Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started Playing Fiddle 7

Chapter 1: Getting Ready to Become a Fiddle Player 9

Chapter 2: Selecting the Right Instrument and Accessories 21

Chapter 3: Tuning, Rosining, and Taking Care of Your Fiddle 39

Part II: Working with Technique Basics and Fundamentals 63

Chapter 4: Holding the Fiddle and Bow 65

Chapter 5: Building a Musical Bow Stroke Sound 81

Chapter 6: Working with the Left Hand 105

Part III: Unlocking the Keys to Reading Music 121

Chapter 7: Understanding How to Read Music 123

Chapter 8: Keeping Rhythm in a Fiddle Tune 141

Chapter 9: Starting Easy with Basic Fiddle Tunes 161

Chapter 10: Getting into Trickier Fiddlin’ 173

Part IV: Working with the Various Fiddle Styles 185

Chapter 11: Developing the Irish Fiddle Style 187

Chapter 12: Scottish-Style Fiddling 205

Chapter 13: Fiddling to Old-Time Music 219

Chapter 14: Learning Bluegrass Fiddle 237

Part V: Taking Fiddling to the Next Level 249

Chapter 15: Shifting, Vibrato, and Double-Stops 251

Chapter 16: Expanding Your Ability 271

Chapter 17: Improvising and Playing Electric Fiddle 283

Part VI: The Part of Tens 297

Chapter 18: Ten Great Fiddle Players You Need to Hear 299

Chapter 19: (More Than) Ten Tips on Finding the Right Teacher 305

Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 313

Index 319

About the Author

Michael Sanchez has played fiddle in many country musicbands, as well as playing fiddle for the Medora Musical, awell-known and popular show held each year in North Dakota. He isCEO and creator of Violin Tutor Pro (www.violintutorpro.com) and isCEO of Superior Violins (www.superiorviolins.com).