Instrument guide

Fiddle for beginners

A fiddle and a violin are the same instrument. The difference is in how it is played: fiddlers play dance music, often learned by ear, with rhythm and ornament at the heart of it. This guide shows how to get started.

Fiddle vs violin

There is no separate "fiddle" instrument. Some fiddlers adjust the setup: a bridge with a flatter arch makes it easier to play two strings at once, and steel strings give a brighter tone. The bigger difference is musical. Fiddling is built around dance rhythms, quick notes and personal embellishment, and it is usually passed on by ear. Classical violin uses more vibrato and sustained notes and follows written music closely.

Find your style

• Irish: reels, jigs and hornpipes with rolls and cuts.
• Old-time: Appalachian dance tunes, often in cross-tunings, played with the banjo. Old Joe Clark is a classic.
• Bluegrass: fast solos, double stops and blues notes.
• Cajun: Louisiana dance music, often with accordion.

What to check when buying

• Size: adults play a full-size (4/4) instrument; children need fractional sizes.
• Setup: the bridge, soundpost and nut should be fitted by a luthier or a good shop. A badly set-up fiddle is very hard to play in tune.
• A decent bow: it matters as much as the fiddle itself.
• Fine tuners on all four strings make tuning easier for beginners.

First steps

1. Tune to G D A E with a clip-on tuner, using the fine tuners.
2. Rosin the bow and practise long, even strokes on open strings.
3. Learn by ear: listen to a tune many times, then find it a phrase at a time.
4. Play with others. A slow session or jam is the fastest way to improve, and a contra dance will show you why the rhythm matters.

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