Learn to play the Irish fiddle, with me, Bradon Smith. I'll share all my best tips and tricks, and teach you how to play some of my favourite Irish tunes on the fiddle.
I've been playing the fiddle for over 30 years, and have 1000s of hours of experience teaching people to play the fiddle. I specialize in Irish and Scottich fiddle styles (sometimes called Celtic fiddle). I am currently teaching students from age 5 - 85, from complete beginners to advanced players.
You can find out more about me and my teaching, and lots more resources forlLearning to play Irish fiddle at learntoplaythefiddle.co.uk/
I find that flute players (and I play flute and whistle as well as fiddle) tend to think of it like your method #2. I usually first teach three equal main notes, with two short cuts (or a cut and strike or tap as I call them) to start; but then fatten up the cuts to the desired degree, even to the point of five equal notes*. Then after that is mastered, consider lengthening the first note, a la Kevin Burke; but I tend not to do that so much, because generally a long roll is over three eighth notes, and the rhythmic function of the ornament makes me want to show the eighth notes, not have a quarter note followed by a cluster of additional notes. The advantage of method #2 is that it supports that rhythmic function of the ornament. I agree that having the 1st finger down when playing a 2nd finger roll is a good idea...I usually play one note down as the lower grace note in a roll, and not being ready for it is inefficient. Third, to make the grace notes (cuts) 'pop out' more, consider moving the left-hand finger in a more circular movement, as opposed to straight up-and-down. If done right, you'll get a sort of pull-off effect. Finally, I think the key to Irish style isn't so much the ornamentation, but slurring in the right places - across bar lines when practical, and across the middle of the bar in some other places. *Some people teach this right off the bat, but I find the five-equal-notes method to sound kind of fussy and classical.
Hooray! At last a perfect fiddle instructional video with no narcissistic waffling on. Clear and precise. I love the point of view, close up, insert too.
Hi, is it possible to take lesson with you by internet ? I am in Paris. Because it is too difficult just with your video without any partition. Many thanks. Anne
Thanks for this! Really really appreciate it ❤ Hope you don’t mind, just putting in some notes for me so I can go direct to the parts I need to review 😊 Tune 03:53 B part 16:34 Tune no variations 21:03 Variations 24:21 Tune again 46:42
Are they harder to learn than a regular fiddle? Is the tuning different? Hello folk tunes. I recently fallen in love with American old time Appalachian... Can you suggest a good source for traditional tunes done On the hard digger?
I love this tune so much! It’s beautiful in both scales, but I think I like your D minor version best…it has a certain moodiness about it, ya know? I’m a beginner and I’ve added it to my fiddle tune wish list. Thank you so much, Brandon! I’m enjoying your channel 😊
