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Hi, I’m Vi Wickam, and here’s another Quick Tip for you!
This Quick Tip relates to fiddling and bowing. And it’s the most important rule of bowing in fiddling.
Now what might this be, you ask?
The rule is that fiddling is dance music! You hear that? Fiddling is dance music.
And because it’s dance music, we have to make the beat clear.
By making the beat clear, what I’m talking about is putting a down bow on the down beat. So down bow, down beat!
And the reason is, is because that’s where the dancers put their foot down.
So if you don’t give them a strong down beat- which because of gravity, a down bow is naturally stronger than an up-bow – makes sense… The dancers won’t feel where the down beat is.
So let’s hear what that sounds like…
[…].
If you want to sound like a fiddler, keep your down bows on the down beats. Make sure that your down beats have down bows.
See you soon! Have a great day!
[The tune I play in the middle of this Quick Tip is called Arkansas Traveler. Steve Eulberg and I recorded a live version of Arkansas Traveler on our Fiddle Whamdiddle album, Not My Monkey.]
PS. For more help on bowing you might like these lesson series:
· Shuffle Bowing
· Zen Bowing Exercises
· Comfort with Your Right Hand
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