Fiddlers amongst the rabble?

[BozemanboB]

Seems the vast majority of threads here are about pipes. A few threads on whistles. But I can't recall the last one I saw about fiddles. Any fiddlers out there?

Fiddle and cello are traditional instruments for Scottish dance music, you know. The fiddle is a bit more portable than pipes, and I'd argue that the fiddle is more versatile than pipes - you can play bluegrass on a fiddle if the situation calls for it, but bluegrass on pipes? And you can regulate the volume of a fiddle easily. Still not an easy instrument to learn, but I'd bet there are more fiddle instructors than pipe instructors. And fiddles are more affordable than pipes. (I'm hoping to convert a few of you, in case you can't tell.)

Any fiddlers out there besides me? Who are you? How long have you played fiddle? List a few tunes you play? Your favorite fiddler?

boB

[Cynthia]

Still having my coffee, so I apologize for any babbly or vague/unanswered stuff....

I play fiddle. Or try to, anyway. I have been playing for 5 or 6 years I think (lost track a little), but self-taught. Didn't know what I was doing and had never played a stringed instrument before so it was a little bit of a struggle. Unfortunately the worst thing I did was practice by myself -- all my friends live a little too far away. My practicing has mostly literally been by myself. I tend to tense up if anyone is around especially if they're a musician, so that's something I need to work through. Can't play at sessions yet, I get nervous and mess up or forget the tune even if I've played it since I've been playing fiddle. Mostly play for myself and hubby right now (finally getting to where I can even play the fiddle comfortably around him). Once things get settled, I'd love to do mini-sessions with close friends, but I don't play by ear and don't want to irritate people, so big sessions (even if they're okay for "beginners") is out. I've had arguments with people about this and it's one thing I'm setting my foot down about. Small, friends-only sessions first. The bigger session changes "favorite" tunes too fast for me to even keep up with what they're playing lately. I'd rather learn and memorize tunes I want to play and not try to keep up with what everyone else is doing (I tried learning what they were playing and by the time I got back they were already playing other tunes so it would have just been a constant battle to learn new tunes so I could play with them until I learned to play by ear on the spot).

I've had a few things happen that soured me a little, so the fiddle has taken a bit of a back burner lately (not really in the mood to talk about it, but it involves some of the reason why I would rather be around very close friends and not at general sessions in public... in fact, I rarely go to sessions now because of it). Once I get caught up on some things, I will try to put a little more focus back on the fiddle, but for now it's lucky I even make time to whip through a few tunes these days. Big change from when I spent most of the day playing the fiddle during the first couple of years.

Looking back on this post, I sound really negative.. but like I said, I had a few things sour me on the fiddle and rather than hate it, I've pushed it aside a little. I spent so much time and energy to learn the instrument -- I really did try my best! -- and have been frustrated and hurt many times because of it. I'm a self-taught fiddler and have struggled on my own. I know my limits, and I don't want to be pushed (I push myself enough) or accused of "not trying hard enough" or "not wanting it enough" (yes, it's happened to me).

I like to play Scottish tunes when I come across them, but most of the sessions in the area play Irish trad, so that's also my focus. I used to have a couple dozen songs memorized, but I don't practice quite as much or I'll pull a tune from memory and sometimes not even remember the name of it. My mind has been elsewhere, so I get a little forgetful about song titles and how they go sometimes. I sometimes throw in ornamentation, but it's still clumsy and I definitely don't have a style... just whatever feels comfortable to me or how I'm used to hearing a song. I don't really hear local fiddlers playing at sessions with heavy ornamentation anyway (which is good for me, because when I do start playing by ear, I need to be able to hear the base melody. I've heard some good fiddlers play songs so full of ornamentation that it was difficult to figure out what the melody was or even recognize it).

Okay, time for my second cup of coffee. As far as pipes, I'd wanted to actually take classes (something I'll never do again, learning an instrument on my own), but sadly the place I'd be taking classes would have been too expensive. Ah well... I'm busy enough with everything else I've got on my plate at the moment.

Best wishes!

[BozemanboB]

Yikes. That does sound bad. Sorry to hear about all that.

We've got a local session that's pretty friendly and very encouraging. They mostly play Irish, and I know only a few Irish tunes anyway. If I'm sitting there and haven't played anything in quite a while they egg me on to play something, "Even if it is Scottish, we'll listen anyway!" they joke. And once I start a tune they figure out how to accompany me, even through my flubs. Then I'll just sit out a while, enjoy the beer, and listen to them go on. I'd like to play more of the tunes, but it's just going to take time. I guess I'm pretty lucky with these guys.

Otherwise I play some of the dances that our local Scottish dance club puts on. I don't play solo yet - I'm always second fiddle to my instructor when I play at the dances. But it's a BLAST. I can do a jig set and a strathspey set, but I just can't manage the reels yet. Soon!

Anyone else? Any other fiddlers?

[KiltedSurveyor]

Yep, I play fiddle as well. Over the years I've played it in Southern Rock and country bands and at church, but mostly I play Irish/Celtic and southern Old Time (pre-bluegrass, before the 1940s). Of all the instruments I play, fiddle was the hardest for me to get a good sound from. I've been told it takes a least a year to get a passable musical tone, and though I've been playing 30 years, there are days that I'm not sure I've reached that mark yet. That being said, fiddle music is sad, beautiful, energetic, aggressive, happy, intense and light hearted (I'm sure I missed other descriptors, but you get the point). I am just now starting to differentiate between the various celtic styles. Love how much there is to learn and discover!

[CameronCat]

Wow! Don't know how I missed this thread for two days...

First, BozemanBob, thanks for the initial post and "stay out of my head." I had been considering the bringing up this exact topic but didn't know how to raise the issue amongst the host of pipers. You did it well and succinctly; thanks for that.

I'm still a beginning/lo-level intermediate fiddler. Took it up 4 years ago after wanting to do it for a long time. I've been a contra and trad. square dancer for years--the dances always have live bands, and I realized a long time ago that if it wasn't for the fiddles I probably wouldn't dance. I've gotten much good advice from fiddlers in dance bands!

I don't practice nearly as much as I should, and 30 min at a crack wears me out thoroughly. Cynthia and I have chatted about this (hi, Cyn!) and how easy it is to get discouraged with the infernal instrument.

I've been through 3 teachers and am currently without one, hampering my progress even more. I'm focusing on the old-timey and trad stuff that I enjoy + the campfire and back-porch songs that most people know. Throw in a little Tom Paxton or John Denver and it's all good here.

I share Cynthia's "terror" about playing in front of folks or in groups, although I know I must. In this part of eastern Pennsylvania, almost all of the jams are bluegrass which is not my thing. Nearest Irish jam is about an hour away and that's a haul home late on a Sunday night.

I find it interesting that you're comfortable with jigs and strathspeys but not reels...I'm just the opposite. I can play Saint Anne's Reel and The Wind that Shakes the Barley but jigs elude me completely. I've tried Irish Washerwoman as a practice piece but the jig tempo and wacky bowing just gets me stupid.

Yet I can play waltzes (granted, single groups of three, not doubles...) just fine. I've got Midnight on the Water down pretty well, and a half-arsed version of Ashoken Farewell.

Other stuff I can play (sometimes) "8th of January" (aka Battle of New Orleans), Bonaparte's Retreat, and of course Scotland the Brave ('Gay Gordons' to the dancers...). A couple others, too.

Good to know y'all are out there; nobody likes to suffer alone! <wink>

Hey Cynthia: I finally got the new strings...the wound E cured a lot of problems!

Let's stay in touch!

JT

[BozemanboB]

Hello, CameronCat!

I've been playing two years as of yesterday, and I'm completely obsessed with the fiddle. I'm 38 now, and wish I had started 20 years ago. Part of the reason I enjoy it so much is my instructor - he's as obsessed as I am. We're like soul-mates, if that doesn't sound too creepy. Great guy, and that makes a huge difference.

I love jigs - to me they're easy. So now I know more jigs than anything else. Strathspeys are just wonderful, and always a challenge. I love the snaps, especially across strings!! My hang up with reels is purely mental ... maybe if I pretend they're crooked jigs or straightened strathspeys I can get them down! (I'm going to try The Highlandman Kissed His Mother. It's all 1/8 notes, all the way through, with some fun string crosses in the B-part.)


When I play dances they mostly don't hear my few minor flubs. They're too busy dancing! They've never failed to applaud the fiddlers at the end of a dance, so I must be doing alright. And I'll tell you that having the ability to play music that moves people ... that's what it's all about, isn't it? Pure magic to see people dancing to the music that I am making.

It takes a lot of guts to get up in front of people, but in my experience they're impressed that you've got the gumption to do it and the talent to make it sound easy!


boB

[Kilted Rogue]

I am buying my wife a fiddle for her birthday, she has been talking about playing for years. its time to get her in the swing of it.. I play bodhran and darn it i want a family jam partner! glad to read this thread Keep up the practicing

[BozemanboB]

Hi there, Rogue.

Good on you! And if she's been talking about it for years then there's no good reason to keep waiting.

You might direct her to The Fiddle Hangout (http://www.fiddlehangout.com/) for information. Good info and nice folks there. Otherwise I'm sure she could post questions here and we fiddlers might be able to come up with decent answers.

Best advice I can offer to her - find an instructor! If she doesn't already have experience with the instrument she might find it quite a challenge to get started. An instructor can remove a speed bump before it turns into a road block.

boB

[Kilted Rogue]

Hi there, Rogue.

Good on you! And if she's been talking about it for years then there's no good reason to keep waiting.

You might direct her to The Fiddle Hangout (http://www.fiddlehangout.com/) for information. Good info and nice folks there. Otherwise I'm sure she could post questions here and we fiddlers might be able to come up with decent answers.

Best advice I can offer to her - find an instructor! If she doesn't already have experience with the instrument she might find it quite a challenge to get started. An instructor can remove a speed bump before it turns into a road block.

I agree, had the same trouble with my bodhran playing

boB

[KiltedSurveyor]

You may also want to check this site out:

http://www.thesession.org/

I've found it to be great when trying to figure out a tune, where I can get most of it, but get hung up on a certain part and I don't have the time (wish I did) to figure it out.