Difference Between Fiddle and Violin

Difference Between Fiddle and Violin

e surprising answer is “no,” as the two four-stringed instruments can be played with a bow, strummed, or plucked. Their physical characteristics are the same. The type of music played on the instrument—and how you play it—sets a violin apart from a fiddle. What is the difference between fiddle and violin? The word “violin” is most frequently related to chamber music, orchestras, symphonies, and classical music in general. Contrarily, the fiddle is connected to a wide range of musical genres, such as Cajun, bluegrass, folk, and country.

What Distinguishes the Fiddle from the Violin?

Most of the time, violins and fiddles are the same instruments played in various genres. Some instruments, however, are made specifically for fiddling rather than classical music. The strings on these instruments frequently have a flatter bridge, which moves them closer to the fingerboard. This makes it easier to manage some violin techniques, such as quick string crossings and chording. Overall, the player’s musical preference is the primary distinction between the violin and the fiddle. A word’s meaning will depend on who is uttering it, as many violinists call their instrument their “fiddle” out of affection.

There are several minor differences in player preferences.

The instrument’s setup might differ between violins and fiddles, even though the instrument’s body is the same for both. The invention of the five-string fiddle, which has a lower fifth C-string added, has resulted in one change. Manufacturers of electric violins, often known as electric fiddles, like NS, provide five-string variants with the exact extra C string. Another distinction is between the gut or synthetic-core strings that classical violinists use and the steel-core strings that fiddlers (and electric violinists) often choose because of the music’s crisp, clear tone. Instead of the more conventional arched bridge, some violin players choose a flatter bridge. Many fiddlers prefer the flatter bridge because it reduces the angle between the strings and lets two or more notes played at once.

It all depends on your style of play!

Violinists that specialise in classical music play with great precision. There is no deviance from the composer’s original composition of the music. It involves more “technical” playing techniques. On the other hand, fiddlers are far more liberated to interpret a piece of music in any way they see fit and to develop their playing style. The violin is usually used to create more traditional music. Depending on the music type, fiddle players frequently use alternative techniques, including string bending and extended multiple-stop bowing passages.

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