Added: 5 years ago
From: gbfowler
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  • Great fiddling man. It's always so good to hear other true old-timey fiddlers out there. My brother and I are posting lessons on my channel and at FiddlinMike. com teaching Appalachian style because we think it's important to keep the style alive. Keep on fiddling man!

  • Ever shoved a fiddle up a mule's ass? It is funny as Hell!

  • If you close your eyes when you listen to it , the little nuances of his style come out. BRAVO! wonderful fiddling! I hope one day I can play remotely near this good.

  •  Sounds a little like Cripple Creek.

  • Comment removed

  • Beautiful music.

  • Beautiful music.

  • liker det fremdeles ikke, jeg. Når begynner han å spille, lissom.

  • it is all in the bowing.

  • when i play on my violin it doesnt sound like this country music it sounds more like classical , is it the tunning , does any one know why ?

  • it's the type of music you play, sometimes it can be the tuning, but not very many fiddle songs require crossed tuning.

  • Could it be your bowing? Country is very "jumpy-jumpy-jumpy".

  • It's because you hit the notes not playing the sound. we play sloppier and more shuffly so theres more double stops and bow drags as well as slurred. The only thing a fiddler can do that i violinist cant is play how they want to. violinist play how its written.

  • Amen.

  • @davocdom000 That's not true. Two violinist will not play the same piece the exact same way even when following the same sheet music. There are as many variations to classical music as there are classical violinist. Everyone plays it the way they feel it, not just the way it is written.

  • its probably because you play the violin, not the fiddle. are you classically trained? its all just down to how the instrument is played :)

  • @davyj2345

    Violin or Fiddle, it's the exact same instrument, just different styles. I'm sure you already knew this. Personally I started taking lessons about A month ago and I enjoy playing both styles I love classical music yet a bouncy jig or reel is just as fun.

  • Make it sing!!!

  • LUV COUNTY USA MUSIC

  • Not at all. George Franklin plays the same style and the outcome has lilt and bouncy.

  • So many negative comments by the uninformed. He's playing a specific style and everyone seems to judge it based on a more contemporary fiddling style. That's just dumb, that would be like judging Mozart as heavy metal and ripping on it.

  • I found the performance to be uninspired and inhibited. Where´s the lilt and natural flow in playing?

  • use abit more bow and press a bit harder and your tone will be cleaner.

    Good effort though.

  • fantastic fiddle.

  • I love the fiddle :) not many teenagers do.

  • read the info buddy...

  • Posture?! He's not playing Beethoven!

  • Holding it like that isn't doing you any favors buddy. Either hold it like a fiddle or a violin, either work. Thats neither.

  • sorry but that was actually pretty poor, all the grace notes knocked it well out of time, it was just messy. fiddle is supposed to flow an that didn't.  can't beieve you all think that was good, watch alex depue...

  • @xXx420xDicKx69xXx Wow, you have such a grasp on the English language. Such a vast vocabulary.

    Grow up or shut up.

  • @pugh7755 Don't tell me what to do, you pretentious son of a bitch. If I was your harlot mother, I would have been so disappointed when you were born

  • @xXx420xDicKx69xXx I couldn't tell you what to do even if i wanted to, because you seem to be too uneducated to understand anyway. Also, while I'm at it, insulting someone's mother to attempt hurting their feelings has been way overdone. Try something original, Loser.

  • @pugh7755 I can 100% guarantee you, that I am far more educated than you. Who said unoriginality takes away from how insulting it is? It seems you felt insulted considering YOU INBOXED ME ABOUT IT. Have fun being being a failure, cunt

  • @xXx420xDicKx69xXx I only sent you a private message to spare other viewers here from your low-class, uneducated rhetoric. Also, you never insulted me, because I don't take inbred, sophomoric, imbeciles like you seriously. Your just an immature piss-ant who gets bullied by others in your middle school, and can only go online and taunt people without the risk of getting your ass kicked. As far as your 100% guarantee...you've still yet to prove anything other than confirming I am right about you.

  • @xXx420xDicKx69xXx I sent you a private message only to spare others here from your immature, low-class rhetoric. You've never insulted me, because I don't take inbred, uneducated imbeciles like you seriously. Most likely you're just a bullied piss-ant who can only go online and taunt people without fear of getting your scrawny ass kicked. And as far as your 100% guarantee...you've yet to prove anything to me. You just keep proving my point with every new post. Good-day to you little boy.

  • @pugh7755 looks like you're starting to stutter as well, can't take heat? I could probably rock your shit in a fight, sadly enough though, we'll never fight. I'm gonna be the more mature one and end this fight with this last post, seeing as you are too immature to end it and stop replying. Farewell sir, I hope you have a dandy time being a contradicting, pretentious little bitch.

  • Nice :)

  • u dont hold ur violin like that my teacher said u have to put ur violin up not down

    anways ur awesome and good

  • Its because fiddling is different from violining.

    HOlding it lower makes it easier to play fastt.

    but anyways your really good!! :)

  • in some circumstances yes depending on the player!! and which way they have been taught from since they were little!! I play classical and Irish trad and i tryed to put the fiddle down like that to see but was so wrong for me! could better and faster holding it the classical way!! upright!

  • That is a very traditional fiddle "method". you also "should" also use more of your bow than 4 inches. Many fiddlers like Manco Sneed would wedge the fiddle between their chest and their hand. From a Violinist's standpoint you look like you are trapped in 1st position. However it facilitates dancing around and singing while you are playing.

    This guy is a fantastic old time player. He sounds like he should be playing in someone's parlor in 1895.

  • i play fiddle!!!

  • Good job! I could watch this 10,000 times and not look away.

  • gbflower, its not cross tuned, he goes to EADG through the song fyi- ur comment says "The fiddle, not violin is crossed tuned AEAE. The bowing is called "down bowing" "

    And not that great of a fiddle player, use more bow and it'd sound great :]

  • Great job, whats the name of that song?

  • Greetings in Christ,

    John, I really enjoy listening to you play and you are very authentic in your style of playing. I hope that you will post some more vids that I and others can enjoy and learn from.

    God Bless YOu and Your Family,

    Jerlad Franklin Archer (Jerald1610)

  • Do you have a problem with that?

    Oh, and check out my blog...read about me and my life.

  • very interesting.

  • Hey John..nice finding you here. Check out my vid.

    Like that choon

    Joel

  • That's the old-time style of playing, the way it used to sound when it came from the old countries. Listen to the recordings of people like Fiddlin John Carson or Uncle Jimmy Thompson and you will hear similar "licks" in the playing. As far as the gay comments, how does that affect the way someone plays music? Hell, he sounds just as good as some of the "so called" straight fiddlers.

  • I've never heard of that style of playing dats guite interesting. Thanks for sharing!

  • I love this.  Thanks for sharing your talent.

  • Wonderful job!

  • i love the sound of the fiddle.... it somehow makes me feel all nice inside and can make a sh*t day all that better.

  • keep going thats a killer tune

  • Ah! The sounds of home - comfortably beamed to where I live now. Appalachia is more romantic when you aren't living in it. Thanks for uploading this video, and for the informative notes about it's history.

  • Wonderful.

  • what are the gauges?

  • Umm....do you have a point to this? Or just voicing your insecurity. This video is meant for us trying to learn the fiddle with help from the wonderfully talented fiddlers out there like Fiddle John. Please keep your personal issues to yourself.

  • And what?

  • What does that have to do with liking to play the fiddle? Can't there be gay fiddlers? Does that make them worst?

  • I love the fiddle. I could hear it all day.

  • 83,319 Now

  • it has 80 000 now

  • much better sound when the strings are doubled instead of playing them opened

  • you have a gorgeous fiddle!...i love the coloring of it..i just traded in one that looked like that for a barn dance fiddle...

  • Beautiful playing - wow. Nice scenery in the background makes it even better. Unlike some others on here I've seen that video themselves sitting in their messy bedroom :o/ Great video.

  • Man..I want to learn how to play that instrument, plus a few more..

  • Do you know any Fiddlin' John Carson songs?

  • Did the hair on that bow come from a pony?

  • What tuning is the fiddle in?

  • I hear all of this talk about the difference between the violin and the fiddle. My pappy tought me that the only difference between the violin and the fiddle is that the violin has four strings and the fiddle has four strangs! Keep on fiddlin'!

  • has that loverly individual charm and cultural feel to it.

  • hey i would appriciate it if ud send me the music to this plz

  • Bigger bows. It looks to crampped. Loosen up and use your wrist more. Great song though!

  • ok, only because I've been trying to learn it recently... but is that supposed to be Cripple Creek? I mean, the notes are all there (if you listen to it twice to sort it out) but it's just... rushed and crammed together. Take your time with it, really get into the song and feel it instead of just trying to slam it out so fast. There's some skill there, but keep at it and you'll only get better =)

  • I love this.

  • Great playing.

  • hoe long are your leg? i like 'me when hwy appear to go all the way to your neck... just a question.

  • I like it - keep up the playing!

  • typically american. not a whole thing and not a half. every idiot can fiddle around with a violin or a ebay-fiddle für $20.

    actually, it sounds funny. i think of a pig farm when i hear something like that.

  • perhaps your remark would be more caustic and biting if you learned the difference between an adjective and an adverb. although, i do admire you for trying.

  • you must be from the city...

  • John, I see your love of the fiddle. Please start using the bow properly and you will be great! The middle of bow will serve your playing much better. Hugs.

  • good job cheak out my videos guys

  • you guys are silly. I am a violinist... I have been playing for 13 years, i am in a classical string quartet, i also have a pickup on my violin that i use in two ensembles... one of which is a country band, where i fiddle. the only difference is the style played. a violin is a violin. though american made violins are very very different from old european (and typically classical) models. i'm a country/bluegrass fiddler who studies classical violin in a state university. lol.

  • a fiddle is a violin that never went to college!!

  • thats not how cripple creek goes.

  • The difference between a violin and fiddle? A violin has stings. A fiddle has strangs (must be said with a native Southern drawl).

  • No difference in the fiddle and violin.The difference is the playing style.One uses longer smoother strokes

    the other uses a sawing action.

  • Actualy they do addapt the basics of a violin to make fiddling easier, but only slightly, so there really isn't a major difference you're correct.

  • The only difference between a violin and a fiddle is the attitude of the player

  • The only difference between a fiddle and a violin is: Nobody cares if you spill beer on the fiddle.

  • That was good but I am somewhat confused, could someone pls elaborate on the difference between a fiddle and a violin. I am a violinist and have been for some years (didn't bother to keep track) and I often play fiddle tunes on it. I can't see any difference other than the difference in tuning you mentioned.

  • Good video, don't worry about bad comments, I'm trying to save trad fiddling styles of my mountains too. Bravo!

  • Just started playing last week.. think I should start with basic fiddle tabulature, or acutally learn to ream music??

  • Reading music would be beneficial, reaming music on the other hand might not be.

  • I like your vid clip and I've rated it as awesome. Please check out my video clip of some very rare 1934 tobacco cards of old and ethnic musical instruments.

  • This clip is fabulous... thanks for making my day.

  • Fiddle=Violin Itzhak Perlman often refers to his Strad as his fiddle.  My fiddle is not setup different. Bridge isn't flat, fingerboard not higher, strings aren't $10. I actually have gut strings on one fiddle. Fiddle doesn't = Cheap. People I play with have $3,000+ fiddles & $2,000+ bows. As to technique, attend a contest like the Canadian Grand Masters, these people study for years. I know 2 taking courses at Berklee.

  • Fiddle/Violin = Same Itzhak Perlman often refers to his Strad as his fiddle. My fiddle is not setup different. Bridge isn't flat, fingerboard not higher, strings aren't $10. I actually have gut strings on one fiddle. Fiddle doesn't = Cheap. People I play with have $3,000+ fiddles & $2,000+ bows. As to technique, attend a contest like the Canadian Grand Masters, these people study for years. I know 2 taking courses at Berklee.

  • There is not real wrong way to play music. Only diffrent ways. If there was ever a "Wrong way" in music there never would have been jazz. Mountal folk is full of diffrent ways and tuneings. I dare you to take it further in the diffrences. get a thumb piano player to play with you, and drums from tin cans. That would be wonderfull!

  • Brava!

  • I will never stop loving this instrument. you play good. Take the good of all the comments and throw away the bad. Keep it up.

  • just went to old time fiddle week at augusta heritage in west virginia for this kind of music, you're doin' it right, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! thanks !

  • Wow. that's pretty good considering the fact that it sounds like there's not enough rozin on the bow. that all really.

  • Nice tone...good notes...in tune...drones good...plays on tip of the bow..would get more volume if played closer to the frog...a very good representation of the Appalachian dance style/old time music of the smokey mountains. (Bluegrass is played usually for an audience rather than a dance, so it can be alot more showy and have tricks, ect. It doesnt take more skill necessarily, its just different.) Good Job Man, from a fiddler of 9 years, and I'm 14.

  • well arent you the shit... im a fiddler of 12 years and im 15 :P

  • a bit more confidence only,

    this guy has a nice sound

  • -__- , hey , i thought a fiddle is a violin! the country side call em fidlle! so what is ramberta talking about! ps:if im wrong. tell me plz. :P

  • Man, it's really depressing how many so-called musicians have left such IGNORANT comments. People should really think before they open their mouths.

    I'm a violinist too, but I'm not going to criticize the player for being "wrong", because he isn't. It's a FIDDLE people, not a violin!

    Anyways, good to see some authentic fiddle music. You should play "The Devil Went Down to Georgia!" :D

  • Glad to see some old-time fiddle on youtube! I respect a fiddler dedicated to his style and his particular music. Keep on posting! Ignor the naysayers and thank the complimenters. I love the background where you're at. It looks like the perfect place for playing old-time music.

  • i mean no offense to the man in the video, and there is no doubt that he can play, i'm just saying that all the people saying he is great and amazing are wrong.

  • ok, first of all i've been playing violin, piano, guitar, drums, and harmonica for over 11 years each. This man may not be a complete beginner but he is DEFINITELY not great as you all say, there is no time, i can't even seem to follow the melody, no dynamics and mistakes all over the place.

  • why don't you try to understand? try to see the beauty in it

  • dye

  • yea, but it sounds good.

  • I love this style of play, ignore all the ignorant people they're just noobs rofl.

    Keep the fiddle coming!

  • there needs to be more old time videos on youtube in general. then maybe the essence , the history , and the great social environment behind this music would be easier to understand.

  • yes!

  • And it doesn't make that person any worse of a violinist.

    Upload your own videos to youtube and see if you don't get criticism. Then you'll understand how dumb you sound.

  • Shut the hell up all you haters. No one cares how good you think you are. For all you know this person excels in the classics as well. He's playing because he obvious enjoys this style. Satomi, you're trying to judge his skill based on what you know you can play. That's like someone thinking he's better than a professional just because he sees that professional playing Twinkle. A good violinist is allowed to play an easy song.

  • I think you play beauutifully.

    Who cares whether someone likes it or not?

    Your doing something you like.

    I repect that and I don't understand why people would put you down for that.

    Who cares though!

  • Great bit of American folk. try this vid for some irish/english folk

  • I don't like, that one is not the best way of touching an as beautiful istrument as the violin.

  • Actually they played it that way in Ireland first I think...You play well!

  • Of the many musicians in this world, very few make it to the top. Fiddle playing is always a joy to listen to, and anyone who plays a musical instrument for the enjoyment of others has my greatest respect.

  • all u guys need to understand there are different styles of violin playing. fiddling uses complete different technique and though considerably easier, it is good music in its own right. of course hilary hahn would have alot to say about the playing of natalie macmaster, but complete different stlyes. i liked it alot, very unique stlye.

  • Easy to play, hard to master.

    All great fiddlers add their own style to the music, which is hard for violinists to do.

  • I could play that easy, I've been playing violin for.....pretty much my whole life, but I don't even play it in school anymore.

  • I can appreciate music for what it is...There's no 'badass' fiddle players, just relax. Music is something you're meant to enjoy and practice if you love it. God. I can't believe people on the internet. But this is good.

  • Actually this is pretty mediocre old time fiddling.

  • It sounded good. I'm a high school Violinist and I think he needs to use more bow and it would be cool if he played louder and accented a bit more ^_^

  • Actualy comn from nother viloin playerITSUCKED!no ofense,but ive ony ben playn 4 only a few years&im way beter(&compared2some o my friend i suck,but hes just sad)he cant even hold the violin right,tats sad i could do tat in 3rd grade!i mean serusly come on!here is a tip,b4 u learn how2play1st learn the corect way2hold the V&the bow!&where2place the bow while playing!ur not suposed2hold it toward the ground!hope u take these tips&critizing serusly if u learn the rit way u’ll see a big difence

  • Actualy comn from nother viloin playerITSUCKED!no ofense,but ive ony ben playn 4 only a few years&im way beter(&compared2some o my friend i suck,but hes just sad)he cant even hold the violin right,tats sad i could do tat in 3rd grade!i mean serusly come on!here is a tip,b4 u learn how2play1st learn the corect way2hold the V&the bow!&where2place the bow while playing!ur not supposed2hold it 2ard the ground!hope u take these tips&critizing seriously if u learn the rit way u’ll see a big difence

  • wow... great job... thats not even my taste in music.. but i can appreciate that.

  • nice violin

  • Wow that guy has some real talent! I hope you post more of him.

  • Good stuff. 

  • FUCKING SWELL!!!@!

    I liked it.

  • you kick ass! man i wish man had a fiddle player like you man.

    peace

  • Why are you so rude, of course it is a fucking instrument

  • wtf is that seriously an instrument?? or did u guys just make that shit up?

  • Ive played Cripple-Creek before but it was a different version and didnt sounds as nice.

  • Rock out!! i play a little fiddle too!! soundin good!

  • violins and fiddles are the same thing. the style of music just changes the name

  • YOU SUCK!!!

  • Hes not using a violin and the style doesnt require the same posture or method. Where do all these robot, bottom feeding 'musicians' come from? This is an established form of folk music and just as legit anything considered proper. :\

  • That was beautiful, really made me think of my papaw. From one hillbilly to another, yee haw!! Take care, Keara

  • this guy is really cool! Aubrey Hainey he's not but I wish I fiddled like that!

  • i Want to play the Fiddle but im stuck with the Violin for Now =)

  • Wow! That was really interesting! I've never heard a fidle before, it's a nice experience to hear it from this video.

    ~Kathie ^_^~

  • i play violin aswell!

  • pretty cool

  • Would it be easier or harder with an extra finger?

  • erm....u really suck mate. lol if u played that kind of thing in russian even at 1st grade u will be kicked out :S I was already performing at the age of 6 in concerts. Meh I'm kind of bored of it now.

  • Lovely! Thank you for uploading this!

  • ive seen more impressive stuff, sorry to say.

  • tell me why this video is featured.

  • Good start. ^^ Maybe hold your bow a little lower to get a firmer grip, balancing your pinky on the end of the bow. Maybe also invest in a good shoulder rest...? But, since traditional fiddling doesn't really require them... but it's ideal to have one, since it will improve your playing posture. The KUN brand is a good brand for shoulder rests. Yes there were mistakes, but at least your wrist did not collapse. Overall, good job.

  • ...there's a different between a fiddle and a violin but it's not that much...violin's finger board is higher than a fiddle...also the way you old a fiddle and a violin is different a fiddler holds a fiddle lazily while a violinist hold his/her's up and sit straight up for a good posture....well that's what i know...

  • why arent you holding up your violin? my private teacher tortures me with that. maybe you should try harder stuff!

  • keep up the good work, fella

  • was that supposed to be like mind blowing or something? He sucks. He had a bad tone and was just playing the same thing over and over. He wasn't even holding the thing right! I played better my first and second year of learning!