| There's a lot to think about if you don't play the | | | | once. |
| fiddle at all but want to learn. Answers to these | | | | - The tune should be divided into sections and each |
| three questions will start you off on the right foot: | | | | section should be taught separately. |
| Do you need private lessons? Are any of the online | | | | - The sections should repeat at a slow pace so you |
| resources good for beginners? Are you required to | | | | can practice each section along with the teacher. |
| be able to read music? This article offers some | | | | - There should be access to written music, preferably |
| answers. | | | | both standard notation and tablature. At least one |
| Do you need private lessons, or should you go the | | | | written music source should be visible on screen. |
| "teach yourself" route? I recommend finding a private | | | | - There should be accompaniment available so you |
| teacher if you can. | | | | can practice with a guitar or other instrument. |
| Why do you need private lessons? Because a | | | | The more of these criteria an instructional video |
| beginner can get into all kinds of trouble at the start. | | | | meets, the more useful it will be for a beginning |
| The fiddle is not easy or intuitive. Chances are, if you | | | | fiddler. |
| don't have somebody looking over your shoulder and | | | | Will you be required to read music in order to learn to |
| saying "No, not that way. Do it this way.", you'll | | | | play? No. It's helpful, but it's not a necessity. |
| develop bad habits that will really slow down your | | | | Of course, the usual method for presenting violin or |
| progress later on. | | | | fiddle sheet music is classical (standard) notation. That |
| So how do you find a teacher? | | | | works great, if you can read it. If you can't, there is |
| - Try your local paper first. Sometimes teachers | | | | fiddle tablature. It is simple and easy to understand. |
| advertise their services in the want ads. | | | | Not all fiddle tab is the same, but most systems have |
| - If that fails, your local music store might provide a | | | | these points in common: |
| lead or two. | | | | - There are four lines or spaces, and these represent |
| - Go to music events where there is fiddle music and | | | | the strings on the fiddle, top to bottom. |
| ask around. Fiddlers and their friends know where | | | | - The numbers on the lines/spaces represent the left |
| fiddle teachers hide out, and they'll cheerfully tell you | | | | hand fingers in the first position. A "1" on the top line |
| who to call. | | | | space means you press down the 1st finger on the E |
| - Try the internet. Just google "fiddle teacher" and | | | | string. |
| include the name of your town or city. | | | | - The numbers have stems going up or down from |
| Some combination of these should do the trick. Once | | | | the number. If two stems are connected, the two |
| you find a person or two, you need to find out what | | | | notes are eighth notes; if they aren't, the notes are |
| their musical background is. First prize is a good fiddle | | | | quarter notes. |
| player (as opposed to a good violinist) who has some | | | | There is more to it than this, but you get the idea. It |
| classical training. He or she will be able to school you | | | | is relatively easy to get the hang of it, and it enables |
| well in the basics and help you apply these | | | | beginners to get on with the business of playing the |
| fundamentals to fiddle music. That's what you want. | | | | fiddle and not slowing down to learn standard |
| Are any of the online fiddle resources good for | | | | notation. Its main limitation is that it's hard to find |
| beginners? Yes, if you choose wisely. | | | | tunes written in tab. The primary sources for written |
| There are lots of free lessons online these days. | | | | fiddle music are almost always in standard notation. If |
| Many, however, are not much use for beginners | | | | you can find a teacher who uses tablature to teach |
| because the information goes by too fast. Here's | | | | tunes and will write them out for you in tab, that's a |
| what to look for: | | | | big plus |
| - The video should have split screens or double | | | | If you're about to start down the fiddlin' road, I hope |
| screens, with bowing in one screen and fingering in | | | | this helps. Have fun. |
| the other. You should be able to see them both at | | | | |
