How to Play a Single String Melody on the Fiddle

To play a single string melody on the fiddle, you simply concentrate on one string. This is a perfect technique for beginners since it only requires the knowledge of one string to play. To make the melody more interesting, you add the use of open notes and other strings to accent the melody.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Concentrate on the melody. You want to learn that melody well enough that you can add to it without worrying about knowing the notes. This will all be on one string but with the following steps, you'll learn how to add to that single string melody to make it more interesting and sound more complicated.
2. Practice the melody basically by repeating it over and over. Play it until you can play it all the way through without messing up. If you do make a mistake, stop and play that section over and over until it's perfect. This will ensure that you know the notes perfectly.
3. Change the bowing for the melody. You can use reel bowing to change the overall sound of the melody. You can use a bow stroke for each note, or slur every two notes together.
4. Consider the style of bowing that you're using to play the melody on the one string. You can use spiccato bowing to make the notes distinctly separate by bouncing the bow on the string or using legato bowing that is smooth so that all the notes are connect and none of them are accented.
5. Think about how the melody can be accented. The easiest way to accent a melody is by playing two strings at the same time. Look at the two open string on each side on the one that you are playing on and find notes in the melody that match those strings. If you play the open and the fingered note at the same time within octaves of each other, it creates an interesting addition to the melody.