Fiddle and violin are two types of stringed instruments that are often confused. While they share lots of similarities, there are also some differences between them. If you’re new to learning instruments and want to know more about fiddle and violin, we’ve got you!
In this article, we’ll outline some of those differences, so you can choose the right instrument for your needs.
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Differences between fiddler and violin
Here are some of the notable differences between a fiddler and a violin.
Sound
A violin’s bright and clear sound makes it perfect for classical music. Beginner violin players can use it to play genres such as folk music, jazz, bluegrass, country, rock, gospel, and pop genres.
Meanwhile, a fiddle’s sound is darker and more mellow than a violin’s. It’s generally easier to hear above loud background noise. You can use it to play folk music styles like Irish traditional music or American mountain folk music.
Size
When it comes to size, the fiddle is a much smaller instrument than the violin. It has four strings, while the violin has five.
Likewise, the violin has an arched back, while the fiddle does not. This means that the violin can be larger than the fiddle without becoming unwieldy or uncomfortable to hold and play. The violin also has a wider fingerboard than the fiddle, allowing for more comfortable positioning of your fingers when playing different notes or chords.
When it comes to the bows, there’s also the size difference. The fiddle’s bow is a little longer than a violin.
Price
The price of a violin depends on what type of wood it is made from. The more expensive violins are made from spruce and maple, while the less expensive ones are made from pine or cedar. If you want to buy the best violin, you will have to pay a starting price of $800.
Meanwhile, Fiddles can start from $200. They are usually cheaper because they have fewer strings and simpler designs than violins. You also need to consider the materials used and the brand.
Tuning
Normally, you tune the violin using G3, D4, A4, and E5. For viola, you tune it using C3, G3, D4, and A4. We just presented the viola tuning, so you can see the difference. But for fiddles, it goes with a little tweak.
Fiddle’s tuning is the same as that of the violin, but since modern fiddlers introduced this fifth string, the tuning became G3, D4, A4, E5, and C3. This is why fiddles sound like the style of folk-country music that complements well with a banjo instrument!
Summary
Many people confuse violin between fiddle and vice versa because of their appearance and the way they’re played. Although these two instruments share many similarities, we can say that they also have small differences that set them apart.
They differ in size, price, sound quality, tuning, and the genre of music you can play. Fiddle is ideal for those who want to play folk-country music. So now that you know the difference between the two, it’s time to share this information with other people!
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