Posted by FiddlerFaddler on Tuesday, July 22, 2008
I have a suggestion for those of you who are either novices, or are just flat intimidated and/or otherwise not ready to jam with others.
I had the same problem when I was only a year into the fiddle. I apprenticed myself to an old-time, barn dance band, and there was no way I could play the tunes at barn dance speeds. My solution was to clamp on a heavy practice mute so that no one could hear my mistakes. That's also pretty handy when you want to noodle around with a new-to-you tune, even if you are not otherwise so technically challenged.
Check out my pictures for example of fiddle mutes.
4 comments on “So you're not ready to play with others”
bj Says:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @8:12:17 AM
I'm just getting out and playing with others. My one friend is very understanding, and it's usually just the two of us, so no problem. But I will be venturing out into the wider world toward the end of this summer. I have a feeling my wooden clothespins will be coming with me! Thanks for the suggestion. I'm still awful at times, though I do have inspired moments when it all sounds right. Not enough of them though!
bsed55 Says:
Thursday, July 24, 2008 @8:13:44 AM
Michael, You did very well at my jam and made some important contributions. About this "mute thing", I would say that most of the time when you hit a wrong note, nobody else is going to hear it but you. If somebody else does happen to hear a sour note, they're not going to give you the 3rd degree. So the mute is mostly so you don't hear your mistakes I guess. But hitting wrong notes is not a bad thing. That's how you get better.
mojo_monk Says:
Thursday, July 24, 2008 @9:25:23 AM
I typically break out my fiddle skills after everybody's already highly intoxicated. At that point I'm just the young guy learning the old tunes and nobody gives a dang whether or not it's good!
FiddlerFaddler Says:
Thursday, July 24, 2008 @1:50:36 PM
Bruce (bsed) - you are kind. I do play with more confidence now, and pick up new tunes more quickly. I didn't resort to using the mute at the Goatskin Jam, but when you and Chirps were sawing a few new to me tunes, I just jumped in on the parts I figured out while noodling.
Sean (mojo_monk), you are modest - you are coming along nicely as a fiddler. You are at least as good as I am, and you've only been playing one-sixth the time! I guess that I'm a middle-aged guy learning the tunes, and folks cut me slack, maybe because my manic tendencies are endearing to others that are passionate about the music.
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Newest Posts
'The Eyes Have It?' 2 days
'What is this?' 3 days
'The Buffalo Song' 5 days
'James Price RIP' 6 days
