Fiddles

A fiddle is a four-string bowed instrument of the violin family used in many traditional and folk musics. Technically identical to the violin, the term fiddle refers to instrument and playing style rather than to a different instrument. In folk contexts, fiddlers often adjust the instrument’s setup and tuning to suit the music, and the repertoire emphasizes reels, jigs, laments, polkas, and fiddle tunes. The name fiddle is used across many cultures.

The instrument has four strings typically tuned G-D-A-E, though alternate tunings are common in fiddling. It has a wooden body made of spruce top and maple back, a neck, fingerboard, and a curved bow with horsehair. In folk playing, string gauges and a flatter bridge or lighter tailpiece may be used to facilitate faster notes and drone effects. Bridge and soundpost adjustments affect volume and tonal brightness.

Fiddle playing appears in Irish and Scottish traditional music, American Appalachian and bluegrass, Cajun, Klezmer, Balkan, and many other folk traditions. Ornamentation includes rolls, slides, double stops, hammer-ons, and drone notes. Fiddle music often emphasizes improvisation and interactive ensemble playing.

Fiddling is often learned informal settings within family and community contexts; players may acquire instruments secondhand. Maintenance includes regular rosin application, string replacement, and periodic bridge, tailpiece, and neck checks.