rastewart - Posted - 01/13/2009:  20:55:36

quote:

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Originally posted by oldtimer

I'm at a point where I forget my best friends' names. I'm not
kidding.

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StrawTurkey - Posted - 01/14/2009:  02:49:58

quote:

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Originally posted by oldtimer

Most OT fiddlers base their bowing on saw strokes or Nashville Shuffle or a combination of the two. In certain southern areas, there are some downbowers.

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P. T. Porter - Posted - 01/25/2009:  18:57:15

Which instructional DVDs are you using Fiddledee?

P. T. Porter

quote:

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Originally posted by fiddledee


This is such a wonderful site. I am in an area where no one else is learning the fiddle, and there are very few guitar players. So I am doing this with the help of instructional DVDs. So far I am quite happy with my progress.

fiddledee

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AntCant - Posted - 02/01/2009:  04:42:07

My experience is that the key to good bowing is practice, and having no fear of playing it wrong, or backwards. If it feels awkward playing 'backwards', my advice would be to practice that even more, until it doesn't feel awkward anymore.

Additionally, I learn all songs with one stroke per note, in the beginning. Pure sawstoke. And then add slurs later.

This is just my approach.

FiddleJammer - Posted - 02/01/2009:  05:41:40

I took some lessons last June to help make my bowing more intentional and to be able to better read bowing notation. Here was an exercise that was very helpful to me, suggested by a violin teacher with impeccable conservatory creditials. (Yes, really.)

I took the tune 'Bitter Creek' from the Old Time Fiddler's Repertory, Vol 1. in to the lesson. That collection is quite notey, imho. The teacher marked different bowing patterns on each part. For example, a down bow on the first note in the first part, then every 3 notes. Then, on the B part, a down bow on the second note, then every 3 notes. Next, a down bow on the third note of the C part, then every thrid note after that. If my memory serves me, there's a 4th part to that tune as well. The 'homework' was to change those patterns, such that I could down bow or up bow at any point at will. It was a bit of work, and very frustrating at times, but very effective.

Cheers,

Terri

tunelist, musings, and podcasts at
fiddlejammer.blogspot.com

OTJunky - Posted - 02/01/2009:  05:53:24

Terri - would you check about the 4th part to Bitter Creek for me?

I play a three part version that I shamelessly stole from Benny Thomasson (Texas) and I don't think I've ever heard a 4th part to that tune. If there is a 4th part in the Missouri version, I'd like to learn it.

--OTJ
"I can barely fiddle on four strings. Why would I want five?"

FiddleJammer - Posted - 02/01/2009:  11:33:13

Hey, OTJ... I looked again and indeedy, there's 4 parts. I'll see if I can't get a version to you.

Cheers,

Terri

tunelist, musings, and podcasts at
fiddlejammer.blogspot.com

Fidla - Posted - 02/05/2009:  09:34:01

I recommend starting a tune on the downbeat with a downbow. If you start with a pickup, you can use an upbow

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