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Step 1
Listen to the style of the music. Classical repertoire, such as Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, is played on the violin. Other genres, such as bluegrass, Irish folk, and even jazz, are played on fiddle. In this sense, the same player can play the violin and immediately switch to playing the fiddle using the exact same instrument.
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Step 2
Listen to particular features of the music. Fiddle music usually has lots of chords and double-stops (playing more than one note at the same time), lots of bends and slides (sliding up or down to pitches), uneven or "swung" rhythms, and lots of fast, repetitive notes.
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Step 3
Notice the make-up of the ensemble. Both violins and fiddles can be found in a variety of ensembles, but usually violins are associated with symphony orchestras, string ensembles and some choral ensembles, while fiddles can be found in the company of singers, other fiddles, rhythm sections, brass instruments, and an assortment of other instruments.
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Step 4
Analyze the posture and position of the player. A very proper, upright position with straight lines through the arm, wrist and fingers is typically a result of classical violin training. A more relaxed, informal position usually pairs with fiddle music. Additionally, fiddle players often move around while playing much more than violinists.
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Step 5
Look at the sheet music. Usually, each and every note of the violin music is written out. Fiddle music is more like an outline, with only a few notes or names of keys written out, and it is up to the player to fill in the "holes."
