Is a fiddle the same instrument as a violin?

Question

i don't want guesses ..i would like to hear from people that truly know about instuments

Answer 1

fiddle is a violin. there's a complete explanation on wikipedia. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddle

Answer 2

From Wikipedia:

Violin vs. fiddle
A violin is sometimes informally called a fiddle, regardless of the kind of music being played with it. The word "violin" is Italian and the word "fiddle" is English.

Historically, the word fiddle also referred to a predecessor of today's violin. Like the violin, it tended to have 4 strings, but came in a variety of shapes and sizes. Another series of instruments which contributed to the development of the modern fiddle was the viol, which was played while held between the legs, and has a fretted fingerboard.

One very slight difference between "fiddles" and ordinary violins may be seen in American (e.g., bluegrass and old-time music) fiddling: in these styles, the top of the bridge may be cut so that it is very slightly less curved. This reduces the range of right-arm motion required for the rapid string-crossings found in some styles, and is said to make it easier to play double stops and shuffles (bariolage), or to make triple stops possible, allowing one to play chords.

Most classical violinists prefer a more rounded curve to the top of the bridge that allows them to articulate each note more easily and clearly. In practice, most instruments are fitted with a rounded bridge to better accommodate the shape of the fingerboard. (One exception is the 3-string kontra or bracsa, a viola used in Hungarian and Transylvanian folk music fitted with an absolutely flat bridge to allow all three strings to be played simultaneously.) In any case, the difference between "round" and "flat" is not great; about a quarter or half a millimeter variation in the height of one or two strings. A fiddle strung with steel will work best with a bridge as much as a millimeter lower overall. For gut, nylon or other synthetic-core strings, the action may be set suitably higher. As a violin's bridge is relatively easy to replace, modifying the bridge does not permanently make a violin into a fiddle.

In construction, fiddles and violins are exactly the same. Various clichés describe the difference: "The violin sings, the fiddle dances," or "A fiddle is a violin with attitude," or "No one cries when they spill beer on a fiddle." As might be expected from the differences between classical and folk music, violinists tend to be formally trained and fiddlers tend to be informally trained, although crossing over is not uncommon.

Answer 3

Well, Itzak Perlman thinks his instrument is a fiddle (at least, that's how he referred to it in an interview) and if he thinks a violin and a fiddle are the same instrument, that's good enough for me.....

In fact, the instrument is actually called a violin, but when it is used in western and hoe-down music, it's called a fiddle. They are they same.

Answer 4

yes, a violin is the fancier word, it is used to when referring to the instrument being used for more classical music, while the fiddle is the southern U.S.A term, fiddle music is typically played faster, and is usually more upbeat and lively. The instrument is technically the same, but the music styles are worlds apart.

Answer 5

they're the same instrument.
just that usually, in country music, old folk, etc, people call 'em fiddles. and in classical music, it's usually referred to as a violin.

violinists are fond of jokingly calling their instruments fiddles though.

Answer 6

A fiddle is smaller than a violin. The sound is also different

Answer 7

Yes its the same instrument
we hillbillys call fiddle, everyone else, its a "violin"

Answer 8

violin is the same as a fiddle....but depends on the style you play... if you play anything outside of the Country, bluegrass relm it's a violin............ i always say it's a violin......

Answer 9

Same instrument, usually tuned differently

Answer 10

Samething. Different name depending on region.