Posted by JHughes on Monday, March 17, 2025
Approximately ten years ago, I played violin at a wedding in one of Atlanta's fancy-schmancy hotels. During the performance, I broke a string (luckily I was playing mostly backup guitar that day!!). Anyways, I came home, put my fiddle away and never played it again. I can't recall the thought process, I was simply tired of playing it I suppose. I found trying to balance banjo and guitar (my main desires) was hard enough without me half-way hacking at a fiddle. Therefore, it's been over a decade since I did any fiddling.
Anyways, fast forwarding to 2024....The first half of December I injured my back pulling on something heavy I shouldn't have. As a result, I developed sciatica and other impediments. It's been a rough/painful process, but as always, it could be worse and I'm adapting.
For the last year, I had already been getting more into clawhammer banjo. However, I heard someone fiddle (most likely Dan Gellert) and I decided maybe I ought to get that fiddle back in working order again. It sure would be easier on my back. It literally called my name from the corner, haha.
I can no longer sit down for over 30 minutes. While I can wear my light open back banjo, I haven't dared to strap my Mastertone around my neck since my injury.
So, here I am back to fiddling like some of mad man, hours every day. I'm primarily working on old-time and Canadian/maritime fiddling. Not really interested in bluegrass, I do enough of that on the banjo.
When I was younger, I studied classical violin, going through the Suzuki method books for over a year. I'm just having to build back up my technique. I must say I'm learning a lot about tension in my upper back in the process. I'm still in search of a better setup. I play an old Stainer copy fiddle that's been seriously reworked. However, little things like how much rosin to use, I can't seem to find that sweet spot. I've been using Prims all these years, but have some Warchals coming in the mail...$60 for strings, yee haw (maybe I should just play banjo! hahah).
Please visit my Youtube channel to keep track of my fiddling progress:
https://www.youtube.com/@JMusicQuest
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