History of Fiddle

	Revision 6 . . (edit) August 31, 2001 12:10 am by (logged).151.18.xxx [flattened bridges don't make "double stops" any easier, but they make larger chords easier]
	Revision 5 . . (edit) July 30, 2001 3:43 am by Greg Lindahl
	Revision 3 . . May 7, 2001 6:51 pm by Larry Sanger [Did a little wikificiation work...]

---

Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1c1

A musical instrument with four strings, typically held under the chin, and played with a [violin bow]?; the smallest and highest-pitched of a family of four instruments including violin, viola, cello, and [bass violin]?. For more information about the physical instrument itself, see violin.

A musical instrument with four strings, typically held under the chin, and played with a [violin bow]?; the smallest and highest-pitched of a family of four instruments including violin, viola, cello, and [bass viol]?. For more information about the physical instrument itself, see violin.

Changed: 3c3,5

Fiddle and violin. The fiddle is the same musical instrument as the violin. Essentially, "fiddle" is used to described a violin when the violin is played in a folk music (i.e., traditional music) or sometimes a jazz style. One very slight difference between fiddle and violin occurs in American (e.g., bluegrass and [old-time music]?) fiddling: the [violin bridge]? is shaved down so that it is essentially flat. This makes it easier to play double stops.

Fiddle and violin. The fiddle is the same musical instrument as the violin. Essentially, "fiddle" is used to described a violin when the violin is played in a folk music (i.e., traditional music) or sometimes a jazz style. One very slight difference between fiddle and violin occurs in American (e.g., bluegrass and [old-time music]?) fiddling: the [violin bridge]? is shaved down so that it is essentially flat. This makes it easier to play chords?. Historically, the word fiddle also referred to a predecessor of today's violin. Like the violin, it tended to have 4 strings, but came in a variety of shapes and sizes. Another series of instruments which contributed to the development of the modern fiddle was the viol da gamba, which was played while held between the legs, and has a fretted fingerboard.