Just can't let it go

[zuzu]

I am embarking upon my 4th or 5th attempt at learning to play the fiddle in the past 20 years. I have spent more time on the basics of it than on any instrument I can play, but competence eludes me. Which, of course, wounds my confidence.

Any encouraging stories of some similar musical challenge being finally overcome with grit and determination would be appreciated.

[source3]

Try

https://artistworks.com/fiddle-lessons-darol-anger

[Dave Hicks]

You're braver than I!

It took me a long time to get my intonation somewhat right on the lap steel. I haven't played in a while, so it's likely gone again.

D.H.

[Mandobart]

Three things that make the violin difficult as compared to guitar are

1. Fretless fingboard

2. View of the fingerboard is from the bridge, not the side (no markers). There are training methods/devices to add better visuals).

3. Bowing

For most bowing will be the hardest. A brand new bow with no rosin on it can't make a good sound. The first step is to get a decent bow and then rosin it up properly. With new rosin it helps to roughen the rosin's surface up with medium grit sandpaper.

Some great things about learning violin are:

1. You can rent a decent instrument to learn on (big up front investment is not required).

2. Hundreds of thousands of kids are learning this instrument all around the world every day. There is a huge library of books, videos, online lessons available in every language. If small children can pick it up you can too (though you may not have the benefit of a structured mandatory school program, lots of spare time and dedicated tiger parents to keep you focused)....

3. Depending where you live, there should be a real live teacher within a reasonable drive for weekly lessons.

I learned as a kid, starting at the seasoned age of 10. That's really old to start violin now. But I caught on, caught up and have enjoyed it now for over 50 years.

I play regularly with fiddlers who learned as adults. What worked for them is what also worked for me - in person lessons with a good teacher, regularly playing with others who are also learning, regular daily practice, short and long term goals.

IMO most AGF'ers are lone wolves, learning and playing guitar in isolation. Again my experienced opinion, but that won't work for violin (or viola, or cello, or double bass). You need an in-person teacher and group of folks to learn (and very importantly HAVE FUN) with.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

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a real live teacher
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in person lessons with a good teacher,
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IMO most AGF'ers are lone wolves, learning and playing guitar in isolation. Again my experienced opinion, but that won't work for violin (or viola, or cello, or double bass). You need an in-person teacher .

This is key.

[PineMarten]

I've always been a little curious about fiddle but not sure if I would want to put my partner and neighbours through it. Because I'm used to bowing from playing double bass and have some fifths-tuned repertoire from playing mandolin, I can pick one up and play recognisable tunes right away, just with comically bad tone and intonation!

[Robin, Wales]

Well, you seem to have had a good go at learning the fiddle on various occasions without much success. So here's a story that may give you an approach to the instrument that perhaps you haven't yet tried.

About 15 years ago I was going to old time sessions in the local pub (playing dulcimers) and my wife would sometimes come along because a lot of our friends went along for the social. My wife had piano lessons for a couple of years as a child but had done nothing musical since. She mentioned that if she ever learned an instrument now it would be a fiddle.

Low and behold, Santa bought her a fiddle as a surprise present.

She got some basic old time tune books and watched YouTube lessons on how to hold the fiddle, hold the bow etc. She thought that playing would be impossible but within a month I persuaded her to come to a beginner session at a friend's house. She could probably play Angelina Baker and Old Joe Clark slowly at the time.

My friend, who was running the session, got her to work on rhythm and keep the tunes very basic.

At home, I would play rhythm guitar so she could practice shuffle bowling simple tunes.

When she had 3 or 4 tunes she started to go to the pub sessions. There were two things she loved about playing fiddle - the rhythm and the socialising!

I fitted Wittner Fine Tune pegs to her fiddle so she could tune it easily (7:1 ratio). They also meant that she could cross tune to AEae for key of A tunes and really shuffle beat those double stops. Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm was where it was at.

She went to fiddle workshops at festivals and did a week long residential course on old time fiddle playing.

When we got married, we all went to the pub after the ceremony and loads of our friends turned up with their instruments and we played the night away (photo above).

Sadly, we lost a friend who was pivotal to our group and the old time sessions folded. My wife hasn't played for years. For her, it was playing with others that was the driver - not the instrument.

She was never a "good" player but she enjoyed making music. I think that her approach of focusing on the rhythm and phrasing was really helpful. She could play very simple versions of tunes but it sounded great because of the double stopped drone strings and bow rhythm.

Perhaps something here will flick the switch for you and you will have more success this time around.

[zuzu]

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am heartened anew! In particular, when I said "competence" I mean being able to go out and jam with others, sound good, and make them sound good. To do that at my current level never occurred to me, not wanting to embarrass myself and muck up a good jam. Indeed, I have been in strict isolation with it. Thanks to all of your kind words I am convinced that I have been mistaken in this, and the sheer fun of sharing music with others is a powerful fertilizer for motivation that sometimes we forget. I will forthwith begin looking for a group that will tolerate my sawing. Thanks again!

[Pickcity]

Violin was my first instrument. I started when I was 8. I have not been consistent over the years because I shifted to guitar as my primary instrument when I was 11. Violin feels very natural to me, but I attribute that to my early learning, and a master teacher.

You need a good teacher and to play with them and/or others. You can play the instrument, but without proper guidance it will take much longer and you may develop bad habits. JMO, but I am somewhat informed.

The round (circles) sticker markers will help in knowing where you are on the violin. No frets is odd for someone who hasn’t played much.

Good luck. We never get anywhere by giving up. You got this!

[LAPlayer]

Most people don't just pick up the violin. Technique is important to all instruments from hands and fingers to lips and breathing depending on the instrument. However it's paramount with the violin. Unlike guitar, with the violin you can't see your hand, arm, body position when playing so a real teacher is going to make the learning process much easier and quicker all other things being equal. Luckily, almost all towns and cities (certainly) have plenty of piano and violin teachers. Find one and start your journey. Sometimes the hardest thing to teach students is - to unteach bad habits.

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by zuzu

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am heartened anew! In particular, when I said "competence" I mean being able to go out and jam with others, sound good, and make them sound good. To do that at my current level never occurred to me, not wanting to embarrass myself and muck up a good jam. Indeed, I have been in strict isolation with it.

You are certainly not alone in this. I've run into so many players of all kinds of instruments who tell me and themselves "as soon as I'm good enough I want to start playing with other people."

The thing is, we never think we're good enough. If you wait until you think you're ready, you'll never do it.

I think you'll do fine and have a lot of fun!

[J Patrick]

Violin is one of those instruments that until you’re pretty good you suck….I failed miserably but those who to stick to it can reach the promised land….

[catt]

Yep, violin/fdl is among the more challenging and expressive instruments. Developing intonation and rhythmic competency are two things which will make your playing listenable and enjoyable for others.

Here's a forum I started which is dedicated to fiddling. I'm a long-time fiddler and recently took up Trad Norwegian fiddling - posting my own learning progress. Feel free to post yours! https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/g...hp?groupid=109

[mtnmade]

Tho I have a fiddle, but don't play it, many friends , that play, suggest starting out on mandolin; notes and scales are the same, then you must work on the bow and finger placement. I do play mandolin but my time with fiddle sounds worse than a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

[Dr356]

Having had a concert level violinist as a roomer in our house for a couple of years, I concluded that the big thing is practice and more practice, a good teacher and friends who play a stringed instrument.