How do you hold an Irish fiddle?

They all recommend lifting the elbow and lowering the elbow to cross strings. Majella says to keep your elbow low, don’t move your upper arm at all, and all the movent comes from te elbow and wrist. Well she’s a decent fiddler so I guess she should know.

How many ways can you hold a violin bow?

The two most common are the Russian grip and the Franco-Belgian grip. Russian Bow Grip: The hand is extremely pronated, with the fingers close together and the wrist up. This grip was used by famous violinists such as Jascha Heifetz, Mischa Elman, and Nathan Milstein. The Russian bow grip allows for a lot of bow speed.

Is the Fiddle Irish?

The fiddle has ancient roots in Ireland, the first report of bowed instruments similar to the violin being in the Book of Leinster (ca. 1160). The modern violin was ubiquitous in Ireland by the early 1700s.

Why are violins called fiddles?

Etymology. The etymology of fiddle is uncertain: it probably derives from the Latin fidula, which is the early word for violin, or it may be natively Germanic. The name appears to be related to Icelandic Fiðla and also Old English fiðele.

What do you put on a violin bow?

The violin bow can only make the strings sound, when there is enough friction between the string and the bowhair. In order to achieve this, the bow is rubbed with rosin. Rosin is an amber-coloured tree resin, which is usually obtained from pine, spruce pine, spruce or larch.

What is the best bow hold?

Balance the bow between your shoulder and the right thumb tip. Keep your thumb bent down to the hair or the bow might roll away from you. Without upsetting the balance, lightly lower your fingers to the stick as the fingers fall naturally—the first three over, the pinkie tip on top.

Is a violin also called a fiddle?

Western classical players sometimes use “fiddle” as an affectionate term for the violin, that intimate companion and workmate. But in the United States, most often “fiddle” means the violin as used in Irish-Scottish-French traditional music and all the descendant American styles: Appalachian, bluegrass, Cajun, etc.

How many strings does a fiddle have?

four-stringed
The answer is a surprising “no.” A violin and a fiddle are the same four-stringed instrument, generally played with a bow, strummed, or plucked.