Starting Out On Fiddle - Fancy Yourself Fiddling

fancy yourself fiddling?
Starting Out on Fiddle1.
By Sean Kenan, 2008.
Q. Am I too old to learn?
Fiddle playing is a motor-skill activity and whilst
children generally are quick learners there are
many adults these days who have sucessfully taught
themselves to play fiddle. Ernie Gruner teaches the
instrument in Melbourne and he says,“I actually
think a motivated adult has got a better chance of
getting where they want to get to. Their aims are
realistic and they know why they are doing it. I
think a lot of kids are told they must practice.”
Q. Do I need talent?
The Japanese violin educator Shinichi Suzuki said,
“I have held that there is no such thing as an innate
aptitude for music. I believe the same for other
cultural skills. I have insisted that it is a mistake to
think that hereditary aptitudes exist for literature
or mathematics.” He goes on to say, “Musical ability
is not an inborn talent but an ability that can be
developed.”
QUOTE:
“Time rather than talent is the
deciding factor in progress on
the fiddle”
Sean Kenan
Q. How much do I need to practice?
Suzuki recommends children put in daily the same
amount of time they spend at their weekly lesson.
This is also a good guide for adults.
A half hour weekly lesson means half an hour’s
practice each day. Progress has a lot to do with the
hours put in and many repetitions are needed to
make the actions ‘automatic.’ To a non-musician the
number of these repetitions can appear staggering.
It is quite normal to repeat a difficult phrase fifty
times at one sitting or to play tunes ten times
through without a pause. These long periods of
repeated activity are essential to enable the actions
to be repeated in an effortless and controlled
manner. Shinichi Suzuki also told his students they
didn’t have to practice on any day they didn’t eat.
Q. What should I look for
when choosing an instrument?
The fiddle and the violin are basically the same
instrument. If the instrument does not have fine
tuners, get a tailpiece fitted with these included.
Most classical violinists only use a fine tuner on the
E string but fiddlers use them on all strings. They
make tuning a lot easier.
Photo above: Tailpiece with fine tuners.
Q. How do I tune the fiddle?
The good old Aussie greeting “G’dae!” (goodday)
is an easy way to remember the tuning. The bass
or thickest string is G followed by D and A and the
thinnest string is E. For major adjustments the
wooden pegs at the scroll end of the fiddle are
used. The fine tuners at the tailpiece control
the minor variations in pitch.
Electronic tuners are highly recommended and are
available at low cost. Their compact size means
they can fit inside the fiddle case. It is vital that
the instrument is tuned up before and kept in tune
during all playing periods. It only takes a short
playing period or a slight change in atmosphere to
put the instrument out of tune.
Q. What should I do every
time I pick up the instrument?
Tune up! Then after the playing session relax the
bow hair by releasing the tension with the screw
at the end of the bow. The bow will warp if the
pressure is not released after playing.
w w w . s e a n k e n a n . c o m

fancy yourself fiddling?
Starting Out on Fiddle2.
By Sean Kenan, 2008.
Photo above: Kevin Burke’s bow hold.
The Bow
Q. How much do I tighten the bow?
Enough to allow a pencil to be passed between
the hair and stick. Make sure you release the
pressure after playing. Avoid touching the hair
as this will cause ‘dead’ spots while bowing due to
grease from the fingers.
Q. How much rosin should I use?
A new bow will require a good load. Try fifty
rubbings down and up the whole bow length.
For short practice sessions ten rubs should do.
Q. How often should I get the bow re-haired?
Kevin Burke is a professional player and he
changes his strings every two months and gets
his bow re-haired every six to nine months. Most
fiddlers would get away with a re-hair every one or
two years, sometimes for longer periods.
Photo above: Avoid playing with a crooked bow.
Draw the bow in a parallel line between the bridge
and fingerboard.
Q. How do I hold the fiddle?
Most players these days use a device called
a shoulder rest. These fittings are quite a
recent invention and have only been available
commercially for about 70 years.The famous
classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin detested
shoulder rests even though there is one brand
for sale bearing his name. Kevin Burke prefers a
small cushion attached with an elastic band.
Other players hold the fiddle in the original manner,
the instrument resting directly on their shoulder.
The main thing is to try to ‘balance’ the instrument
lightly on the shoulder rather than clamping the
fiddle tightly between the chin and shoulder.
Photo above: Left hand finger exercise. Try holding
down the four fingers approximately in the above
shape. This will develop strength and finger
independence.
Q. How do I bow the string?
Start off with long slow bows on open strings.
Aim for smooth long strokes with a minimum
of scratching. Gently stroke the string to get it
‘spinning’ and play very lightly with a smooth
continuous tone all the way from one end of the
bow to the other. You will need to support a lot of
the bow’s weight as you near the lower half or you
will scratch. Aim for 30 seconds per bow stroke.
Sean Kenan teaches fiddle in Melbourne at
the Fancy Yourself Fiddling music school and
produces the monthly newsletter, Fiddle News.
Tune downloads, quotes and Fiddle News archives
are available online at www.seankenan.com
w w w . s e a n k e n a n . c o m

fancy yourself fiddling?
Fiddling Starting Out on Around Fiddle3. by Sean Kenan
By Sean Kenan, 2008.
Q. Can I use one finger to play across two strings?
Starting Out on Fiddle No.3.
Yes. This is called the barré and is most useful as it
frees Q. up Can the I other use one fingers finger to be to used play for across other tasks. two strings?
Yes. This is called the barré and is most useful as it
Q. How do I check I am playing in tune?
frees up the other fingers to be used for other tasks.
Check often with open strings! When you play a
fingered Q. How note do that I check corresponds I am to playing an open in string, tune?
that Check is a G, often D, A or with E note, open play strings! the open When string you to play a
check
fingered
your finger’s
note that
location.
corresponds
These notes
to an
will
open
be
string,
that is a G, D, A or E note, play the open string to
either an octave apart or in unison when the 4
check your finger’s location. These notes will be
either an octave apart or in unison when the 4th
finger is used in first position.
Also try playing a scale slowly, checking your pitch
with an electronic tuner. This takes lots of patience
and you will find that as little as a millimetre can
Above: Keep L.H. fingers clear of open strings.
Above: Keep L.H. fingers clear of open strings. change the pitch. A slight roll forwards or backwards
Left Hand Technique
of the fingertip can bring you to the correct pitch.
Left Hand Technique
Of course the fiddle must be perfectly in tune to make
Can you play two strings without the fleshy bit of
Can you play two strings without the fleshy bit of this worthwhile. The fiddle actually resonates when it
one
one
finger
finger
interfering
interfering
with
with
the
the
string
string
underneath?
underneath? is played in tune especially with octaves, thirds and
You You will will need need to to create create a clear a clear tunnel tunnel underneath underneath fifth intervals.
the playing finger finger so so the the string string underneath underneath is is
‘alive’. This is is most most important for double for double stopping stopping
or chordal playing and and also also will will allow allow you to you use to use
‘crossbowing’ where where the the bow bow circles circles back back and forth and forth
between
between
two
two
strings.
strings.
th
Fiddling Around by Sean Kenan
Q. Can I use one finger to play across two strings?
Starting Out on Fiddle No.3.
Yes. This is called the barré and is most useful as it
frees up the other fingers to be used for other tasks.
Q. How do I check I am playing in tune?
Check often with open strings! When you play a
fingered note that corresponds to an open string,
that is a G, D, A or E note, play the open string to
check your finger’s location. These notes will be
either an octave apart or in unison when the 4
finger is used in first position.
Also try playing a scale slowly, checking your pitch
with an electronic tuner. This takes lots of patience
Above: Keep L.H. fingers clear of open strings.
and you will find that as little as a millimetre can
change the pitch. A slight roll forwards or
Left Hand Technique
backwards of the fingertip can bring you to the
Can you play two strings without the fleshy bit of correct pitch. Of course the fiddle must be perfectly
one finger interfering with the string underneath? in tune to make this worthwhile. The fiddle actually
You will need to create a clear tunnel underneath resonates when it is played in tune especially with
the playing finger so the string underneath is octaves, thirds and fifth intervals.
‘alive’. This is most important for double stopping
or chordal playing and also will allow you to use
‘crossbowing’ where the bow circles back and forth
between two strings.
th
Fiddling Around by Sean Kenan
Q. Can I use one finger to play across two strings?
Starting Out on Fiddle No.3.
Yes. This is called the barré and is most useful as it
frees up the other fingers to be used for other tasks.
Q. How do I check I am playing in tune?
Check often with open strings! When you play a
fingered note that corresponds to an open string,
that is a G, D, A or E note, play the open string to
check finger your is used finger’s in first location. position. These notes will be
either Also an try octave playing apart a scale or slowly, in unison checking when the your 4 pitch
with an electronic tuner. This takes lots of patience
and you will find that as little as a millimetre can
change the pitch. A slight roll forwards or
backwards of the fingertip can bring you to the
correct pitch. Of course the fiddle must be perfectly
Above: Keep L.H. fingers clear of open strings.
in tune to make this worthwhile. The fiddle actually
Left Hand Technique
resonates when it is played in tune especially with
octaves, thirds and fifth intervals.
Can you play two strings without the fleshy bit of
one finger interfering with the string underneath?
You will need to create a clear tunnel underneath
the playing finger so the string underneath is
‘alive’. This is most important for double stopping
or chordal playing and also will allow you to use
‘crossbowing’ where the bow circles back and forth
between two strings.
th
finger is used in first position.
Also try playing a scale slowly, checking your pitch
with an electronic tuner. This takes lots of patience
and you will find that as little as a millimetre can
change the pitch. A slight roll forwards or
backwards of the fingertip can bring you to the
correct pitch. Of course the fiddle must be perfectly
in tune to make this worthwhile. The fiddle actually
resonates when it is played in tune especially with
octaves, thirds and fifth intervals.
Exercises Exercises above: above: The numbers The numbers refer to refer the L.H. to fingers the L.H. fingers
and the and zero the indicates zero indicates an open an string. open These string. exercises These exercises
include Exercises include both the both above: barré the The and barré numbers fourth and finger fourth refer unison finger to the notes unison L.H. fingers notes
Exercises above: The numbers refer to the L.H.
played
fingers
and played alongside the
and
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indicates open
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indicates
notes string open to string. notes check to
an open
intonation These check
string.
exercises intonation
These
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unique online monthly at www.seankenan.com
newsletter the Fiddle News. Tune
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unique available monthly online newsletter at www.seankenan.com
the Fiddle News. Tune
clearly while the fingers are down. Lower example: This downloads, quotes and Fiddle News archives are
downloads, quotes and Fiddle News archives are
is a little easier as the open ‘D’ string is on the other side available online at www.seankenan.com
of the tunnel.
available online at www.seankenan.com
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