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William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 15:47:28
Well, I have been trying to play fiddle on and off for a while, started last November 2007 and gave up after 6 weeks. The struggle with bowing and horrible intonation drove me insane. So, I shoved the squeaky thing in the closet for six months and just worked on my banjo and guitar music. But I felt something was being neglected, and also felt I was being defeated by a stupid little strung up wooden box. So......... I dug it back out of the closet last July to give it another go.
Well, I am still playing after 6 months and I am starting to like it!
I am not very good yet, but it is coming along and with more practice I know it will get better.
So here is my very first Fiddle sound off file! I know it's not perfect or exactly pretty, but it's here for you to listen too and critic if you wish.
I am not afraid of criticism, so rip it apart if you want.
There will be more.........
http://www.fiddlehangout.com/myhang...musicID=3411
wormbower - Posted - 01/01/2009: 16:25:21
You are joking, right? If that's really you after six months, I want what you're having!
Paul
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. -Faith Petric
The chief enemy of creativity is common sense -Pablo Picasso
allenmack - Posted - 01/01/2009: 16:40:50
William
Wow, for your level of experience that is top shelf stuff.
All I can say is just keep doing what you're doing. You could start thinking about how to bring the other strings in as well - eg drone, shuffle, but you have a good sound happening.
That mando break really adds some finesse to the whole production.
Allen
Play that wooden thing
Tennessee Tom - Posted - 01/01/2009: 16:58:55
That's some mighty-fine cookin'!
Percy - Posted - 01/01/2009: 17:05:32
Okay -- so you put me to shame!!!!!!! 6-months??? I don't think I'll be able to play like that after 6 years!
Now tell us your secret -- you sold your soul to the devil, right?
William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 17:24:49
no, didn't sell nothin' ... I just practice alot and try to do my best.
Geezz, I thought I was gonna get slammed with negative remarks, you guys are making me feel too good! At least criticize my bowing or something, tell me I suck and need to practice more!!
curlyrayfan - Posted - 01/01/2009: 17:32:24
Nice Job! 6 months and you play like that...you put me to shame.
Percy - Posted - 01/01/2009: 17:32:33
Okay -- you suck and really need to practice... Well, you asked me to tell you that -- but it's a total load of tripe!
Seriously, I practice a minimum of 2-3 hours a day... but so far, speed has eluded me. Hardy tells me to be patient... but when I hear what you have accomplished in such a short time, it's a wee bit frustrating!
Perhaps I'm just too old for this caper!
William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 17:52:46
Speed is not an issue with me but intonation and bowing drives me nuts! I cant stand an out of tune sounding fiddle. I practice my bowing with up and down strokes, trying to get used to bowing "whatever kind of pattern" Scales and scales, major and minor with arpeggios and sequences going up and down the neck
I don't really practice fiddle alot., maybe 30 mins to an hour or so a day plus my guitar, banjo and mandolin, been having issues with tendinitis, so when my hands start to tingle, I stop playing, usually after about 2-3 hours between all instruments.
I've been playing guitar for 20 years, so I guess that helps with the music theory and practice habits I suppose, but whatever, I just keep trying to make music.
My ultimate goal is to play with some other musicians and make an audience happy. If that happens, I will die without regrets.
Edited by - William Hayes on 01/01/2009 17:57:29
Percy - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:00:16
I play a bunch of other instruments as well -- and while all of that did help with the theory, scales, downbeats, upbeats.... a general musical understanding, I'm still having to work like the dickens to get the sound I want!
I'm totally with you about intonation!!!! To me, it's the MOST important thing in the world. I can't handle anything that's out of tune -- singers, guitars, pianos -- and it goes for the fiddle as well. I don't care how fast you're playing, how great your shuffling, how many thousands of tunes you know -- if you're playing is out of tune, I can't listen!
Of course (for everyone who knows me and is reading this), I'm the first to admit I struggle with intonation... and I hate listening to my recordings because I can hear when I'm off. Granted, I'm not as "off" as I used to be, but I'm still off more than I'm on and that drives me nuts!
So for now, I'll try to let speed come later and will continue to work on intonation and overall tone... but jeesh -- it seems like you're achieving it all at once!
Great work...
Dick Hauser - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:02:52
Actually, you sound pretty good. I am guessing that your playing the other instruments gave you a "feel" for the dynamics of tunes, and how to keep good rhythm. Sounds like you have been playing a LOT longer than 6 months. Watch out banjo and guitar, you could be in deep trouble.
Darn. A guy who gives me the "go ahead" to be a critic, then doesn't give me anything to criticize.
gulfguy
William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:09:42
Man, after reading all the stuff around here lately I am surprised that anyone gives positive feedback, so it's shocking to me to be praised here. I'm not looking for that anyhow, I suppose the idea of being gifted comes to mind. I've never thought of myself as gifted though, I haven't made 10 cents with music and have not come close to meeting any musical goals yet, probably never will. I just want to learn how to play this squeak box and make someone somewhere happy with the tunes I play. Okay, I've been drinking to much beer now, new years leftovers.............
Percy - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:17:44
With your talent, I'm sure you could make some $$$ from your music.
Heck, I was in one of the world's WORST band for 14 years -- and we made a fortune! All it took was a "leader" who could walk into a bar and convince the owner we were fantastic... The more money he demanded for us, the better the owner thought we had to be! It didn't seem to matter that we were really pathetic... as long as we played "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Born To Be Wild," nobody seemed to care much about how well we played them!
Here's a funny story... when we first started, we concentrated on bluegrass and 50s music -- so we went WITHOUT a drummer for about 3 years. Nobody ever noticed. We used to get requests for "Wipe Out" for the love of Pete! When we pointed out that we couldn't play it because we didn't have a drummer, people were stunned.
So grab that guitar, banjo, fiddle and get out there -- If we could make money, there's NOTHING stopping you!
William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:23:04
Well, I'm not out to make money with music anyhow, I just love it to much to put $$ signs along with it.
I just posted another tune on my page "Old Joe Clark" There is no fiddle but it showcases my banjo and guitar playing.
It bothers me though, cause it is a fiddle tune and there ain't no fiddle in it. That has got to change!
Percy - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:46:18
Oh I agree -- I can't put a price tag on how much music means to me. I've always said, if I had to choose between my vision and my hearing, I'd choose to keep my hearing. At least then, I'd still have my music!
But I also figure, if there was a way I could make a living from my music, I'd sure take it -- especially if I could play with a bunch of friendly folks like so many I have met here.
I guess I'll have to wait. That's probably what heaven is for!
William Hayes - Posted - 01/01/2009: 18:47:25
Yeah John, I agree with that. Music is worth more than money and sometimes it's even worth more than some company. But if you have an audience that loves music, you just might find yourself in paradise. For a little while anyways. Music is so cool that way.
fiddlepLuker - Posted - 01/02/2009: 04:48:05
William,
Don't make me come over there and show you how it's done!!!!!! LOL, just kidding around but that did give me a thought of burning my fiddle ! ! ! ! Six month, even if it is give and take, start and stop that sounded really nice.
Honestly, Thanks for the inspiration to keep improving!
~fiddlepLuker
Jim - Posted - 01/02/2009: 06:20:00
quote:
I am not very good yet, but it is coming along and with more practice I know it will get better.
Bill, this is an example of doing a lot more than just "coming along." Fantastic. Talent and hard work produces results. Who knew?
Jim Burke
http://fiddlehub.com (free online fiddle lessons with slo-mo instruction videos)
loy - Posted - 01/02/2009: 06:40:59
Bill, Sweet! Thanks- Loy
fiddle and clawhammer banjo:priceless
peerke112 - Posted - 01/04/2009: 15:35:12
.......sounds like reading a "tab", 6 months?...you're kidding!
c'mon...more vigour! This is too sweet.
Acoustic style MIDI''s? www.bluegrassmidisound.eu
Pops - Posted - 01/08/2009: 19:22:52
I just wish i could get up the nerve to do a recording ...
nice job
"But music was his life it was not his lively hood and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good and he (played) from his heart and he (played) from his soul, he didn''t know how well he (played) it just made him whole. ~ Harry Chapin Mr. Tanner"
LAUS DEO !
Pops
