Violin vs fiddle: is there a difference?

A violin and a fiddle are the same instrument. The difference is the music. People say “violin” for classical music and “fiddle” for folk music, such as Irish, Scottish, bluegrass, and old-time tunes. A player can pick up one instrument and play both kinds.

The short answer

• Same instrument, same four strings, and same bow.
• “Violin” goes with classical music.
• “Fiddle” goes with folk and dance music.
• Some fiddlers set up the instrument in a different way.

What changes

	Classical violin	Fiddle
Music	Sonatas, concertos, and orchestra parts	Reels, jigs, hornpipes, waltzes, and songs
Learned	From written notes, for the most part	By ear, from other players, for the most part
Played	As the composer wrote it	With the player’s own twists and decorations
Made for	Listening	Dancing
Sound	Smooth and singing	Rhythmic and driving

These are habits, not rules. Classical players learn pieces by ear, and many fiddlers read music.

Small changes to the instrument

Most fiddlers play a standard violin. A few things may be set up to suit the music.

The bridge. The bridge is the thin piece of wood that holds up the strings. Some fiddlers have the top cut a little flatter. That makes it easier to play two strings at once.

The strings. Many fiddlers use steel strings, which sound bright and stay in tune in a crowded hall. Many classical players use strings with a softer core.

The tuners. Fiddlers often have a small tuning screw on all four strings. Classical players often have one on the top string alone.

The tuning. Some old tunes call for the strings to be tuned to different notes than usual.

Changes in how it is held

Classical teachers ask for a set way of holding the violin and the bow. Fiddle styles are looser. Some fiddlers hold the instrument lower on the chest or grip the bow higher up the stick. Each tradition has its own way.

Kinds of fiddle music

• Irish and Scottish: fast reels and jigs with quick decorations.
• Cape Breton: a driving style from Nova Scotia, with roots in Scotland.
• Québécois and Métis: dance tunes from Canada. The player often taps the rhythm with both feet.
• Old-time and bluegrass: music from the Appalachian mountains of the United States.
• Cajun: dance music from Louisiana.
• Klezmer: Jewish music from Eastern Europe, in which the fiddle laughs and cries.

Where the word comes from

“Fiddle” is the older word in English. “Violin” came later, from Italian. Classical players use “fiddle” too, as a friendly name for their own instrument.

Can a child learn both?

Yes. The basics are the same: a good bow arm, fingers that land in tune, and a steady beat.

Classical lessons build reading and a clean technique. Fiddle tunes build the ear, the memory, and the sense of rhythm. Each one helps the other.

Many teachers mix fiddle tunes into classical lessons. Fiddle camps and sessions welcome children. Ask your child’s teacher what is offered near you.

Suzuki students have a head start, because they learn by ear from the first lesson. Read the Suzuki method explained for parents.

When the two meet

Classical composers have long borrowed from fiddlers.

“Hoe-Down,” from Rodeo, by Aaron Copland. A whole orchestra plays an American fiddle tune. Read Rodeo and Appalachian Spring for kids.

Romanian Folk Dances, by Béla Bartók. Village fiddle tunes that Bartók collected and set for the concert hall. Read Bartók for kids.

Hungarian Dances, by Johannes Brahms. Brahms based them on the music of Hungarian café bands.

Things to do together

Same instrument, two sounds. Play one minute of a violin concerto and one minute of an Irish reel. Ask what is different. Then tell your child it is the same instrument.

Dance test. Play a fiddle tune. Can you sit still? Fiddle music is made for feet.

Learn by ear. Hum a short tune to your child, one line at a time. Have them hum it back. That is how fiddlers pass tunes on.

Clap the backbeat. Play a bluegrass tune. Clap on beats two and four.

Find a session. Look for a folk music session, a fiddle contest, or a barn dance near you.

Print and play

Read the violin for kids to learn how the instrument works. To use folk songs at home, read folk song study for homeschool. For help with sizes, read violin sizes for kids.

For all four families, see instruments of the orchestra for kids.