So I've never played a string instrument, and for some reason I figured I would give the fiddle a try. I have no idea if what I'm doing is right, but so far I've been able to play two tunes in the AFM1 and sound ok (I think). It hasn't been 2 weeks yet, but I practice every day. The other day I played for two hours, granted it was "Boil 'em Cabbage Down" straight for two hours. I had the tune stuck in my head, and it's pretty much the only tune I know, so I played it until the downstairs neighbors started hitting the ceiling with a broom handle.
I know things would progress in a more timely and proper fashion if I had some real in-person instruction. But it looks like I'm on my own for a while. To say this is an intimidating task is a bit of an understatement. And I just signed up on this site, so I'm super super new. I would appreciate any advice you all have for someone, like me, who at the moment can only rely on books and videos as teachers.
9 Comments |
 | Larry Rutledge says:
4/14/2013 8:57:37 PM
One of the best things I have done is memorize the notes in first position on all four strings. There's only 36 (high and low, first, second and third fingers) and practice scales. The more tunes you learn(even simple ones) the more notes your fingers remember. Check out John's fiddle lessons on utube, there free. And he breaks the tunes down into 3 or 4 notes at a time. His lessons have helped me allot. youtube.com/watch?v=no1xgIhbXjQ And Red desert Violin is another good free site. These sites are good, cause you can see if your doing it right as well as hear it. Good luck and don't stop. Larry
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 | Diane G says:
4/14/2013 9:15:58 PM
Hi...I would suggest these two websites for good basic technique...toddehle.com
free beginning adult videos and the other one, violinlab.com Great free beginners series from Austin, Texas.
When your practicing...you need to practice focused for 30 minutes and then take a break. The human mind can only take in so much. Red Desert Fiddle is also a good site. Have a great journey and have fun to. Stay tuned., Diane in SoCal
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 | paulinefiddle says:
4/14/2013 9:23:56 PM
I recommend that you try playing along with the recording to check your pitch (intonation). You need to learn to listen to yourself. You also need to develop muscle memory so that your fingers know where to go without your conscious effort. As a teacher of beginners, I know that it takes several weeks to play two tunes in tune, even if they are simple tunes.
I will follow up on Larry's advice by referring you to a page on my website which shows you the finger positions for each note. sites.google.com/site/paulinel...g-diagram BTW, feel free to browse my website for some good, free advice.
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 | Rissa says:
4/15/2013 5:15:08 PM
Thanks for the information! I greatly appreciate it. And I just heard word today that a student slot has opened with an instructor in town, and I will be starting formal instruction this week! Very excited to get some more help, but I know I'll be searching around the net just as much for resources and musicians to listen to.
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 | pikilily says:
4/16/2013 1:19:31 AM
Hi Rissa,
Just over a year ago I was in the same position, having just picked up the fiddle for the first time!! Do you play any other instrument? If so, you have a head start!! I too practiced for hours but, as said before, realised that you reach saturation point, mentally and physically, very quickly. I now average about five to six hours a week practice as well as constantly listening to the tunes on my MP3 player.
I taught myself to read music as well as to learn tunes by ear...I think this helped to speed up the learning and to expand the repertoir quickly...saves boring your public...lol!!
By the time I had been playing for 8 months I started going to a local session group (guitars, accordians, banjos, mandolins, singers, whistles)....then..... the learning shot up skywards. Unfortunately/fortunately.. there was not a fiddle player at the session so I was imediately enthusiastically welcomed and encouraged to play ... A LOT. No hiding in the background, haha!!! In some ways I wish there was a fiddler to copy and learn from, but that could be intimidating too!! If you can find a local session group to play with, who are encouraging, and dont mind you playing a bit slow or making mistakes, this will help tremendously. I personally found it better, and more fun, than having a weekly one on one lessons. I will go back to lessons sometime...
My saying is:
GOOD BETTER BEST,
NEVER LET IT REST,
UNTILL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER,
AND YOUR BETTER BEST !!
Works for me!
Emma T
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| Rissa says:
4/16/2013 1:09:10 PM
I think one of the biggest fears is playing in front of other people. There are a lot of talented people out there, and sometimes it is a bit intimidating to think I will eventually be there with them, trying to play along and all. I try and keep telling myself that everyone started out not knowing anything, and that it takes a lot of time to develop good playing skills. It's another challenge, something to master and many people have started where I am now and gone on to be great fiddlers. One of my friends said all I need is to know a few tunes to join in some of the jam sessions around town. Nothing too crazy, just a few of the traditional and mostly simple tunes (most of which, he pointed out, are in the American Fiddle Method books). So here's hoping that by next year I'll have enough basic stuff down to join in.
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| pikilily says:
4/17/2013 3:54:18 AM
Keep at it...you will get there. And its a fun journey, all the more so if you have friends to travel with. Stay in touch...what are your tastes and preferences for tunes... maybe folk here will have some suggestions for you.
Greetings from Scotland xx
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| Rissa says:
4/19/2013 1:47:38 PM
Music-wise I grew up listening to a lot of celtic, folk, and eastern European music. I'd like to pick that up, as well as learning some of the traditional bluegrass tunes. So I'm really all over the map with music interests. Up here the bluegrass and celtic scenes are pretty popular, not so much the old world stuff.
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 | EricBluegrassFiddle says:
2/5/2014 2:28:20 PM
This was an encouraging read
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