Generically, fiddles are bowed lutes. The fiddle term denotes the existence of a stringed instrument that has a neck that bears strings sounded through the use of friction rather than the use of striking or plucking as with other musical instruments.
Playing the Fiddle
In nearly all fiddle instruments around the world, the friction that creates the [...]

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• Buyer's Guide for Banjos There are a number of elements to consider when buying a banjo. The main thing to look for is a banjo that is comfortable, easy to play, and does not hurt your hands. Push down on the strings up and down the neck to make sure they have enough give......
• Fiddling Instruments: A Primer pt 2 ... Continued from pt. 1 The Zhuihu, also known as the Zhuiqin is an instrument that is descended from a Chinese lute known as the Sanxian, and the strings of this instrument are stopped by pressing them down on a flat fingerboard on its neck. The Kokyu is a four......
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• Brief History of Violins The violin is the smallest in size of all the stringed instruments. This compact size also gives the violin the highest pitch of the string family of instruments, with the viola and cello both having a lower tone. Almost any musical style can be played on the violin, from classical......
• A Brief History of Banjos The banjo was originally developed and used by African Americans enslaved in the South. The slaves used gourd to create makeshift instruments that looked like the ones they used in Africa. In fact, the word "banjo" is believed to have evolved from a Kimbundu term for a similar musical instrument.......

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Instrument Care:
Make sure that you tighten up your bow before you play. The way that you can achieve this is by turning your instrument’s tension screw. You are going to want to avoid allowing the hairs of the bow to become too taut, as the separation between the hair and the bow stick should only [...]

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• Brief History of Cellos or Celli The cello (short for "violoncello") is a bowed string instrument, similar to a larger violin that is held upright instead of on the chin. It originated from the three-stringed bass violin created by Jambe de Fer in 1556. The first composer to use the bass violin is thought to be......
• Manufacturers: Meisel Meisel violins have been around since 1659, predating Paganini and even Beethoven. The Meisel name is still synonymous with solid workmanship and quality instruments at a reasonable price. Students or professionals can find the right violin for them in Meisel's product line. All Meisel stringed instruments exceed the specifications set......
• Introduction to the Bass Instrument The bass is also known as the double bass or the doghouse, and it is both the largest as well as the lowest pitch instrument in the violin family. Just like the violin, the double bass instrument evolved from the viol in Europe. Fine bass models are made out of......
• Tips for Playing the Violin Here are some tips for learning how to play the violin, which provide an accompaniment to the series we just did on learning how to properly play and practice the violin. 1 - If you want to learn more quickly, it would be wise for you to consult a private......
• Introduction to Stringed Instruments, pt 2 In the last post in this series we started talking about stringed instruments and the different varieties. We listed plucked stringed instruments, and will now talk about instruments that are played by bowing, striking and other methods. Bowing is a method that is used with some string instruments, including the......

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