Fiddle lesson (Thoughts on holding the Oldtime fiddle)

[@Aclockworkari]

Since I started watching your videos I’ve gotten compliments on my fiddling and less people throw things at me. BEST TEACHER EVER

[@joedoucettemusic]

Hopefully they start throwing dollars at you

[@Linda_Eskin]

What a great option for anyone with shoulder problems. Thanks for the video!

[@leighcecil3322]

I'm guitar background... thinking of taking up fiddle thanks for the tip...🇦🇺 cheers 🍻

[@joedoucettemusic]

@@leighcecil3322 cheers, happy sawing!

[@nastanfield]

When you're not supporting the fiddle on the heel of your left hand as you play off-the-shoulder, how do you prevent your hand from sliding up towards your body as the fiddle rests between your thumb and the bottom joint of your forefinger? As my hand slides up, my fingers are no longer in the correct position on the fingerboard to play the right notes. Great instructional video, BTW.

[@joedoucettemusic]

Mmm I don’t have a left hand sliding issue. My wrist (the inside part when you’re looking at the palm of your hand) blocks it from sliding against the where the neck joins the fiddle body. I have a little callus there.

[@jerrytheracecardriver1100]

That's a neat way of holding the fiddle. Reminiscent of some of the ol' greats like Hiram Stamper.

[@joedoucettemusic]

He’s one of my favorites 🤘

[@cristiancamilovaldiviesopo6717]

Thanks for this video Joe and for helping keep this style alive for us new fiddlers to learn. You are a really skilled musician and I have improved a lot with your advice. I'm gonna try this posture asap.

[@joedoucettemusic]

Give it a try! let me know how it goes. I’ve seen all sorts of holds, even seen some people rig up a strap. If ya just can’t get comfy holding it just keep experimenting.

[@merlinthecat9901]

I wanna be able to hold it this way cause I like to sing and play . It’s really hard for me though

[@joedoucettemusic]

It definitely takes some time to find a comfortable spot.

[@richjakowski1056]

Great vid Joe. I'll bet most OT fiddlers would give up vibrato for a good shuffle any day.

[@joedoucettemusic]

Keep shuffling!

[@Goatberry_Jam]

I have tried this method but I can't do it. I mean, I can't keep the instrument stable enough to even pick up my bow

[@joedoucettemusic]

@@Goatberry_Jam that’s okay just hold it anyway that lets you play it.

[@zachb8012]

I'm relatively new to fiddle and learned later in life too. By the time I'm a couple hours into a play session I feel like the fiddle finds its way exactly where you're holding it. The advantage of holding it under my chin is my hand doesn't cramp as much, though I reckon that'll subside as I build strength. Other than that I think it just feels more comfortable a little lower.

[@joedoucettemusic]

Check out the playing of Jon Bekoff if you wanna see some shred holding it real low.

[@Lostmychops]

Ed Haley was probably the finest exponent of that rocking fiddle method. I swear the guy was an alien or something. See also Marcus Martin, Clyde Davenport and - more recently - Bruce Greene. I’ve had some snobby looks from violinists for playing this way over the years, but once you’ve gotten accustomed to it it makes so much sense. The only real advantage to playing with the fiddle clamped under your chin is that you can play in the ‘second position’ more easily, but with the exception of the dude in Weems String Band I can’t think of a single old timer who actually did that for anything other than the odd note, and 99.9% of old time fiddle tunes don’t call for it. All of which is a long-winded way of saying keep doing what you’re doing.

[@joedoucettemusic]

I think you managed to hame drop all my favorite fiddlers in one comment.

[@fiddlyJazzily]

My god , that's perfect 😮❤

[@tessh4871]

When you play is your palm resting on the top of the body? I’m having a hard time figuring out how to position my left hand without holding the neck up with my hand and uncomfortably gripping really hard

[@joedoucettemusic]

@@tessh4871 kinda wedge the fiddle against my chest. The fiddle neck is in my palm and the the part where the fiddle neck meets the fiddle’s body is pressed against my wrist

[@tessh4871]

@@joedoucettemusicok so you’re supporting with your wrist some? I just see a lot of different ways of holding it

[@briancleary6751]

Are you supporting the body with the heel of your left hand?

[@joedoucettemusic]

I do, I actually have a small callus in my left wrist near the bony knob opposite my thumb

[@briancleary6751]

@@joedoucettemusic gnarly

[@johnaustin1825]

Your method looks far more comfortable than the classic method. Also it would be easier to sing into a mic?

[@joedoucettemusic]

I don’t notice any trouble singing into mics

[@gertmana1789]

Hey Joe how long have you been playing? I'm 36 and playing for 1 year now. I shure wished my parents gave me the violin i wanted instead of the cornet i got when i was young. But beter late than never. Greetings from belgium.

[@joedoucettemusic]

I’ve been at at it for about 7-8 years now. I wish I had started sooner too but who knows, maybe we both avoided some violin based childhood trauma.

[@gertmana1789]

@@joedoucettemusic true.

[@ProfRybczyk]

Excellent, but you haven't even come close to "later in life" yet!!!