertha Morgan Nelson

Edited by - tiquose on 02/21/2009 13:42:29

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  16:24:47            

I believe the viola is tuned a fifth down. So the high string is the A. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, please.

^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^
So many tunes. So little time!

Me on the Web --
http://doneinstyle.com
My inspiration:
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh14633812588807237

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  16:52:27  

Yeppers,

The viola is tuned C G D A. Low to high.

I've noticed that a lot of folks compare fiddle/violin to mandolin. It's been my experience that the actual finger spaciing between the notes (does that make sense?) is more similar between the mandolin and the viola.

I play the viola as if it were a fiddle, more or less, so I'm sure that in some (probably most) instances I'm playing in the wrong key.

But qui'en sabe? I don't expecrt to ever play professionally or even very much in public.I have no instructor and I am just learning to read music. I have obtained a couple books that have been helpful but a little (actually a lot) over my head.

The nearest person to play fiddle or viola with is 80 miles away so we don't get together too often.

I've thought about a 5 string fiddle but I really don't believe it could possibly give the depth of tone that the larger body of the viola gives.

I actually got to hear a million dollar violin and a million dollar viola a couple weeks ago in Albuquerque. Nice but........... I told them I'd take two of each but they didn't have another million dollar viola so the deal was off.

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  18:10:14  

quote:

---

The viola is tuned C G D A. Low to high.

---

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  18:55:44        

So there would be some issues learning a tune on the fiddle, then trying to play it on viola in a jam session ... ?

Janet
"Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back." -my grandmother, Bertha Morgan Nelson

Posted - 02/21/2009 :  20:34:05            

tumbleweed, if you learn tunes by ear and match the key, you shouldn't have much trouble, though you might find yourself playing down an octave on some tunes, and right on the money on others.

^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^
So many tunes. So little time!

Me on the Web --
http://doneinstyle.com
My inspiration:
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh14633812588807237

Posted - 02/24/2009 :  06:30:05      

There are 5 string violas with the same tuning as 5 string fiddles but the bigger body of the viola. I haven't played or heard one but suspect it might be more resonant on the low tones than the 5 string fiddle.