Fiddle Bowing Techniques Instruction Questions & Answers

Subject: bow
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:41:51 -0000

how do you control the bow so that you play the right string? Can you help me?

The only real way to gain control of your bow, is through diligent practice with instructor guidance. Additionally, how you hold the bow is very critical in gaining control...for instance, you'll always want to keep your little finger on the end of the bow...this allows you full control to lift and lower the bow. There are so many factors to consider that entire volumes can be written on bow control itself. Although our free online lessons cannot instruct proper bowing technique, we do have a comprehensive video that does: "Introduction to the Violin & Fiddle" ... Mickey
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Subject: Bowing Technique
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 10:13:19 -0600

Recently, I glanced at Brian Wicklund "American Fiddle Method Books". Book
2 has some good ideas so I purchased it. I am way beyond Book 1 of the
series, but it briefly addressed things I have never seen in any other
books. He wrote about "corrective slurs", using the downbow for melody
notes, syncopation, etc.. Are you aware of any publications that discuss
bowing techniques for fiddle tunes ? I am not talking about holding the
bow correctly, playing on the "sweet spot", etc.. I would like to get some
information on how bowing techniques can be used to provide more dynamics
and character for a tune. Peter Cooper did an excellent job of doing this
in his publication "The Complete Irish Fiddle Player". But like the title
says, it was strictly for Irish music.

Specifically, I would buy a book that instructs the reader how to make
tunes sound distinctive. For example, discussing various slurring
techniques and pointing out where they could be used. This is something
Peter Cooper does in his book. I have lots (and I mean lots) of repertoire
books. The notes are there, but they don't explain how to give a tune the
correct dynamics. I listen to recordings, and that helps some.
Dick H.

Greetings Dick,

The best treatise on this subject that I've found is by Ed Marsh on Texas Video...he has one titled: "Bluegrass or Fiddle? Bowing Techniques"...He's an excellent instructor and covers the bases thoroughly.

Here's the complete video listing by Ed Marsh:
Basic Violin
Basic Bluegrass Fiddle
Today's Country Fiddle Method
All-Time Fiddle Favorites
"Hot" Fiddle Styles
60 Hot Licks for Country Fiddle
You Can Play Honky-Tonk Fiddle -- New!
Bluegrass Fiddle Jam -- New!
Super Fiddle Bowing Patterns -- New!

Our "Introduction to the Violin & Fiddle" covers the shuffle bowing technique, that's very common in fiddle and bluegrass, and it also teaches overall proper bowing technique for more fluid and efficient technique.

Mickey

Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:36:25 EST
Subject: longggggg sweet singing notes

Hi,
Thanks for your site.
I'm a 40ish women who has been seriously trying to play my violin for 2 years.
I have been working on vibrato and long bow movement.But what happens is I can't seem to figure it out.If I go as slow as I can it still isn't a very long note and my violin isn't really singing.
I want to be able to play slow sweet passages,what kind of advice can you offer?
Thanks again.
I frequently visit your website.

Greetings,

Vibrato and long bow movement is best demonstrated by a qualified teacher. Additionally, there can be other factors to why you feel you can't achieve the longggggg singing notes. Your violin may need some adjusting, or the bow hair may not have the perfect tautness, and so on. Other factors that may influence your tone when performing long bow notes include:
1. How much hair is making contact as you draw the bow. I use on average about 3/4's of the hair...I tilt the bow very slightly which ensures that not all the hair is making contact at once.
2. You want the ideal amount of rosin on the hair. Too much, and the long bow technique can sound scratchy; too little, and it will sound too airy.
3. How much pressure you're applying to your bow. Be careful to let the bow play itself. You should not have to add any pressure at all to achieve the sweetest possible tone.
4. The point of contact on the strings...between the bridge and the fingerboard. Try to find the sweetest spot your violin offers...where the tone seems to be most responsive.

As far as vibrato goes, this is another technique that's difficult to teach by book, photos or e-mail. Having an instructor will ensure that you bypass many of the frustrating hurdles involved with teaching yourself. Notwithstanding, if you cannot find a personal instructor, you might also consider an instructional video. Be aware, there are many excellent violin instructional videos available today. Try to find one that's methodology oriented...you're out to advance your technique not your repertoire.

I hope something here helps...Mickey

Subject: Bowing directions and theory
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 14:51:25 -0500

Just started out playing the fiddle - working on old joe clark right now -

How do you know when to switch bow directions?? Is there any sort of method to it?

Thanks!

Love to help...you might start by checking out with our below lessons section....

Switching bowing direction can be intuitive...there are no real rules when playing fiddle. Nonetheless, what sounds right, along with what's comfortable, should predetermine the bowing direction.

There is a method to fiddle bowing that's called shuffle bowing. And, this bowing works especially well with Old Joe Clark. The shuffle bow requires one long stroke and two short strokes. When playing a fiddle tune such as Old Joe Clark, you'll want to apply the long bow stroke to two notes slurred, then follow this by playing the two short bow strokes with a single note each...followed by the long bow stroke playing two notes slurred again...repeating this process throughout the song. Rhythmically, it's the best approach to most all 4/4 fiddle tunes...with constant eighth notes...for it ties the song together with a set pattern...it makes arranging for fiddle logical too.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Subject: Re: Fwd: Fiddle tunes for mandolin
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 20:29:51 -0500

Thank you, Mickey. Acting on your suggestions, I looked and have already found some music by those you suggested. I'll also look at ordering from Folk of the Wood. I do have a question, if you don't mind. Would you explain the "shuffle lick" to me? I think it is down stroke twice and then up and down, etc. Please make it simple to me. Thanks so much. Sincerely, Bob

The shuffle lick is based on shuffle bowing of the fiddle...

On the fiddle the shuffle bow involves one long bow stroke followed by two short bow strokes...

Now, on the mandolin, we're emulating this bowing technique by picking one down stroke to last for one beat and on the second beat, playing both a down and upstroke with your picking hand. This gives it a rhythmic pattern such as: daaadadadaaadadadaaadada...kind of difficult to explain in writing...hopefully, you can make some sense of this...Keep on Pickin', Mickey