How to Play the Fiddle : Jig Bowing on the Fiddle for Beginners

[spoon149]

Name of this Piece pleasee :)

[MichelleSeven]

What is the song calls that you are playing my friend? Really nice played =D

[dwaynedibbly]

I'm trying to figure out how to bow when you have lots of slurs as I run out of bow and it screws up my rhythm, what would be the correct term for this so I can study it? thanks.

[banjovy48]

I LOVE this ... You have a great way of teaching SWEET jig bowing breakdown .. keep it up ( teaching ... and playin )

[banjocorgimama]

Geez...I just started fiddling about a year ago and after reading these childish comments I have to wonder...is that what too many hours of Irish fiddling does to a person? Hope not. Anyway, thanks for the helpful video.

[deterdettol]

@banjocorgimama I have the right to defend myself after someone maligned me through misrepresenting what I said. Maybe you think all this is futile, perhaps you are right. But I have the freedom to comment, and thus to defend myself as and when I deem fit, and no where at any point in time have I denied my opposition his right to comment as well.

And we aren't trolling. So, one basic internet etiquette has been met. This is just arguments which has gotten a little heated. That's all.

[banjocorgimama]

@deterdettol While I respect your rebuttal, I stand by my comment...and as for me, I will continue to choose the enchanting sounds of fiddle music over someone's oppositional pontifications, regardless of how justified they may think they may be, any day.

[deterdettol]

@banjocorgimama I respect your stance, but just like you, I also stand by mine. Thus my reply.

Also, my comment was never meant as rebuttal. I meant to inform you as to why I made all those comments. Oppositional Defiant Disorder? Perhaps. I love arguing and debating so yup. I'm not a troll though, so thankfully I'm not that bad.

Also, if you enjoy listening to the music, go right ahead. Don't allow me to stop you. Also there's plenty other great fiddle music on youtube. Frankie Gavin

[deterdettol]

@banjocorgimama (cont.) Frankie Gavin is one, and there are others too. I like Clare fiddlers a lot, and Tommy Peoples too.

[banjocorgimama]

@deterdettol Thanks a bunch for the suggestions, I will definitely follow up on those.

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

AHH. I see now. A 19 year old student in mass communication. Your goal is to created a large mass of communication. You passed! Have fun on Spring Break!

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture Thank you. I appreciate your compliment. I hope that my 1 month of absolutely nothing by me, have soothed your ears a bit. Unlike you, I tend to be verbose.

Oh, and I hope you've gone off to watch some of the players. I mentioned I hope you loved them!

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

The fiddler who made this video has great sound and feel. End of sentence.

The users who claimed "by ear" is better, missed an opportunity to learn by video. End of sentence.

I am not a troll. It seemed to me that the "by ear" purists were slagging those of us who appreciated the video.

ANY way to learn is a good way. Video or by ear or however.

Get a LIFE you people. Irish fiddling is cool, this player is cool, if you need to trash somebody once per hour, I will be your whipping boy. Bye

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture Dear troll,

Once again, I never once insulted this player's playing nor his video. I was merely making my comment towards a user who was talking about learning by ear. Stop saying that I did because I didn't, and you don't seem to have the cognitive ability of a 12 year-old to see that.

What's the point of telling me that you have so many years of fiddle playing and you've composed tunes for the CCE. I've never heard of you, I've never heard your tunes.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture Oh, there seems to be a problem. Youtube prevents reposting of exactly similar earlier comments. Hopefully, you'll go back to my first comment and look at it. If you don't because you're thoroughly incompetent, deliberately out to irritate me or you don't believe anything I say, then I don't care. I have enough with quarreling with you, defending myself and the things I said. Go ahead and continue to rubbish me. I've got more in life than to address your accusations.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture (Continued) You talked about the quality of this video, and how much you can learn from it. Because you are either too confused as a person to understand or you're deliberately doing all this crap to make me feel bad, for once, I'll say to you, THIS VIDEO IS VERY GOOD. VERY WELL MADE, INSTRUCTIONAL, INFORMATIVE AND GREAT FOR BEGINNERS AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO ARE ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING NEW AND INTERESTING THAT THEY CAN PICK UP FROM. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT!

[dirtypenny666]

it would be really help if there were chords to be able to learn this

[dirtypenny666]

it would be really help if there were chords to be able to learn this

[kgervin1]

wow really good

[kgervin1]

wow

[chillipepper56]

i can play this!!!!!!

[Saidhbhin]

Thank you David. I only started playing trad tunes recently and I knew that I was missing something with the bowing and you have explained that part very nicely. I have just applied this to four jigs I know and it works very nicely, although I will have to figure out what happens when you run over the "2 beat" downbow, or when the last beat of a bar ties into the first beat of the next bar...

[uptonsavoie]

How do you get rid of the printing?

Bud

[globalbrimstone]

Thanks so much for posting your lessons! I haven't picked up the fiddle in years, and I wasn't playing long enough to get a lot of muscle memory. This is really straightforward and has made me learn a whole lot faster than high school music class ever did. Thanks again!

[AutumnTheMagic]

aw that rythm.. !!! When I hear that, I want to dance ! XD (but I can't.. i'm not good at all ahah)

You have the rythm ! it's pleasant =)

[CanadianWorkDivers]

I want to learn this so bad.. however.. My girlfriend already wants to kill me for being into so many things! Damn!! lol

[001MOneypenny]

Hi would u please be be able to tell me the name of the tune u played my mum would like to know thank you

[tullochgorum]

@001MOneypenny - Tune is a session standard, the Tenpenny Bit

[gbtayc]

I believe he said 6 beats to a measure and an eigth note gets one beat.

Thats the way I learned it.

[orgiemedes]

gohhzz hes so hotttt marry meeeeee

[je81595]

hahaha funny!

[cloke32]

Oh dear. Another one. Very clear and yet entirely incorrect explanation of 6/8 time. The clarity of the explanation in fact, being second only to the incorrectness....

For an equally clear and entirely correct explanation, try elsewhere...

[cloke32]

Very clear, and entirely incorrect explanation of 6/8 time, just in case anybody is using this as a source of information...

;-)

[dishes2wash11]

great job i loved it!

[MSAWoef]

my bro let me use a fiddle he has that his wife bought for herself a few years ago and I could actually get some of the jig bowing down! very cool video here :)

[Moebeck2]

Really lovely! Thanks.

[TheLoneMinstrel]

This is excellent lol Id been looking for this i just didnt know it til i found it... All the other instruments i play i practiced by just playing jigs and reels for hours and hours for entertainment before ever learning a song, this is a godsend on the fiddle for me...

[emilgrisen]

Thank you very much

very helpful and good

[MIORIGAMI]

huh?

[donnlee2]

I have just begun to study music, and I found this very helpful.

[SabladeZ]

thank you this is helpful

[TheSpikermom]

If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. Or didn't your mother teach you that?

[TheSpikermom]

By the way: MythBusters proved that you CAN polish a turd!

[magicwill25]

Man, you have high standards. I thought this was pretty nice.

[alexmorgan2]

This tune is also called The Three Little Drummers.

[themasacker]

what is this song? sorry i wana play it lol

[musicdrew22]

the tenpenny bit

[Aponijohn]

he played a typical irish tune but he didn't use the irish ornamentation like short or long rolls which is common for jig tunes. he played too much stops too which are common in american fiddle tunes.

[Ceibhfhionn]

Well that makes since because he's an old time fiddler.

[stratologist]

It is so hard to get usefull information in this place.

[ninetailfox56]

no that is if the notes are different if the notes are the same it is called a tie.

[yxgu]

You dont know how to play violin.

[1969KimRossiStuart]

subtitles are needed

[enoduolc]

I wish he actually taught the song...

[dtgutman]

@p3rdyp1nkr0ses - but for those just beginning it's very helpful to have a "piece of paper" now and then to use as an aid... until one is comfortable and proficient enough to suss out tunes by ear. Now, I'm not a beginner violinist and have a long background in the mandolin, a very similar instrument. But back 25+ years ago when I was first learning mando & guitar, this would have been so useful. Wish there was YouTube back then! And helpful teachers like the person who posted this video!

[p3rdyp1nkr0ses]

@dtgutman This is very true! Very wise words.

[deterdettol]

@dtgutman Pardon me if I sound crude, but here's my two cents: I am an Asian but I learn Irish music exclusively by ear. It's my believe that if someone of my origin can do it the way it was done traditionally in Ireland, I don't see why anyone can't. Learning by ear is like bitter herbal medicine; hard to swallow at first but works wonders. Sheet music is a crutch.

If starting out listening is difficult, slowing down recordings help, although I rarely do that as I wanted to improve quickly.

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

@deterdettol Your point is....what? Did this video not help you? It sure helped me.

The guy in the video has great tone and feel. I am glad he put it up here.

You are clearly not in need of his knowledge and inspiration, so your post is useless. When you post your own playing, I will be sure to take the time to make fun of it...

Jerk

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

@p3rdyp1nkr0ses Wow...very, very impressive that you are so talented. So does this video not help your golden, sacred ear? Sure helped mine.

Post your own playing so we can take shots at it like you did.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture At no point in my post did I made fun of the player's tone and feel. I personally feel it's reasonable, but that's not my concern.

My post was a personal opinion. It was made in purpose to weigh in on someone who talked about sheet music. Yes, I called it a crutch but other than the fact it was a personal opinion, please tell me how offensive I was, because as far as I'm concerned that was as innocuous as it can be.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture My comment was nothing to do with this video. The expert demonstrated bowing, and in this video how to bow a jig rhythm. He did not talk about sheet music at any point right? So, YOUR comment is definitely useless.

Even if I talked directly about this expert's video, I never made any personal attacks. I tried to express my opinion as unoffensively as possible; I even made a caveat saying I might have sounded crude. If you are still offended, it is your own fault.

[deterdettol]

@deterdettol Also, I never said I'd made a recording to prove the whole entire world of sheet-music people that they are wrong. But now, you are interested in me making a video so that you can deliberately make fun of my playing. Look who's trying to be the insulter now.

Irish music was never meant to be engaged in unhealthy, unconstructive debate. However the right-minded people are trying to start constructive, friendly discourse on it and people like you are ruining it.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture My personal opinion that this video is a good example for absolute beginners, but once they get their feet off the ground they should proceed to something more informative. In fact, this video is very good for beginners.

Have a good day, troll.

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

Astonished that the word "troll" is used in a context outside a simple minded video game. A troll certainly wouldn't hang out to listen to folk music of this quality.

Been playing fiddle for 35 years and find this video most informative! I have hand written tunes from Clare, Sligo & CCE in Dublin. Have transcribed recordings from the Willy Clancy festival.

Yup. I'm a troll. So clearly, others find this helpful besides absolute beginners!

O and WHERE are your more informative sources....?

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture (Continued) So your blabber doesn't mean anything to me. Well, you'll certainly say my almost pointless 3 years of experience surely means even less. At least I'm speaking from whatever experience I have, was just giving my say and I wasn't rude, no I wasn't. But now you're using your 35 years of whatever experience and accusing me of trashing an eHow expert, and making it as if you are an authority on this.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture (Continued) Also in my comment I never forced my opinions, I never said everything else, be it learning from scores or whatever, is inferior to listening. Never. Read my comment again if you aren't sure. I was just airing my view, and I don't care if any body don't bother about it. But now you are here to berate me for something which I never did which was to insult the video and its maker, and accusing me of thumping down those do it other ways, especially this video.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture So in that case, troll, which by the way, I noticed you removing your comments on other videos; of course I'm watching your comment history, trying to hide the fact that you have nothing good or constructive to say.

Oh and my more informative sources? Wow, 35-years fiddler for CCE and you don't know? Tommy Peoples! Sean Keane! Fred Finn! And others not really on Youtube, like Paddy Canny, Bobby Casey and so many others!

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture (Continued) So from what you can see (I hope), where did I insulted any body? Where did I insult any learning style? If you still continue to tar and feather me for trashing any body, all I have to say is GO BACK TO KINDERGARTEN.

Good day, sir.

And seriously, you go get a life. I'm 19 years old and I'm doing a diploma in mass communication. I also play the drums, and I love Jazz and Classical music too. Yes, I have a life. Thank you for your utmost concern, troll.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture (Continued) P.S. You should be VERY astonished you're being called a troll. Because this term is never used in a video game context either.

[deterdettol]

@deterdettol And why your sarcasm towards me and p3rdyp1nkr0ses? Does it mean that championing learning by ear is an attack to everyone learning by sheet? Please, don't flatter yourself. Learning by ear is tough work. But it is a personal conviction of mine at least, that this is the best way for me. I know I'm trying to spread the word about it, but since it's a personal conviction I'm not doing it just to give myself an ego boost, putting up myself above others and then thumping them down.

[deterdettol]

@PhysicsForTheFuture And looking at your account's comment history, seem's you've said nothing good (or nothing at all) about anything. So, I would would like to tell you now, PhysicsForTheFuture a.k.a internet troll, get of this comments page.

[adgroupeditor]

so is there a difference in tuning between the fiddle and violin?

[WillJStudio]

No, except alternate tunings are sometimes used.

[stuartbeaton]

You never spill beer on a violin!

[AnsonFiddler]

Thank you for posting this, great instruction!!!

[Azathoth43]

that was extremely helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to do this video.

pamela

[ngvn]

This was the first time I've ever seen or heard anyone explain the theory behind bow strokes for Irish jig fiddle music. I've always played one direction for one note and the other direction for the next note. Sounds mechanical at best. thank you!

[WillJStudio]

Two or more notes played with one bow is called a "slur."

[rickstorv]

what is the name of that tune he's playing

[eileenmclain]

Ten Penny Bit

[shalalaszwee]

I play both, on the same instrument. it is just the way of bowing, the left hand position. Most fiddle player have the left wrist bent, the palm of the hand stickin to the left, this has the effect of enhancing precision by locking the hand in first position, most fiddlers dont go often upper on the neck, and they dont use much vibrato or none. The classical position requires the wrist to stay standing in line with the arm, leaving only the left tumb touching the neck. The hand is then free...

[shalalaszwee]

to glide or vibrate, but then the precision requires a very good ear and experience! The classical bow is also more about smooth glides, the fiddle playing uses more a short part of the bow, pickin lots of short strokes and rythms. The two technique are good to masterise and the best is being able to swicth from one to another at will. You know, a part of being a good musician, on any instyrumant, is to fight automatism, while creating good habits... the line is thin between those!

[plejdg02]

There is no difference between a fiddle and a violin ususally fiddle refers to the ty of music that is being played such as celtic or folk

[paddyrynne]

the tenpenny bit

[shawnyboie]

there is no difference between a fiddle and violin is cultural differences thats all fiddle/cape breton

violin classical

[meaganab]

whats the difference between a fiddle and a violin?

[ScoobyDooobyD00]

The fiddle has steel strings while the violin has gut strings

[imahomophobe7]

they are the sam insturment the difference is in how it is played

[MarvelousBoyHero]

fiddle is often used to refer to a violin used to play mainly folk tunes. it can sometimes be smaller, and the bridge is often shaved for easier string crossing. so while the instrument is technically the violin, fiddle can be thought of as a variant of the violin.

[meaganab]

oh thank you so much.^_^

[davearonow]

There is NO difference between a fiddle and a violin. It is the same instrument.

fiddle players often shave the top of their bridge a little flatter to ease in playing double stops, but that is the only difference. Some strings lend themselves better for bluegrass/celtic fiddle stytle, etc, than for classical and vica versa.

So: The only real difference between a fiddle and a violin, is one has "strings" and the other has "strangs"

[wvfiddler716]

This is truth. In addition, you may see variations in the type of string used. Most fiddlers use Helicore or steel strings, whereas violinists tend to use synthetic gut and Perlon. I play both, and I personally favor Thomastik Dominants.

There is also a difference in the bowing technique. Violinists try to be more fluid while fiddlers try to achieve good drive and shuffle. Vibrato is limited in fiddling. But yes, you can fiddle on a violin and vice versa. It's the same thing!

[WillJStudio]

In my opinion, that comment about flattening the bridge arch is ignorant misinformation. One learns to play double stops by proper instruction and practicing, not mangling the instrument.

[davearonow]

Opinion is opinion but facts are facts and yours are wrong. Go back and reread my original statement. I said fiddle players often shave their bridge to make it easier to play double stops. I DIDNT say it was correct to do this, didnt say it develops good technique, or is even a good idea. I just said some(alot) do it. If you disagree that people do indeed do this, for whatever reason, right or wrong, then YOU are the one in denial and are guilty of spreading misinformation based on ignorance.

[davearonow]

Also, if you really want to get technical about it, they shave their bridges to aid in playing triple stops thats right, I said triple stops. Also to aid in rapidly jumping between double stops on adjacent strings. Once again, I am not saying this is a good technique, but I am heavy in the business and I know and have met UUHHLLLOT!!! of pro fiddle players. TONS of bluegrass and country players shave their bridges. You dont have to like it, but they are still going to do it anyway.

[WillJStudio]

Thanks for the rare literate response. I guess if one wants to limit his repertoire to one genre then shave away. Heck, just run the bridge through a band saw then you can play quadruple stops! I'll ask my luthier for his opinion on the subject.

[timmy47]

paganini actually had his violin altered to be able to play up to 4 notes at a time or so ive heard. i dont think he had it on all his violins though.

[prairiehawk2000]

I have had a fiddle for more than 20 years, just made music with it for the first time in the last couple of days watching these lessons.

Just want to say thanks...keep it up.

[chaimholtjer]

what is the name of this song indeed?

[snappyjdog]

what is the name of the tune you're playing?

[webdouwap]

thank you very much for all these videos about fiddle ! It's a big help to me and I work a lot with it !

[bloodybonecrusher]

:D so cool