Fiddle

The fiddle is the same musical instrument as the violin. The word "fiddle" applies when the player is producing folk music or jazz. Many people do not realize that fiddle and violin are, in fact, the same instrument, perhaps because the folk sounds eminating from fiddles are very different from the "art music" sounds eminating from violins. Since the instrument is physically the same, see violin for a description of fiddles; the following article concerns primarily the different styles and history of folk fiddle playing, or "fiddling."

One of the most striking aspects of fiddling is that, as part of folk or improvisational music, one often learns "by ear," that is, by listening and imitating what one hears, and then usually varying that, at least a little.