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Lucky me! My father-in-law gave me a fiddle this weekend that he had gotten in a trade many years ago.
I have always wanted to learn to play but didn't want to spend any $$ on one. I tuned it and was actually able to make some decent sounds with it but now I would like some advice on how to get started. Any recommendations on Mel Bay-esque primers for fiddle playing? Web sites?
Todd
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Todd, I highly recommend Homespun for a whole slew of instruments and different styles. Here's some of their fiddle options: http://www.homespun.com/Instruments/Fiddle
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Thanks Bob! I will definitely check that out.
Todd
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Todd, google ‘fiddle instruction’ (no quotes) and you will find a lot of fiddle lessons on DVD, in books and both. There are some free lessons listed also.
Good luck!
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Besides whatever books, tapes, and lessons that make you feel comfortable:
The right hand is the hard part.
Bow straight, bow loud. You can adjust down later. Play loud and proud.
Ignore all faces, gestures, and insulting comments from loved ones. They are not your friends - that is a terrible thing to do.
Sit back, look off in the distance, at the TV, or close your eyes and play any ditty you can think of: Twinkle, Mary Had Some Mutton, etc
Finger on string time will get you there - the only way.
Listen to those who make you feel good. Ignore the rest.
There are many methods. Don't get sucked into absolutes.
Best of luck,
Have fun
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I really liked the video lessons by Todd Ehle - especially since they're free!  The Mel Bay book You Can Teach Yourself Fiddling is pretty much your basic fiddling primer, but perhaps moves ahead a bit too quickly. The author (Craig Duncan) seems to have a number of books that are pretty much the same thing repackaged. (I've got a several of them). The Complete Idiots Guide to Playing Fiddle is a good overview, and Violin For Dummies isn't too bad - both can be previewed at Amazon. I thought Picture Yourself Playing Violin was a bit disappointing - aimed at much younger players, and probably more "classical" than you're looking for. Be sure you get a shoulder rest! I spent a lot of time struggling to hold the violin properly, and when I finally got a shoulder rest, it made a world of difference. I agree with Bob - I've only seen their guitar videos, but the videos from Homespun Tapes look pretty good.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Quote:
Be sure you get a shoulder rest! I spent a lot of time struggling to hold the violin properly, and when I finally got a shoulder rest, it made a world of difference.
Best advice yet!!!
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Thanks for all the great ideas! Fortunately its just me and my wife around the house now. She is a properly trained musicians wife. She puts up with feedback, little too loud PA for inside the house, horrible keyboard playing, thumping bass guitar, whining steel guitar but I make up for it with decent guitar and vocal skills. Fiddle learning noise shouldn't phase her.
Regarding the shoulder rest, what is it?
Todd
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All of my shoulder rests are collapsible. I threw away my old rigid ones. It's much easier for packing.
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Just an FYI. My father in law played guitar, mandolin, fiddle. All of them ok for a middling country/bluegrass local band.
Last year he stared having memory problems. Right now he can barely start the car. His shop is idle. He was playing with 4 other guys in Nursing Homes. He can't remember how. His tractor sits alone, he rebuilt it from spare parts, painted it up, an old Oliver, looks like an old girl in fresh makeup sitting there. But it was used to drag logs, and he can't remember how to start it. My chainsaw he kept running for 28 years needs a new starting cable. He can't do it. His wife has to start the lawnmower.
This is so sad. He's now 75. Do it when you can. He just sits and stares. I was so in awe of him, his carpentry skills, every one of us had end tables, dressers and chairs he made. He asked my wife yesterday if she had any kids. Wow.
What do you say?
John Conley
Musica est vita
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I say live life like there is no tomorrow.
Todd
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Quote:
Regarding the shoulder rest, what is it?
It's used to help the fiddle so it won't slip off your shoulder.
They come with two different types of feet - solid rubber, or metal with rubber covering. I prefer the solid rubber, since it feels more secure (and less cheat). The newer Kun shoulder rests are like that - it looks like Musician's Friend is selling the older versions.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Quote:
... She puts up with feedback, little too loud PA for inside the house, horrible keyboard playing, thumping bass guitar, whining steel guitar .....
So YOU'RE the guy who moved in next door... 
Cheers,
Keith
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I use to play in a Fiddle show band, where we played behind our back, between the legs,and took turns bowing and fingering where we both played the same Fiddle. I had a 1/10th scale hidden in my jacket and would whip it out near the end of the show. My specialty was putting a bow upside down in the front of my pants and dragging the inverted Fiddle across it. Still play a little, but arthritis makes it uncomfortable now days. I've used foam rubber held on with rubber bands, taped on an old rolled up sock, and various other shoulder rests. I like Carbon Fiber bows the best. I treat a new bow with spray-on rosin that is meant for drum sticks and the switch to regular afterward. I love "Super Sensitive" brand strings. Any time you can play 2 strings at once and one is open is a good way to help stay in tune. If your bow bounces a lot grip it a little further away from the end. I tighten mine so that when playing hard the hair almost drags the stick. Still have my first Fiddle that I got when I was 6, also one with frets that I call my drunk proof Fiddle (I was drunk a lot).
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Yeah Keith, that would probably be me...
Hey Tommy, is there any instrument you don't play?
Todd
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BTW, had some fun playing with it last night. Going fretless will take some getting used to but I am beginning to catch on. Took alittlebitofiddle's advice and skreetched out "Silent Night" (good thing Christmas is still a ways away!). The fiddle looks to be one of the thousands of copies of the Stradivarius Cremonensis made in one of a number of countries but what the heck it sounds good to me and it was free after all.
Todd
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Some people use thin tape markers or pencil marks to find notes. Use a tuner to find the note and make a mark, I used pin strip tape when I started. Check your strings for rosin build up, that can make screeching sounds. Clean with a dry rag and don't touch the area where you bow with your fingers, also don't touch the bow hair.
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