Fiddle

The English term Fiddle, which originally referred to the historic instrument Fidel, has maintained through the dissemination of country music, folk music and jazz found its way into the German language. Although in today's German language with the noun fiddle in almost all cases, the violin and not Fidel is meant, the term is used to emphasize the difference from the classical way of playing the violin and the stylistic contrast to the classical music.

The rules for playing but also for learning the fiddle is not so much tied to traditional conventions such as the violin. Although the fiddle is usually held like the violin under the chin, other attitudes are to be found, for example, in the crook of your arm or hanging obliquely downward, without contact with the chin. This attitude allows the Fiddler on the one hand while singing, on the other hand gets the left hand holding a function whereby, for example, is greatly limited the possibility of location or change of the vibrato. Many Fiddler hold the bow used for repeal, as do the classical violinist, at the lower end, the frog so called, but a little above the frog. On one hand, the rhythmic rapid games will be facilitated by this attitude, on the other hand, in faster pieces, only a small bow stroke is needed.

In many cases Fiddlespieler waive the almost always to be found in the classical violinists vibrato, that is the rapid movement of the fingers of the left hand, which produces a slight wavering of the tone frequency. For the rhythm of the game is especially designed with the right hand holding the bow.

The fiddle plays a role in almost all folk music genres. Especially the Irish and Scottish folk music are influenced by the fiddle playing, the most technically demanding Fiddlestil developed at Scottish emigrants to Cape Breton, but also jazz or country music styles like bluegrass or Cajun music no longer come from without the fiddle. Especially in jazz, but also in rock music, the electric fiddle has prevailed, which has in place a sound body has a pickup and an amplifier.

Although every violin can be played as a fiddle, for special models, the violin has become known that are not found in the classical music and are therefore only played as a fiddle. So American Fiddler, the bridges of their violins on which rest the strings, performed particularly flat in order to allow double or triple handles, ie, the simultaneous painting of two or three strings. Many so -called Old -Time Fiddler also use scordaturas, eg AEAE in to play certain pieces easier.

A special fiddle designs is the 5-string fiddle, in addition to the four strings of the violin ( GDAE ) still has a C-string, and thus covers the range of the viola and the violin. Some Fiddler experiment with 6 - or 7 -string instruments.

The Hardanger fiddle from Norway has in addition to the four strings that are deleted, even more sympathetic strings, which gives the instrument a very specific sound.

Many Fiddler often do not learn the fiddle game by presenting notes, but the pieces are re-enacted by ear and passed on from Fiddler Fiddler. Another possibility of the Fiddle - game in the folk and jazz music is the variation of themes and the accompanying music solely by ear.