Fiddle For Dummies E-Book

Michael John Sanchez

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 472

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Learn to play the fiddle? Easy.

Tackling a new instrument can be intimidating, but with this easy-to-use guide, you'll have no trouble at all! From selecting, tuning, and caring for your fiddle to mastering various music styles, Fiddle For Dummies walks you step-by-step through everything you need to start playing the fiddle like a pro. You'll discover how to hold a fiddle, master fundamental techniques, and take your skills to the next level. This title also features companion audio tracks and instructional video clips hosted online at Dummies.com to help further enhance your skills.

The fiddle is a popular instrument across many continents, and is a favorite for many because it is small and portable. Playing the fiddle can expose you to a range of musical styles from all over the world, such as Irish, Scottish, Celtic/Cape Breton, country, folk, bluegrass, and more. Plus, if you're already a violin player, you'll impress yourself and fellow musicians as you unlock your instrument to open up a whole new world of sounds.

• Learn fiddle techniques and fundamentals
• Select, tune, and care for your fiddle
• Join the folk instrument movement and master the fiddle
• Play fiddle music from all over the world

Whether you're a complete beginner or a violin player looking to branch out and try something new, Fiddle For Dummies will have you fit as a fiddle in no time.

Leseprobe

Fiddle For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Media and software compilation copyright © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014940491

ISBN 978-1-118-93022-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-93024-3 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-93023-6 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Fiddle For Dummies®

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/fiddle to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Started Playing Fiddle

Chapter 1: Getting Ready to Become a Fiddle Player

What’s the Difference between a Fiddle and a Violin?

Getting the Right Gear

Preparing to Play

Tightening your bow

Rosining your bow

Tuning your fiddle

Fiddle Fundamentals

Holding your fiddle properly

Bow stroke mechanics

Knuckles up and angles back

Reading Music

Getting to know the notes

Understanding rhythm

Fiddle Techniques and Styles

Sliding and slurring

4th finger

Grace notes

Drones

Vibrato

Double-stops

Styles of music

Chapter 2: Selecting the Right Instrument and Accessories

Finding the Perfect Fiddle

Getting familiar with the different fiddle sizes

Understanding fiddle sound qualities

Exploring factors of quality in fiddle pricing

Buying a Fiddle

Choosing between a left- or right-handed fiddle

Fiddle versus violin buying

Choosing a beginner-level fiddle

Going with an intermediate-level fiddle

Investing in a premium-level fiddle

Opting to rent instead of buy

Considering the Bow

Getting familiar with the different types of bows

Testing out bows

Building Your Accessories Kit

Buying a shoulder rest

Buying rosin

Finding a metronome/tuner

Getting a music stand

Examining Other Helpful Tools

The “Don’t Fret” Tool

The “Bow Right” Tool

The “Finger Finder” Tool

Chapter 3: Tuning, Rosining, and Taking Care of Your Fiddle

Tuning Your Fiddle

Using a tuning device

Finding string pitches

Tuning with the fine tuners

Tuning with the pegs

Tightening the Bow

Rosining the Bow

Caring for Your Fiddle and Bow

Polishing and cleaning the fiddle

Preventing cracks and open seams

Staying away from humid conditions

Understanding your sound post

Putting on new strings

Dealing with a bridge collapse

Wear and Tear Guide

Rehairing the bow

Replacing strings

Putting your fiddle away in your case

Part II: Working with Technique Basics and Fundamentals

Chapter 4: Holding the Fiddle and Bow

First Things First: The Shoulder and Chin Rests

Putting on the shoulder rest

Considering the chin rest

Replacing a chin rest

Holding the Fiddle

Applying proper fundamentals

Sitting versus standing

Holding the Fiddle Bow

Placing your fingers properly

Keeping your fingers curved

Staying on top of the bow

Holding versus gripping the bow

Adjusting the bow hold

Preventing drifting

Avoiding grabbing during the stroke

Chapter 5: Building a Musical Bow Stroke Sound

Getting Familiar with Bow Stroke Mechanics

Finding the contact point

Bending the wrist

Moving the bow

Keeping the bow straight

Extending your arm

Guiding the Bow

Avoiding tension

Preventing bow squeaks, bouncing, and wispiness

Using your index finger

Anticipating to create clear musical sounds

Playing Strings D and A

Crossing strings

Avoiding hitting multiple strings

Rocking bow drill

Practicing the Drills

Chapter 6: Working with the Left Hand

Focusing on the Thumb and Wrist

Figuring out where to place your thumb

Keeping your wrist straight

Placing Your Fingers Properly

Understanding finger numbers

Fingering progression

Putting on stickers

Keeping Your Knuckles Up

Contacting the Fingerboard Properly

Being Relaxed

Building Solid Finger Angles

Working with D and A String Notes

Tucking the half step close

Plucking to “Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Part III: Unlocking the Keys to Reading Music

Chapter 7: Understanding How to Read Music

Reading Music Basics

Getting acquainted with the quarter note

Minding the music staff

Jumping around with musical intervals

Jumping farther with ledger lines

Adding musical symbols

Identifying All the Possible Fiddle Notes

Understanding sharp key signature

Going down: Flats

Understanding flat key signature

Getting to know naturals and accidentals

Chapter 8: Keeping Rhythm in a Fiddle Tune

Testing Your Rhythm Ability

Do you have rhythm?

Can you maintain rhythm?

Playing the Most Common Rhythms

Sorting out various notes and rests

Comparing the speed of the notes

Getting Familiar with the Time Signature

Starting out with 4/4 (common) time

Varying time signatures

Keeping the Beat

Using a metronome

Tapping your foot

Playing at the right speed

Playing More Complicated Rhythms

Working with dotted rhythms

Understanding how to count by subdividing

Chapter 9: Starting Easy with Basic Fiddle Tunes

Fiddlin’ in the Right Direction

Sliding with Beginner Fiddle Tunes

The upslide

The downslide

Practicing upslides and downslides in fiddle tunes

Varying Keys in Fiddle Tunes

Playing the Fiddle Slur

Using the 4th Finger

Understanding when and why to use your 4th finger

Grasping the fundamentals of using your 4th finger

Chapter 10: Getting into Trickier Fiddlin’

Minding the Music’s Dynamics

Figuring out how to play more softly

Applying dynamics to a song

Applying Knowledge to Famous Tunes

“America the Beautiful”

“Amazing Grace”

“Little Brown Jug”

“Turkey in the Straw”

“Slurrin’ Dixie”

Part IV: Working with the Various Fiddle Styles

Chapter 11: Developing the Irish Fiddle Style

Getting Started with Learning Jigs

Accenting in Irish music

Slurring properly in Irish jigs

Playing the Irish Polka

Creating a Great Sounding Reel

Putting in grace notes

Adding triplet runs

Introducing the Irish Roll with the Hornpipe

Chapter 12: Scottish-Style Fiddling

Branching into the Scottish Tradition

Jammin’ to Scottish Jigs

Keeping It Real with Scottish Reels

Perfecting the Strathspey with Scottish Snaps

Playing Marches with Driving Up-Bows

Working with Slow Airs

Embellishing Tunes with Ornaments

Chapter 13: Fiddling to Old-Time Music

Getting to Know the Old-Time Fiddle Style

Understanding the Syncopated Pattern

Emphasizing Beats 2 and 4

Mastering Short and Long Bowings

Short bowing

Long bowing

Getting the Old-Time Droning Sound

Working on hitting two strings at once

Playing your first few drones

Playing drones in fiddle tunes

Tackling Alternative Tuning

Chapter 14: Learning Bluegrass Fiddle

Understanding the Bluegrass Structure

The kick-off

The famous bluegrass tag

Picking Up Bluegrass Bowing Patterns

Playing the Nashville shuffle

Getting into the Georgia shuffle

Playing Chops

Part V: Taking Fiddling to the Next Level

Chapter 15: Shifting, Vibrato, and Double-Stops

Changing Positions by Shifting

Moving into second and third positions

Trying your hand at shifting in a song

Developing the Perfect Vibrato

Moving your hand consistently

Putting the bow together with vibrato

Appling vibrato in fiddle tunes

Sharpening Your Double-Stop Skills

Developing proper fiddle placement with double-stops

Applying double-stops in fiddle tunes

Trying out some advanced double-stops

Chapter 16: Expanding Your Ability

Playing for Others

Getting Involved with a Workshop or Camp

What to expect

Finding the best summer camps

Joining a Local Jam Session

Playing in a bluegrass jam

Getting into an Irish session

Fiddlin’ in an old-time jam session

Checking out Coffee Shops and Open Mic Nights

Chapter 17: Improvising and Playing Electric Fiddle

Introducing Improvisation

Understanding chord structure

Getting used to the notes that can be played during chords

Adding in rhythms in improvisation

Using the Electric Fiddle

Using the pickup

Plugging into headphones or an amplifier

Hooking into a PA system

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 18: Ten Great Fiddle Players You Need to Hear

Charlie Daniels (1936–present)

Mark O’Connor (1961–present)

Bob Wills (1905–1975)

Craig Duncan (1954–present)

Jay Ungar (1946–present)

Justin Branum (1984–present)

Bobby Hicks (1933–present)

Alasdair Fraser (1955–present)

Natalie MacMaster (1972–present)

Martin Hayes (1961–present)

Chapter 19: (More Than) Ten Tips on Finding the Right Teacher

Seeing the Value of a Private Lesson

Understanding What Makes a Good Teacher

Knowing Your Goals

Contacting a University/School

Searching the Internet

Considering Online Lessons

Getting Good References

Not Settling for the Least Expensive

Trying Out Different Instructors

Asking Potential Teachers (and Yourself) the Right Questions

Persevering

Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips

Discovering What’s on the Audio Tracks

Looking at What’s on the Video Clips

About the Author

Cheat Sheet

More Dummies Products

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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