Newbie Fiddler

[Oompah Opa]

Greetings to All,

I'm new to your forum, as a member, but I've been lurking around for a few weeks in the background. I'm not new to music, however, having played guitar (mostly acoustic) since I was a teenager (I'm 65 years old now) and, believe it or not, I was inflicted with accordion lessons for three years when I was a kid in the late 40's and early 50's. Actually had a small Polka band back in the day. I still play one and can do about 100 or so polkas and other European styles of music. I also play the mandolin as of about three years ago.No problems with any of these instruments.

But.....this fiddle I got a couple of months ago is giving me fits. I play guitar in a weekly bluegrass jam with no problems.....I bought the fiddle (used) at the music store that hosts the jam session. It's an oldie but goodie. The problem I'm having is knowing when to put rosin on the bow and when to leave the bow alone. Also, it seems like the bow tension is a very critical issue in fiddle playing. A little too much, or not enough tension, seems to make a big difference. I've got the bow action down to where it's starting to feel "natural" now, but how long does it take before the rosin application and bow tension issues start to disappear? I play daily, but I'm not one to sit for hours on end at it. I know practice makes perfect........but, I'm not shooting for perfection.

I'll say this much. Since buying this fiddle, I've come to admire anybody who can make one of these things "sing". A lot more to it than meets the eye (or, ear, I guess). I'm having a lot of fun trying to build up some expertise on this fiddle and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Great forum you fellas got here. Any advice or encoragement you can give me would be appreciated..........Thanx All...(Oompah Opa) The "Oompah" is from my earler polka days, and, since my wife is German, and I'm a Grandpa, I added the Opa to it. Opa is German for Grandpa.

[mark]

Every fiddler I know has concentrated on proper technique. I'd suggest getting even basic lessons and starting right. It's hard to unlearn bad technique and even harder to make bad technique sound good. That said, Michael Cleveland has a really unusual way of holding the bow and attacking the strings and he sound phenomenal so maybe I'm all wet.

[Stilter]

First, let me say that I am NOT an expert but just a casual fiddler. I have played the violin and fiddle off and on since the mid 70's.
What I have found is that you should apply plenty of rosin to your bow before you start, and tap gently to shake the excess. This will last for quite a long period of play.
More important, like mark said, is the technique.
A problem I had with getting clear, rich tone is using enough of the bow.
In the beginning a timid fiddler will try to use only a few inches of the bow giving a scratchy, labored sound.
If you use a greater portion of the bow you will get a smoother sound (and it will be louder).
The best advice I ever received was from an old fiddler; play it loud!
If you have to keep it down, use a mute. This will allow you to play normal without getting calls from the neighbors.
After you achieve better sound quality, you will enjoy playing more and the rest of the technique will fall into place easier (not necessarily easy).
How you use the bow will give your music that certain personality that bluegrass fiddlers are known for.
Changing the pressure and speed of the stroke, whether an upstroke or down stroke, even the middle of the bow verses nearer the frog will change the inflection you put on notes.
Just cause you see a blob of ink amongst a bunch of lines on the paper, it doesn't tell you the real 'sound' of the note.
The short answer is: listen listen listen play listen play listen play play play.
And play with others when you get the chance.

"Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord, how it rang,
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing!"

[leroyleroux]

You can have too much rosin or too little. Too much and it will be 'sticky' and you will have a hard time getting notes out. Too little and it will try to 'slide' over the string without grabbing. I use just a tad before I play most times and can tell if it isn't enough. No technical way to explain, it is just a feel.

I use a rosin called Piastro Gold Flex I believe and am near religious about it. Those cakes you get with a start up fiddle from the music stores are pure junk in my opinion. I couldn't believe the difference a quality rosin makes. But then, it wasn't until about ten years ago that there is actually a weight in the top end of the bow.