How To Hold the Fiddle

Comfort Comes First
It's very critical that you learn to hold the fiddle properly, yet comfortably. There are numerous ways to hold the fiddle; there is no true right or wrong way. A standard hasn't really been set for fiddle. I've always felt what's right for one person is not necessarily right for another. Remember, what habits you develop today may or may not be contributory to your advancement tomorrow. Accordingly, be careful to approach your fiddle with as good a form as is possible.

The following instructions are for the right handed fiddler (for left handers, just follow the instructions reversing the positions):

1. Begin by sitting in a comfortable armless chair or standing up...whatever you'd feel most comfortable doing.

2. Place the fiddle carefully under your chin and rest it on your left shoulder...making sure your chin is resting on the chin rest. If your fiddle doesn't have a chinrest, it's highly recommended that you buy one before attempting to learn without one. Additionally, many violinists/fiddlers will use a shoulder rest. Surprisingly, this can make or break your comfort; many violinists/fiddlers cannot live without one. Bob Napier (House Violinist/Fiddler for the Alabama Theatre quotes, "The essential shoulder rest, I cannot play my best without my shoulder rest...(or beauty) rest"...

3. Make sure that the neck is resting between the thumb and first finger. Be sure not to allow your palm to rest up against the neck. Although, many expert old-time fiddlers do rest their palm against the neck, be aware, in this position, you'll be limiting your finger stretch.

4. The bow should be held lightly with the thumb and fingers. Again, there are many positions for holding the bow in old-time fiddling...no one right way. Ultimately, what's comfortable for you should be the goal. Even so, personally, I've found a combination of the classical violin position with a loose wrist will allow for better flexibility. The goal would be to keep a loose wrist assuring that your fiddling sounds natural and relaxed. Take Note: Do not grip the bow too tightly...and allow the bow to perform most of the work...the bowing hand should be thought more of as a guiding hand. Be careful to allow the bow's gravity to carry most of the weight against the strings; try not to add any unnecessary pressure.

Please send any comments, questions or requests to info@folkofthewood.com