Absolute Beginner Fiddle Series! Video 1 / 7: The Basics.

Welcome to video #1 in the "Absolute Beginner Fiddle Series" here in The Tune Room (www.thetuneroom.ca)!
I designed SEVEN videos to take you from not touching a fiddle before to playing your first Celtic jig and reel! All you need is an actual fiddle and bow ;)
We start with the absolute basics in this video:
- We learn the different parts of the fiddle and the bow.
- We learn how to hold the fiddle and bow (and use them both).
- We learn the names of the strings.
- And we learn how to rosin the bow.
Based upon my experience in Celtic Fiddle, we're going to skip over music theory for now (except for basics) because it's honestly not needed yet! Fiddle is supposed to be FUN (and 50% of the best fiddle players I know don't even know how to read music... I know, interesting).
Be sure to stick with me until video 7, I want to hear about your progress!
Testimonials:
"The Absolute Beginner Fiddle Series was amazing! It can be easy to get discouraged and want to quit. But Tim has a way of encouraging you to keep pushing through. To conquer the difficulties. This series is a great starting point to help you learn just how to play. Tim's teaching is exceptional. I would definitely recommend Tim's beginners series." - Jordan Kinny
“Tim has an obvious passion for music and teaching, a great teacher!” - Debbie
“The beginner series was incredibly helpful for someone like me who had never picked up the instrument before. I grew up with it but never actually had the chance to learn.
Tim knew exactly what a beginner would likely need the most help with/struggle with and the communication through the video’s was very easy to understand. He also slowly adds in some light embellishments as a bit of an optional challenge for anyone who is feeling ambitious and goes over them so that you understand easily.
Every video is really well thought out, I liked that the notes were right on the video so you could follow not only by ear but by reading where you need your fingers to be and of course you pause as you go at your own pace! I can now play all of the songs by memory and I had a lot of fun learning 😃
I would give the Absolute beginner series a 10/10 and would highly recommend anyone looking to start fiddle to start there!” - Katie
“I started the course with very little musical experience (only what I learned in grade school) and ended it with a new found confidence and excitement for the instrument. The course prepared me with the fundamentals that I needed to go on and keep learning and keep enjoying playing the fiddle. Highly recommended!” - Katie
“Tim makes learning the fiddle lots of fun! The Tune Room Absolute Beginner Fiddle sessions have got me playing basic tunes quickly. The course provides a variety of tools such as visual aids, various scales, and personal tips to help me feel confident with this fabulously challenging instrument. The extra sound clips are enjoyable to play along with and are great examples of how my home practice could sound. It is also exciting to trust that I will eventually be able to play the fiddle along with another musician!! With more content coming, I am motivated to try and keep up!!” - Laura
“If you have any interest to start the fiddle and want to learn from one of the best to ever do it, then sign up. You won't regret it. Like any course you need to push your self to want to learn, Tim just makes it that much easier and bearable to do. The way he breaks everything down and doesn't shove music theory down your throat is breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong some music theory is important and you need to learn it. But this course will offer the basics to get you up and on your way to showing off in front of friends and family. I'm so glad I took this course, and look forward to growing as a fiddler. Without it, my fiddle would still be in the case as it was for the past 20 years, ever since my grandfather gave it to me.” - Steve
About Me:
Tim Chaisson is a JUNO, multiple East Coast Music and Music PEI award winning musician from Bear River, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Along with having three successful solo albums, he sings lead vocals and plays fiddle in the internationally acclaimed group, The East Pointers. Chaisson and The East Pointers tour consistently, selling out venues across Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.

[@sam_zach]

Hey Tim, this video series is such a gift! I've been wanting to play for years and a friend just leant me a fiddle - this is so well thought out to get started. Thank you!!

[@TimChaissonMusic]

Right on! Glad you're liking it guys!

[@charlottesmom]

Just a curious question, why do fiddle players seem to leave the rosin dust on the fiddle and not clean it (you're the third I've seen leave it), violin players never have the rosin dust....🎻

[@TimChaissonMusic]

Hey! I can only speak personally, that in the fiddle culture I grew up in, everyone left the rosin dust on their fiddle and only cleaned it when it got very bad (I'm not sure why - probably because it was mainly played at barn dances?). Most violinists are taught the habit to clean their violins from an early age, but that isn't quite the case in fiddle culture! My goal is to get in the habit more!

[@daniellelafreniere8677]

Hi Tim, any recommendations for finding sheet music for learning more contemporary blue grass, east coast folk, blues music?

[@TimChaissonMusic]

Hey Danielle! In The Tune Room, I have over 85 Tutorials (lots of my favourite contemporary tunes) with sheet music, practice tracks, fiddle tabs, etc (and obviously the lesson on how to learn it)! You can check it all out at www.thetuneroom.ca :) It's $9 per month for full access (or $14 per month with a LIVE session which usually includes a special guest) :) Hope that helps!