How to Play the Fiddle Using Reel Bowing Patterns

Reel bowing is an example of bowing technique in fiddling. For the most part, reel bowing is made up of the standard practice of having one bow stroke for each note. But in some cases, the notes move so quickly this is impossible. So two or more notes are slurred together in one bow stroke. These slurring techniques are called shuffle reel bowing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use 1 bow stroke for each note. This means that each time that you change notes, you change the direction that the bow is moving. This is basic pattern for reel bowing.

2. Play 2 notes in the same bow stroke followed by 2 notes each with their own bow strokes. The 2 notes that are played in the same bow stroked are commonly referred to as slurred since the movement from one to the other is close together instead of clearly separated like it would be with 2 bow strokes. You can also reverse this and have 2 notes with their own bow strokes followed by 2 notes that are slurred.

3. Bow 2 notes with separate bow strokes on 1 string then 2 notes on another bow string. This technique is often done with changing notes on 1 string and an open string. For example, if you were using the A and E string, you would place your first finger to make a B on the A string. You'd bow that note twice with 2 bow strokes and then move to the E string and bow it twice for 2 separate notes.

4. Execute 2 notes on one string with separate bow strokes, a single note on a different string, and then 2 more notes on a third string. This movement of 2 notes, 1 note, 2 notes, can be used with 2 or 3 strings. Using the A and E string example again, you'd place your first finger on the B, play that note twice with 2 bow strokes, play the open E once, and then move back to the B and play it twice again.