Perzackly - "But I'm just not interested in trying to learn to play a tune "the exact same way" someone else played it. Now - having said that - I do try to replicate what is played on the recording I learn from - I just don't obsess over it. But I will usually learn a tune that has something that appeals to me - usually a phrase that is unique or sounds challenging. (I want to learn how to play that)".

And not every fiddle tune deserves to be 'immortalized'. Tune books are filled with some that.. Why?

The correct answer would be: : 'This is not the Fiddle Hangout, this is the Old Time Fiddle Hangout.'

Any other style is, at best, tolerated. But no specific, easy to find sections, of course...

Highly disappointing. 

Banjo Hangout has a large number of subscribers due to its large library of free banjo tabs. It is also very active. Poor old 'Flatpicker Hangout" is just about extinct.

quote:

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Originally posted by RB-1

The correct answer would be: : 'This is not the Fiddle Hangout, this is the Old Time Fiddle Hangout.'

Any other style is, at best, tolerated. But no specific, easy to find sections, of course...

Highly disappointing. 

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I understand your disappointment. But - for me - it has been a godsend.  I'm not exactly sure I would have gone this "deep" - if it hadn't been for the focus here.

FHO (Folks Honoring Oldtime -  ) has always been a big encouragement for me when I needed it. Even when I find myself in a debate - those occasions have challenged me to reconsider what is important and why. That has helped me understand - where do I fit? I've met a lot of really great folks through these years - very talented and wise - playing old time fiddle tunes.

I had thought at one time - "it will drift away like all the other sites have", but I'm pleased / thankful it's still here. 

quote:

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Originally posted by Strabo

For me, the answer is that fiddle is hard. It’s difficult to learn -- gosh, it’s challenging for a beginner to make even one good sound! Learning progress is slow and it’s easy to become frustrated or discouraged. Learning to play fiddle well enough to enjoy it requires discipline, patience and good attitude. I know a number of people who play other instruments quite well, but tried and gave up on fiddle.

 

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Well said!

I was at that point many years ago. Fortunately,  I found an amazing Suzuki violin teacher who helped me unlock the secrets of the fingerboard and proper intonation. Moreover,  I learned basic bowing techniques and bowing patterns. It opened up a whole new world for me!

These folks who say they are "self-taught"....I just don't know how they did it. I think the great Vassar Clements said he was mostly self-taught. I'm not sure how many other great players never had a teacher?

I think many folks believe they can pick up old-time fiddle (and maybe even bluegrass) from books, videos and platforms such as Artist Works, Peghead Nation and Patreon. However, those resources assume a basic understanding of the fiddle and left-hand fluency. 

There are others on this forum that know much more about pedagogy and learning to play than me....but I think most students give up on fiddle for lack of a good, in-person teacher!

quote:

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Originally posted by Strabo

For me, the answer is that fiddle is hard. It’s difficult to learn -- gosh, it’s challenging for a beginner to make even one good sound! Learning progress is slow and it’s easy to become frustrated or discouraged. 

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Correct!

Add to the mix that many students try to "play fiddle on the cheap!"

What I mean by that:

1. A very inexpensive fiddle built like a tank.

2. Strings from hades.

3. A bridge so flat or so curved that a beginner doesn't have a chance.

4. A cheap bow with synthetic hair.

5. Pegs that slip or just won’t turn.

6. A nut that is improperly cut.

7. A poorly fit sound post and bass bar making good tone very difficult. 

Did I miss anything?

The strings that got rejected from a cheese grater.

Self taught might mean different things to different people. I grew up in Appalachia... in an old time mountain culture. Self taught encompassed having most things

My grandfather built a saw mill in the woods and built his house with the lumber. -self taught

He was a fiddler-self taught

His twin brother was a fiddler-self taught

All their kids played music- self taught

My mom was born in that house by a midwife- self taught

My mom played the piano in church for 65 years- self taught

We all learned to swim - self taught

I think some of the people that get into old time fiddling seem to have little respect for mountain culture. It gets old




My cousin makes violins (played in symphony orchestras across teh country)- self taught

My uncle built his house from scratch... and head of maintenance at the local community college-self taught

MY grandfather had a successful whiskey business- self taught

i could go on and on and on

and where i growed up, suzuki was a motorcycle. never knew it had anything to do with a fiddle until I got on this page.

learning is a culture. many reject the culture and look for short cuts. and teacher s peddle them well... i think that's one big reason they give up on fiddle. they've been fed a bunch of **** like "secrets" and "patterns' and "shortcuts" etc. most of the fiddle teachers i see online aren't teaching music... they are teaching fiddle by number...   

I had a "teacher" for about a year in the beginning, but he didn't teach me ANYTHING about PLAYING the fiddle, he was just a tune source really, and a Nashville-shuffle-only guy. He had sketchy intonation and struggled to play the tunes slowly, and after a year I realized it was more fiscally prudent to continue on my own.

I'm in the same camp as Shawn, Dad was a real Renaissance man and instilled in me the drive to do it myself. Doesn't mean I didn't study fiddling and fiddlers, just used my eyes and mostly ears to guide me.

Okay. You poked the OP. I'll tell you what gets me. Disinterested, uncurios people. There is nothing on the face of this Earth that wasn't manufactured by humans. Nothing was built by Martians. So why do people throw up their hands and refuse to at least look into how something is made in order to fix it? When a washing machine gets struck by lightning, why not tare into it and look for a burnt circuit board? Go to e-bay and get a new board. Do you think there's some ancient mystery? Banjer, piano, guitar, fiddle. Are they built by Martians? Are they such that they are somehow impossible to play?

Shawn is absolutely right. If you're giving banjer lessons you should be arrested for steeling.  Have you ever known a piano teacher who doesn't want to keep you on the hook for years? Sometimes 15 or 20 years! How difficult could it be?

The problem nowadays is the dabbler. Never dedicated to anything for longer than 10 minutes. "Oh, I just can't do it." Oh it's just too hard." Seriously? Do you suppose this scrolling culture is turning these kids into dabblers? Only keeping interest for a matter of seconds? "Yes, let's shape an opinion on something one has glanced for 3 seconds." It's a good thing I'm in my autumnal years. I seriously don't want to be around in 20 years when these children end up getting bruised by the softest guidance. "These old people are so mean!" "They don't have any patience for us." Sorry! Sorry! I've had a belly full of "can't do's" and "won't do's" today. 

: posted by farmerjonesOkay. Nope

I'm sure I've said this many times before, but in the ten plus years I took weekly lessons from David Bragger I faithfully executed them the way Bragger taught them. Note by note, stroke by stroke. No variations ever. When I'd happen upon a slightly different version of a tune it was disorienting enough for me to begin messing up. In any case, it took a good while for my fingers to loosen up and let my ears call the shots. I must say, too, that a get much pleasure doing tunes both the proper Bragger Way and the seditious, heh, heh, subversive way.

quote:

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Originally posted by farmerjones

Okay. You poked the OP. I'll tell you what gets me. Disinterested, uncurios people. There is nothing on the face of this Earth that wasn't manufactured by humans. Nothing was built by Martians. So why do people throw up their hands and refuse to at least look into how something is made in order to fix it? When a washing machine gets struck by lightning, why not tare into it and look for a burnt circuit board? Go to e-bay and get a new board. Do you think there's some ancient mystery? Banjer, piano, guitar, fiddle. Are they built by Martians? Are they such that they are somehow impossible to play?

Shawn is absolutely right. If you're giving banjer lessons you should be arrested for steeling.  Have you ever known a piano teacher who doesn't want to keep you on the hook for years? Sometimes 15 or 20 years! How difficult could it be?

The problem nowadays is the dabbler. Never dedicated to anything for longer than 10 minutes. "Oh, I just can't do it." Oh it's just too hard." Seriously? Do you suppose this scrolling culture is turning these kids into dabblers? Only keeping interest for a matter of seconds? "Yes, let's shape an opinion on something one has glanced for 3 seconds." It's a good thing I'm in my autumnal years. I seriously don't want to be around in 20 years when these children end up getting bruised by the softest guidance. "These old people are so mean!" "They don't have any patience for us." Sorry! Sorry! I've had a belly full of "can't do's" and "won't do's" today. 

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"GET OFF MY LAWN"

There, fixed that for you