Reminds me of the theme from a movie or series I’ve watched…can’t remember which one though.
The Fiddle Thread
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So Stuart, have you had any luck with using less of your shoulder when bowing? .
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I don’t have video proof but it is getting better. When I do shorter bowing, I catch myself using my shoulder (I am feeling and catching it though) Funny thing there is a big mirror in the room i hang my instruments and never paid attention. Thanks again for the advice on using the mirror.
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The part in there where you go up high (five notes three times back to back to back) sounds exactly like something I remember from The Jack Benny Show! I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for, but that one little part is definitely from that radio program. The first time you play it is 15 seconds in from the start.
BTW: That guitar sounds great… the playing as well as the tone!
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Your quote is of my reply to something Gunnar played earlier…it reminded me of Game os Thrones or something…Not really sure how I should take the Jack Benny comment hahaha!
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Ooooops, Yeah sorry, I thought that after I posted my comment. I also thought you were talking about what you played. Boy I’m all messed up!
But I do remember that part in a Jack Benny program. There’s a Classic Radio channel on Sirius that plays all the old radio programs and his show is one that is played frequently. The Six Shooter with Jimmy Stewart is probably my favorite or Gunsmoke with William Conrad… Good stuff!
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I think the thing I’ve most often heard Mr. Benny play was a little section from the Kreutzer exercises…
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That was great! I enjoyed it
Which thing that I played are you referring to? The Gael or the original one or?
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the original…I’m referring to the first part mostly.
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Ok cool. It bears similarities to several Irish tunes I’m sure, so not surprising that it would sound familiar
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Back up and Push (key of F)
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East Tennessee Blues (also in F)
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Nice fiddling @Dragonslayer ! In F!! I think the closest thing I play to key of F would be Tam Lin in Dm (mandolin).
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If I could like that song more than 1x I would bc I love that song!! (I wonder where you are tonight)
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There is just something about the tune “Back Up and Push” that just gets me humming along!
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Thanks Simone! It’s usually a C tune, but you can move it down a string and easily play it in F without changing anything else. Dm is the same notes, and Tam Lin is a great tune!
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Thanks Stuart!
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Hi Dave, I hear many beginners playing blood curling sounds on the fiddle. Apart from experience what turns that horrible sound into a thing of beauty. Is it the angle of the bow or the speed it’s drawn, the lack of resin ?
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Hi Archie, When I find out I’ll let you know…haha!
Seriously though, There are plenty of “bad” sounds a fiddle can make.
Some are bow problems and some are fingering problems.
On the bowing side of things Good tone comes from the right combination of pressure, speed and abrasion coupled with the right distance from the bridge for where you are on the neck (like banjo etc.) with your left hand.
All this can change with slight humidity differences, so adjustments may have to be made regularly.
When my fiddle (or bow) gets too dry or wet it gets very difficult to impossible make it sound good. If its dry I can put it in the case with the humidifier for a few hours…comes beck out sounding much better comparatively… Not much you can do to help it if you’re playing in the fog or when the dew is forming…
The left hand is somewhat like that of other instruments in that slides take a bit more pressure.
It has two major problems that happen
If you slightly touch a string next to the one you’re fingering, while playing both, you get a high pitched squeal (this can also be produced by lifting a finger too slowly)
Intonation can change daily (and usually does) due to many factors like moisture of hand, etc. So you basically have to “find” the notes every day when you first pick up the instrument.
Strings last a pretty long time on fiddles but not forever…this can also add to unhappy sounds you may produce. .
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Thanks Dave, There’s a guy that attends our jam sessions and his fiddle just squeaks a horrible sound and it’s just so painful to listen to. I’ll print this off and hand it to him when next we meet.
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