How to Know How a Fiddle Differs From a Violin

Questions about the difference between violins and fiddles are common. The answers are often humorous, claiming that the difference is the cost of the instrument or whether or not the player is having fun. In reality the difference lies primarily in the genre of music rather than the instrument. Read on to learn how to know how a fiddle differs from a violin.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify the musical genre. Classical or orchestral music of some kind is usually associated with violins. Violins are a prominent feature of symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles. Fiddle music is heard in folk genres such as traditional Irish music, bluegrass, American folk music and related modalities.

2. Examine the instrument's bridge. Fiddle players will often flatten their bridges in order to make it easier to play more than one string at once. This technique is called a "double-stop" and allows the playing of chords. The double-stop is a commonly-used technique in fiddle music genres.

3. Check what kind of strings are on the instrument. Fiddle players often prefer steel strings for their bright tone, while classical violin players may use other types of strings to produce a sweeter, mellower tone quality.

4. Count the number of fine tuners on the bridge end of the strings. Because fiddle players often prefer steel strings, their instruments may be fitted with fine tuners for every string. Steel strings require more careful fine-tuning than other types of strings preferred by classical players.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that none of these clues is truly diagnostic. The difference between fiddle and violin is really the type of music played rather than the instrument itself. Your best bet may be to ask the musician what kind of music he or she likes to play.