bowed triplet (treble/birl)

The bowed triplet, treble or birl is an important fiddle ornament in Irish, Scottish and French Canadian fiddling. In this lesson I describe how to do this ornament, and the different contexts in which it is used. I use Jenny Dang the Weaver as an example. I use on-screen sheet music, and a free pdf of this music is available to subscribers (see below).
Below are details of further fiddle resources from Chris Haigh
1. Patreon
2. Books
3. Subscription video courses
4. Website
5. Email to request pdf’s.
1. PATREON
This is a platform where anyone can help support creative artists and get closer access to their work. You can join me on Patreon at three levels, for £4, £10 or £40 per month.

At the lowest level you get access to all my pdf’s and tune collections, plus many exclusive tuition videos not available to the public.
At level 2 you can join also me once a month for a group Zoom chat, and can request a backing rack once a month.
Level 3 gives you all the above plus a free lesson once a month, and access to all my backing tracks.
You can find me on Patreon at
/ thefiddlechannel
2. BOOKS
I have seven fiddle tuition books published by Schott, all widely available from the publisher, from Amazon, and many other outlets. All come with audio tracks illustrating the tunes and exercises.
Exploring Jazz Violin
Beginning Jazz Violin
Discovering Rock Violin
Exploring Folk Fiddle
Exploring Klezmer Fiddle
Hungarian Fiddle Tunes
French Fiddle Tunes
Exploring Country and Bluegrass Fiddle
You can order from
bit.ly/31ZWmgm
3. VIDEO SUBSCRIPTION COURSES
I have three video subscription courses
MUSIC GURUS- Exploring Jazz Violin. Based on my Schott book
Parts 1 and 2 are each £26 for 26 lessons, covering the first and second halves of the book
Part 1; tinyurl.com/49tfk5ef
Part 2 tinyurl.com/23atebfc
-MUSIC GURUS Discovering Rock Violin. . Based on my Schott book
£35 for 46 lessons
tinyurl.com/2ua2kuxh
ACADEMY OF FOLK
Includes a folk fiddle primer course, with introductions to basic techniques and concepts plus an Irish Fiddle Course and Scottish fiddle course. A monthly sub of $9.99 gives access to all lessons
academyoffolk.com/
4. WEBSITE
My website is probably the most extensive and detailed summary of fiddle styles on the web, as evidenced by the range of top hits on Google for many fiddle styles.
www.fiddlingaround.co.uk
________________________________________________________________________
TO REQUEST PDF’S, or ask any questions, CONTACT ME AT
[e-mail]

[@violinsane108]

Thanks Chris. You are the first person to state that this is a DIFFICULT ornament, and I appreciate that. You do them well, though.

[@mariaguadalupereyesmeraz278]

Thanks Chris !!!!

[@TheFiddleChannel]

You're welcome!

[@pedroxdev]

Yes! Another one of my favourite tunes. Thanks Chris!

[@ecarneylaw]

Thanks!

[@johntait491]

Another tune that can be used for practicing Bowed Triplets is "Crossing the Minch" aka "McNab's Hornpipe". Nice that you mentioned Bruce McGregor. "Queen of the Fair" and "Humours of an Ennistymon" are two examples of where Bowed Triplets can be applied to jigs. 😉

[@tullochgorum6323]

You beat me to it - Crossing the Minch is the ideal workout for the birl. The touchstone is Aly Bain's recording here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3bTpXd-gs-rnrs

[@dobrodoc]

Thanks very much! Very helpful!

[@cohenshcohen]

Brilliant...

[@lochlannlads2392]

When pipers and flautists put a triplet-like ornament on lowest note (bell note) it's called a "cran" but I've never seen that word used about fiddling. Anyway, thanks for yet another great tutorial. I'm bingewatching, and I'm not a fiddler but a whistler 😀

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Hi Petter. I've heard of one or two fiddlers referring to the cran, I think as a type of roll on an open string, but it's not a common fiddle thing.

[@lochlannlads2392]

@@TheFiddleChannel Might be a transfer from pipers' lingo. It makes sense, though, since it'll involve three different quick "notes" above the open string / bell note. I'll ask our fiddler if he's familiar with it.

[@TheFiddleChannel]

@@lochlannlads2392 Thanks Petter

[@gwendolynkaren5933]

Aha Ty Chris

[@saoirsepaddy]

Hi Chris I just heard some Button Accordion player did that type of ornament or something like it

[@OfTheSidhe]

Thanks. I went to see if my cat was ok but it's your cat. LOL

[@TheFiddleChannel]

🤣🐱