Fiddle

Hi I'm Dave - Buffalo Dave is my stage name - BuffaloDaveMusic.blogspot.com

Buffalo Dave on iTunes   Buffalo Dave on Amazon  Buffalo Dave on Spotify  Buffalo Dave on YouTube

I also have a band project called the Square Dance Heroes where I play lots of fiddle music - SquareDanceHeroes.blogspot.com

Square Dance Heroes iTunes  Square Dance Heroes Amazon  Square Dance Heroes Spotify  Square Dance Heroes YouTube

I'm creating this blog along with a how to fiddle web page to share my knowledge of fiddle playing and to help folks learn how to fiddle.

I have some instructional videos that can help you learn to fiddle

scroll down the page to see the instructional videos!

What is the difference between a fiddle and a violin?   While people often assume a fiddle is a violin, that is not always the case.  A violin is a fiddle, but a fiddle isn't always a violin.  A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin.  A viola is also a fiddle.  A hardanger fiddle is also a fiddle.

I fiddle on both the violin and the viola.  

Normally I cross tune my fiddle.  Cross tunning is an alternate tuning often used for fiddling especially in old time fiddling.

The cross tuning I use most often is A E A E (from lowest string to highest) this is the tunning I will be using for most of my discussions.

I have a web page that discusses cross tuning and many other alternate tunings for violin and viola

Why do you use cross tunning instead of the standard tunning?   I use cross tunning because it makes fiddling easier for me and allows me to play double stop chords and fiddle licks easier.   Cross tunning is especially good for solo performances when you don't have any one else accompanying you.  While cross tunning is great for old time music, it also works well for Celtic music and other types of music.

While cross tunning is great for many types of music, it isn't normally used for orchestra music where the musician is normally only playing one note at a time.

Common cross tunings allow you to more easily use the fiddle as a chording / background / solo instrument.  However many common cross tunings make it easy to play in only one or two keys.   Common cross tunings are good for beginning fiddlers and kids because they can start playing some simple music that sounds pretty good right away.  Alternate tunings / cross tunings are also great for advanced players who want to incorporate the beautiful or gritty overtones the open strings can add - though it takes some practice incorporating and controlling this in your playing .  The open tunings can work wonderfully for solo / one man band performances because of the chording options.

I often tune my violin A E A E and my viola A E A E down an octave lower than my violin.

I have many inexpensive violins and violas so I can use more than one tunning and don't have to retune too much.  I have a web page with inexpensive fiddles $40 to $160.

I have posted videos showing you how to fiddle below - scroll down for videos:

Bowing - the most important thing about holding the bow is to RELAX.  There are many different ways to hold the bow - I'll be adding more information..

I have lots of videos to help you learn to fiddle -- scroll down the screen to see all 8+ videos!

Oh! Susanna

Here is a video that shows you how to play Oh! Susanna on the fiddle  (cross tunned AEAE):

More information about Oh Susanna and how to play the Oh! Susanna on my Oh!  Susanna web page

Hoedown

Here is a video that shows you how to play Hoedown on the fiddle  (cross tunned AEAE):

Information and more versions on my Hoedown page

Hoedown played in Deadman's Tuning DDAD on violin.

DDAD is the tuning William H. Stepp used to play Bonaparte's Retreat for the Alan Lomax Library of Congress recording in 1937. The tune formed the basis for the "Hoe-Down" section of "Rodeo" by Aaron Copland. Information and more versions on my Hoedown page

Simple Gifts Played on Cross Tuned Fiddle AEAE

I'm definitely not using the traditional correct classical bow hold in this Simple Gifts video. This is more the style of bow hold used for Celtic or old time fiddling where you choke up on the bow a bit and are very relaxed. Although many Celtic or old time fiddlers don't choke up this much - in fact usually I don't choke up this much! Sometimes I hold the bow where you are supposed to. Sometimes I use a shorter bow and hold it where you are supposed to. A few years back I irritated my elbow when I was always playing with the same grip in the same position with the same length bow so I started to hold the bow differently at different times, play with different length bows and relax more and that corrected my elbow problems. The shorter bow was also nice when I wanted to take my fiddle on a hike or an airplane without the case - it all fit in my backpack! However you hold the bow, I think being very relaxed with the bow hold is probably the most important thing to remember! In this video I'm playing a viola cross tuned from low string to high string AEAE. The fingering is the same for a violin cross tuned AEAE. The violin would be tuned an octave higher than the viola.

Turkey in the Straw played on the fiddle: (cross tuned violin EBEB)

Here is a video that shows you how to play Old MacDonald on the fiddle  (cross tunned AEAE):

Cotton Eye Joe and some other fiddle tunes: (cross tunned AEAE):

Check out the fingering for some fiddle tunes with this video:

My fiddle is cross tuned G#D#G#D#

Fiddling for dancing - Scottish songs and American songs:

My fiddle is cross tuned GDGD

More fiddle tunes by the hotspring

My fiddle is cross tuned AEAE

Norwegian fiddle music and American fiddle music with Lithuanian Dancers in Norway:

Cross tuned violin EBEB - watch for funny dance surprise!

American fiddle tunes and Simple Gifts and Irish Washerwoman (cross tunned AEAE):

Backpackers dancing to my fiddling at Cascade Pass!

Hoedown played on a trampoline - cross tunned DADA

Fiddling with cattle - Oh! Susanna and Home on the Range (cross tunned AEAE)

I wanted to pet ... but then I realized it's a bull - he seemed very friendly so I played my fiddle!

Fiddling with cattle in Costa Rica - watch out that's a Bull!

Oh! Susanna and Pasodoble - My fiddle is cross tuned GDGD