thistle13

Sounds SO fun, Aysha!! A bit exhausting, too? …:-)

Yea that video was so valuable to me and made me feel like I had a place to start. Thank you to Megan!

Update: All the tips helped! What works for me now:

I bring my tuning fork to my chair with me. During some of the pauses between songs, I’ll tap it on my knee and vibrate it on my violin. Its high soft A is actually easy to hear above the chitchat, plucking, etc.

Once I get the A in my head, I can do a quick tune.
Works great, and is a…[Read more]

I just wanted to leave this link here, because this video was really helpful to me…
It’s Megan Lynch Chowning’s video about transitioning from classical to fiddling:

Some helpful things I got out of her video:
– try to not use big full bows
– tone down vibrato
– play/practice with strong rhythmic feel

Exciting!
I was just watching her great video on transitioning from classical to fiddle.

Thank you for the wisdom and tips!

I do always have a tuning fork in my case, but assumed I couldn’t hear it well at a jam. I’ll try using it!
I’ll check out that D’Addario tuner too, that looks quite nifty.
Walking away to listen / tune from a distance, is a good thought too. I actually feel pretty sure I could get it that way (especially if…[Read more]

Oh, thank you!
I will play it that way…not sure what I was doing!

And greetings to all from North Carolina, USA!

Fan of Irish/Scottish/Celtic, but enjoying hearing all the other fiddle styles here.

Sure.
Enjoy the Festival!!

And, thanks for the great clear teaching videos, am learning a lot! 🙂

Garrett Barry’s Jig ~
So many interesting variations. Some settings start with a little scale going up vs Kevins’ version. I think I’ll use both interchangeably!
I think it’s F SHARP in measure 5, from what I hear from various players…not marked on sheet music, but it sure sounds like people play F#. Some of the tin whistle/pipe players really…[Read more]

Got a request too-

Terhen, by Frigg

spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/3LHcOgqESXTjGcFllginOC?si=aca0cc969e2c4fa7

I’m not even sure what fiddle tradition /culture it belongs to, but Frigg appears to be a Finnish folk band.

Funny because, for us classicals, the transcribed notes are gospel that we do not dare to alter. ( Or, if we alter it, it’s with a lot of deep discussion of history and what the composer intended. 🙂 I’m going to have to figure out have to loosen up my mindset!

In the past few years I also dared to go to a few sessions at a pub, and everybody…[Read more]

Thank you for the encouragement, Rob!

On sheet music – I totally agree! I’ve got a book of fiddle tunes but they are never charming when just played straight from the page. When you hear them played, is when they really come alive.

On having fun – thanks, was excited to find this site! I live in a small town where the nearest Session is a long…[Read more]

Thanks Lisa! I’m going to check out the people you mentioned! 🙂

Yea, I know what you mean about how it’s easier to play folk on another instrument instead of the one you trained in…
Like, I can copy the phrase out of the video nicely when following along, but then two days later when I play the tune myself from memory, then it’s back to…[Read more]