"That's not C?" Well, let's see what happens? Hey, what if i grab the other fiddle and splice the video together? It's much of the same ol stuff, but slightly different. One could compare fiddles. Of course they're not tuned the same.
Well the GDAE fiddle plays C like it's C, and the FCGD fiddle plays C like it was D, right? I can't remember and can't touch the fiddle to check now but I think so. But wasn't that in G? So then the GDAE fiddle plays like in G and the FCGD fiddle plays like it's in A? I'm confused...lol...t'would be easier if I could grab a fiddle and see. Anyway, Nice fiddling, whatever key or tunings. It is fun to mess around with keys and tunings like that. Nice job, nice playing.
Oh here's a disclaimer...don't anybody pay any attention to all I just said...I don't get to play much anymore and I can't pick up a fiddle now to see if my brain is still working right on that...lol...the only thing I said that I will swear to is that Farmer Jones did a nice job fiddling on both fiddles! That part is right.
Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 02/06/2025 07:30:51
quote:
Originally posted by groundhogpeggyWell the GDAE fiddle plays C like it's C, and the FCGD fiddle plays C like it was D, right? I can't remember and can't touch the fiddle to check now but I think so. But wasn't that in G? So then the GDAE fiddle plays like in G and the FCGD fiddle plays like it's in A? I'm confused...lol...t'would be easier if I could grab a fiddle and see. Anyway, Nice fiddling, whatever key or tunings. It is fun to mess around with keys and tunings like that. Nice job, nice playing.
Oh here's a disclaimer...don't anybody pay any attention to all I just said...I don't get to play much anymore and I can't pick up a fiddle now to see if my brain is still working right on that...lol...the only thing I said that I will swear to is that Farmer Jones did a nice job fiddling on both fiddles! That part is right.
You're right! It ain't C!
It is in G. That's the funny part. I had to think fast.
Essentially, you play G on the fine strings of a "C" fiddle.
Of course, standard tuned, it can be more on the course strings, but there's things to be had all over the place.
Thanks GHP!
Sounds like so much fun!
Don't know why Steve, but i always feel like i ought to have gumbo And a beer when i listen to your stuff "laissez les bons temps rouler!"
Yep, your music always brings a smile!
( The cross-tuning melts my brain and I have no idea what you guys were talking about…LOL )
NC, I think he was tuning down one step all the way around, from GDAE, to FCGD, so that when you would normally play in regular, standard tuning, tuned down that way, I.e. I think maybe people call that Cajun tuning, it's very easy to play in C, because you just finger it like you would in D. I think Cajun fiddlers have done that a lot because of their fixed-tuned accordians in C...at least that's what I've heard...somebody will correct me if I've got that wrong. So anyway, besides allowing you to play easily in C, it's also more mellow...which Cajun fiddlers must like, I guess...I like it mellow too. So anything you would play tuned one step down would be similar...like if you finger the fingerboard like you do to play something in G, standard tuning...in one-step lower that fingering would end up sounding in F...just end up sounding one step down from exactly how you would play it in standard tuning.
Since I can't seem to ever get my bearings in C on the fiddle, and since C happens to be my favorite key for guitar picking and banjo picking too, I have tuned down like that sometimes to play along...the only problem is some of the drones that you could catch here and there playing in C from standard tuning just won't be there when you're fingering a D tune in the Cajun tuning...so...it's a cheat for sure, for real C tunes. I do it a lot though, because I have to cheat to get into C...my favorite way to play in C though is to tune it to GCGC...seems the drones are more likely to be gotten there, to me. Still a cheat, but then again, at least it's a way to get C for people who can't handle it. Maybe Cajun fiddlers can't handle it...lol...otherwise they wouldn't have their own tuning...maybe.
quote:
Originally posted by NCnotesYep, your music always brings a smile!
( The cross-tuning melts my brain and I have no idea what you guys were talking about…LOL )
Well, it's not really cross-tuning. I think of cross-tuning would be like DGDG, or AEAE. Think of it as slack tuning, as it's lower than standard tuning. I get tired of the insipid E string. Some fiddles are very harsh up there. I think it's just my hearing. FCGD (course to fine), merely tune everything down and enjoy. But know, if you've been playing a tune in D, chances are it will be in C. I've got a mushy brain. If I hear a new tune, then go home and try it, I will invariably try it in D standard tuning. I don't have perfect pitch. But if I have a fiddle in my mit, I can find the key to any tune. You have to wait for the tune to resolve, obviously. Funny thing about a viola, typically tuned ADGC (fine to course), I couldn't make heads or tails of it. At a glance a D tune should yield a G tune, but as I remember, it wasn't? The "chin-cello" didn’t seem to have an advantage.
Thanks! BTW
Edited by - farmerjones on 02/06/2025 18:31:26
Oh! I gotcha! You’re tuned down a step! That’s actually common…
haha, I’ve done that too…just never thought about the letters of the strings. I love that mellow, tuned-down sound.
Thanks for explaining!
