Is there a difference between a violin and a fiddle?

lothruin

As a violin player, I'll say there is no difference. Violins will differ in body style and shape depending on the maker and the era. "Violin" might be considered a more formal word, but it really is not that simple. Violin is the instrument. "Fiddle" is a colloquialism and in modern times refers to a style of playing more than the instrument itself. While players who prefer the "fiddle" style (a free, folk-music style of playing) might prefer a violin with a certain shape or sound, that is true of any player, regardless of their style, and does not indicate that the fiddle is a different instrument. I was fortunate to know a truely great violin and fiddle player while in high school. He used the same instrument whether playing "Devil Went Down to Georgia" or Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." Dec 03 03, 11:38 PM

Flo54

Often times, a 'true' fiddle player will have a flatter bridge (unlike a classical player with a more curved bridge). This flatter bridge makes it easier to bow on more than one string simultaneously Dec 31 06, 2:51 PM

Baloo55th

When Yehudi Menuhin was asked this question, his reply was that it all depended on what was being played on it. One difference frequently isn't in the instrument, but in the way the bow is held. Classical players hold the bow near the end, while fiddlers tend to hold it further up the bow. Don't ask me why. I find the mandolin easier. Dec 31 06, 3:36 PM

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