I recently started playing at an Irish jam in my town, and everyone plays sitting down. I'm an okey-doke, intermediate fiddler, but I've always played standing up. When I try to sit down, my bow hits my right leg when I play the e string. Why isn't this happening to other fiddlers? Please don't laugh. I'm so frustrated. I'd really appreciate advice.
When I play sitting down, I sit on the edge of the chair and tuck my right leg back, which keeps it out of the way when playing on the e string. Another alternative is to sit with your knees close together, so that the right let is to the left of the bow when playing on the e string.
I sit slightly side saddle and very upright on my chair and miss my leg. I've noticed quite a lot of other fiddlers with the knees tucked together and under their chair thing too.
Your fiddle must be tilted down quite a lot, if you're hitting your leg. It should be just a little off being flat and pointing a little forward of your shoulder - get the playing position right and you shouldn't hit anything - except the annoying bodhran player, who you should make sure is sitting to your immediate left.
I just always kind of lean over when playing the E when sitting (though usually I play standing or kneeling, of all things). Although, the bow-hitting-leg sound can be interesting at times...
I had this exact problem. I tried keeping the knees together and tucking my legs under the chair and also brought my fiddle futher round to the right, but it felt a bit awkward. I even tried twisting my torso to the right but that was clearly going to result in pain.
Then I discovered that sitting perched at the front of a chair with with my legs far apart, particularly my right leg splayed to the right, allowed me to bow freely with the bow coming down between my legs, which is nice.
I can now happily bow sitting down without feeling constantly distracted by the risk of hitting my leg with the added bonus that I look really elegant with my legs spread apart. Perhaps not a posture for you if you're a lady.
sounds like you may be playing with your fiddle too far angled to the left. if you sit (good posture, of course... and it helps if you're on a firm seat... the couches sometimes found in pubs aren't exactly firm), make sure the fiddle is angled about 45 degrees left of your neck with the bottom of the fiddle resting on your collar bone, you should miss your right leg on the E string... unless your upper arm is freakishly long.
If thats happing its your bowing thats wrong. If you go to lessons your teacher should show you, before you start to play a note how to hold the fiddle right and the bow right thats what I do to anyone that comes to me for lessons. Make sure you have a shoulder rest as it is important. Try to get a player you know how they hold there fiddle, make sure your back is straight, fiddle held on front of you,N.B. bow nice and long (as long as it goes) shoulder-rest on. This should help GOOD LUCK!!
fiddling and sitting
fiddling and sitting
A fiddler friend asks:
I recently started playing at an Irish jam in my town, and everyone plays sitting down. I'm an okey-doke, intermediate fiddler, but I've always played standing up. When I try to sit down, my bow hits my right leg when I play the e string. Why isn't this happening to other fiddlers? Please don't laugh. I'm so frustrated. I'd really appreciate advice.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by 10thumbs
Re: fiddling and sitting
When I play sitting down, I sit on the edge of the chair and tuck my right leg back, which keeps it out of the way when playing on the e string. Another alternative is to sit with your knees close together, so that the right let is to the left of the bow when playing on the e string.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by Marklar
Re: fiddling and sitting
Make sure you keep your legs together - if you sit with them apart for all the world to see then your bound to hit your leg with your bow.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by bb
What do you hit if you play sitting on the porcelain throne?
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by dogmageek
Re: fiddling and sitting
I sit slightly side saddle and very upright on my chair and miss my leg. I've noticed quite a lot of other fiddlers with the knees tucked together and under their chair thing too.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by FiddleFancy
Re: fiddling and sitting
Your fiddle must be tilted down quite a lot, if you're hitting your leg. It should be just a little off being flat and pointing a little forward of your shoulder - get the playing position right and you shouldn't hit anything - except the annoying bodhran player, who you should make sure is sitting to your immediate left.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by ethical blend
Re: fiddling and sitting
"What do you hit if you play sitting on the porcelain throne?"
A leg is a leg, betrousered, beskirted or otherwise.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: fiddling and sitting
is better wiht so much advices???good luck
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by luna
Re: fiddling and sitting
I just always kind of lean over when playing the E when sitting (though usually I play standing or kneeling, of all things). Although, the bow-hitting-leg sound can be interesting at times...
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by Ben314
Re: fiddling and sitting
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/371
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: fiddling and sitting
Ah - my favourite tune name AND a good tune too!
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by FiddleFancy
Re: fiddling and sitting
I just about nearly always fiddle standing up. Sitting down, I feel too constrained.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: fiddling and sitting
My fiddling friend asks me to pass along thanks:
Thanks so much to everyone for the advice. The tucking the leg back thing seems to be helping. Otherwise, I am considering amputation.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by 10thumbs
Re: fiddling and sitting
I had this exact problem. I tried keeping the knees together and tucking my legs under the chair and also brought my fiddle futher round to the right, but it felt a bit awkward. I even tried twisting my torso to the right but that was clearly going to result in pain.
Then I discovered that sitting perched at the front of a chair with with my legs far apart, particularly my right leg splayed to the right, allowed me to bow freely with the bow coming down between my legs, which is nice.
I can now happily bow sitting down without feeling constantly distracted by the risk of hitting my leg with the added bonus that I look really elegant with my legs spread apart. Perhaps not a posture for you if you're a lady.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by samuelbarros
Re: fiddling and sitting
sounds like you may be playing with your fiddle too far angled to the left. if you sit (good posture, of course... and it helps if you're on a firm seat... the couches sometimes found in pubs aren't exactly firm), make sure the fiddle is angled about 45 degrees left of your neck with the bottom of the fiddle resting on your collar bone, you should miss your right leg on the E string... unless your upper arm is freakishly long.
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by pastrings
Re: fiddling and sitting
Well, at least you're not trying to fiddle with an uilleann pipe bellows under your right elbow. Count yoruself lucky.
Sorry, I know I'm being unhelpful.
# Posted on December 21st 2006 by seisflutes
Re: fiddling and sitting
:-]
# Posted on December 22nd 2006 by FiddleFancy
Re: fiddling and sitting
If thats happing its your bowing thats wrong. If you go to lessons your teacher should show you, before you start to play a note how to hold the fiddle right and the bow right thats what I do to anyone that comes to me for lessons. Make sure you have a shoulder rest as it is important. Try to get a player you know how they hold there fiddle, make sure your back is straight, fiddle held on front of you,N.B. bow nice and long (as long as it goes) shoulder-rest on. This should help GOOD LUCK!!
# Posted on December 24th 2006 by fiddler01