jamesl - Posted - 06/24/2007:  02:40:33

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a violin and a fiddle.

play it, don't fiddle with it.

voodoo - Posted - 06/24/2007:  08:01:43

Nobody cries if you spill beer on a fiddle.

At the most extreme, different arching etc to get a gritty bass and more metallic whining tone. Often a lower break angle over the bridge. Steel strings. Fine tuners. Thinner bridge feet. Thicker bridge top. Different soundpost location. Less or no relief in the fingerboard. Sometimes a different radius on the fingerboard. Usually a different radius on the bridge top.

Mostly a different way of playing.

www.giannaviolins.com
Friendsville, TN

gtaunton - Posted - 06/25/2007:  12:29:04

Easy - A violin has strings and a fiddle has "strangs."

quote:

---

Originally posted by jamesl

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a violin and a fiddle.

play it, don't fiddle with it.

---

BanjoBrad - Posted - 06/25/2007:  14:37:20

You might also want to check this post:

http://www.fiddlehangout.com/forum/...p?TOPIC_ID=9

Of course, it is just as irreverent as this one. Really, it basically comes down to people's perceptions, classical music is usually played on a 'violin' and old-time and BG and other 'folk' music is played on a 'fiddle.' Some people play both on the same instrument.


Banjo Brad
www.PricklyPearMusic.net
ezFolk Page

Dick Hauser - Posted - 06/25/2007:  23:40:02

Here are the differences -

1. Many fiddlers use flatter bridges. This makes playing double stops easier.

2. Some fiddlers use mechanical tuners. These people are the exception, not the rule.

3. Many fiiddlers use strings with a metal core instead of a synthetic core.

I have read that classical violinists prefer brighter sounding and louder instruments. This lets them be heard in an ensemble. The same article said fiddlers preferred a more mellow sounding instrument. The fiddlers weren't as partical about volume. This may be due to the fact that many fiddlers use amplication.

Note - the above is not my personal opinion, just information I read in an article about violins/fiddles.



gulfguy

diamondjim - Posted - 06/27/2007:  12:52:39

I had my mom's old violin modified for fiddling by raising the fingerboard and lowering the bridge. This gave me better action. Other than that, its largely a matter of style, obviously.

I use fine tuners on all strings because I like to adjust my tuning during a song if needed, and don't want to have to mess with the pegs. I find I just can't play when my strings are out by more than a few cents, it drives me nuts. So I guess in that sense maybe that is not "fiddling"??

I also have tried lots of different types of strings, and really tend to prefer the brigher brands for fiddling since you need to be heard over the BANJO! (right Billy?)

-+ Music from the Transition Zone +-
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