Okay, the idea of a fiddle capo has popped up in passing on a few previous discussions. While there really is no desparate need for such a device, I have discovered a way of 'capoing' a fiddle to play compatibly with highland pipes - ie, bringing your fiddle a semitone up.
The way of achieving this is by using one of those large, plastic-coated wire ties used to bind up the power cords of electrical appliances when you take them out out of the box. Straighten it out and slide it under the strings near the bridge, then slide it up the fingerboard until it reaches under the Bb position on the A string, and subsequently all strings are raised by a semitone. The downward pressure of the strings holds the tie firmly, although this depends on how high the string action on your fiddle is.
Then just play as normal, although the finger spacing is slightly closer and the distance between strings feel slightly wider apart - shouldn't take too long to get used to though. Simply slide the tie back out again the same way it came, and hey presto, you're back in regular tuning. I've found that this works very, very well indeed, keeps correct tuning, and allows a very quick way of switching keys without retuning or transposing. On the downside, it looks uglier than a dingo on a campfire.
Somebody try this 'capo' out - am I onto something here? Also, watch out that the plastic on the wire doesn't wear away - bare wire on your strings will be lethal.
I think that we so much time trying to learn how to play fiddle without any "tricks" that the concept of a Capo seems foreign to me. In my humble opinion, I don't think I would teach my son or any beginners to use a Capo. It seems to me that once you put the Capo on, you are stuck until the end of the set. It limits your key switching. Your fingers would have to relearn. When I sight read a piece of music, my fingers automatically know which way to reach. Bring on a session and the whole concept becomes downright painful. It's too much for me.
That's my fiddling perspective. Sorry to throw a wet blanket all over your great idea. A mobile bridge - who woulda thought.
Well I think that if it works - you're a genius! Fiddles
are a pain to tune up (specially when the damn strings break), and there's so many recordings around tuned up a semitone, and of course, the occasional box player who will insist on playing in Eb... I assume these plastic coated ties are the
type you sometimes get on loaves of bread - seems
like it would be too small from memory but I'll give
it a go as soon as I get home.
Bandjalong, I know what you mean about the bread ties - you're on the right track but I wouldn't use them, they're too thin to work properly, the ones used to gather up power cords are much beefier and will last longer.
As for Mark's comments, I do agree that a capo in a session situation is not a good idea - a capo should never be a substitute for good technique. The intention of my capo 'invention/discovery' was merely to facilitate easier playing of tune sets with highland pipers, as I have recently had the need to do.
Once again, I stress that any capo-type device for a fiddle should never be a substitute for good technique. Them highland pipers are a worry though...
Out of curiousity, how much of a market do you fiddlers think there is for an actual, purchaseable fiddle capo and how much do you think such a product should/ could sell for? The reason I ask is that I have an idea for such a product that, if there's enough demand, I'm going to submit for a patent.
Of couse, as Dargs has mentioned, this is not a device to be used as a substitute for technique, but more as a convenience to players who play sets with pipers, horns and singers who like odd keys who don't want to carry a second fiddle tuned up or down a step. All feedback is welcome.
I should add that this design wouldn't have to be fiddle-exclusive, but could translate to any fretless instrument ie. viola, cello, bass, oud, banjo, etc. Plus would NOT mark your neck or fingerboard at all.
Do you have any working models of your capo? You've tested it on several instruments? If so, then I say give the patent thing a whirl and see what comes of it. If I played with pipes and the whatnot regularly I might be more interested, as it is my curiosity is definitely piqued.
Right now it's in the blueprint stage, as the concept gelled in my mind whilst in the midst of a 3-tour I'll be returning from in December. The key is going to be finding suitable materials to make prototypes out of.
There'll have to be different models for different instruments obviously to compensate for the differences in fingerboard radii and widths.
And just for the record, fretless banjo is generally only found in old-thyme apalachian music, so I can't blame you for not knowing. I don't know any tenor players that masochistic.
Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Okay, the idea of a fiddle capo has popped up in passing on a few previous discussions. While there really is no desparate need for such a device, I have discovered a way of 'capoing' a fiddle to play compatibly with highland pipes - ie, bringing your fiddle a semitone up.
The way of achieving this is by using one of those large, plastic-coated wire ties used to bind up the power cords of electrical appliances when you take them out out of the box. Straighten it out and slide it under the strings near the bridge, then slide it up the fingerboard until it reaches under the Bb position on the A string, and subsequently all strings are raised by a semitone. The downward pressure of the strings holds the tie firmly, although this depends on how high the string action on your fiddle is.
Then just play as normal, although the finger spacing is slightly closer and the distance between strings feel slightly wider apart - shouldn't take too long to get used to though. Simply slide the tie back out again the same way it came, and hey presto, you're back in regular tuning. I've found that this works very, very well indeed, keeps correct tuning, and allows a very quick way of switching keys without retuning or transposing. On the downside, it looks uglier than a dingo on a campfire.
Somebody try this 'capo' out - am I onto something here? Also, watch out that the plastic on the wire doesn't wear away - bare wire on your strings will be lethal.
Let me know what you think...
peace, dargs
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by dargs
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Very Clever Dargs.
I think that we so much time trying to learn how to play fiddle without any "tricks" that the concept of a Capo seems foreign to me. In my humble opinion, I don't think I would teach my son or any beginners to use a Capo. It seems to me that once you put the Capo on, you are stuck until the end of the set. It limits your key switching. Your fingers would have to relearn. When I sight read a piece of music, my fingers automatically know which way to reach. Bring on a session and the whole concept becomes downright painful. It's too much for me.
That's my fiddling perspective. Sorry to throw a wet blanket all over your great idea. A mobile bridge - who woulda thought.
Mark
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Well I think that if it works - you're a genius! Fiddles
are a pain to tune up (specially when the damn strings break), and there's so many recordings around tuned up a semitone, and of course, the occasional box player who will insist on playing in Eb... I assume these plastic coated ties are the
type you sometimes get on loaves of bread - seems
like it would be too small from memory but I'll give
it a go as soon as I get home.
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by bandjalong
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Bandjalong, I know what you mean about the bread ties - you're on the right track but I wouldn't use them, they're too thin to work properly, the ones used to gather up power cords are much beefier and will last longer.
As for Mark's comments, I do agree that a capo in a session situation is not a good idea - a capo should never be a substitute for good technique. The intention of my capo 'invention/discovery' was merely to facilitate easier playing of tune sets with highland pipers, as I have recently had the need to do.
Once again, I stress that any capo-type device for a fiddle should never be a substitute for good technique. Them highland pipers are a worry though...
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by dargs
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Out of curiousity, how much of a market do you fiddlers think there is for an actual, purchaseable fiddle capo and how much do you think such a product should/ could sell for? The reason I ask is that I have an idea for such a product that, if there's enough demand, I'm going to submit for a patent.
Of couse, as Dargs has mentioned, this is not a device to be used as a substitute for technique, but more as a convenience to players who play sets with pipers, horns and singers who like odd keys who don't want to carry a second fiddle tuned up or down a step. All feedback is welcome.
# Posted on October 11th 2005 by downtowndalebrown
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
I should add that this design wouldn't have to be fiddle-exclusive, but could translate to any fretless instrument ie. viola, cello, bass, oud, banjo, etc. Plus would NOT mark your neck or fingerboard at all.
# Posted on October 11th 2005 by downtowndalebrown
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
A banjo has frets. Just thought you should know.
Do you have any working models of your capo? You've tested it on several instruments? If so, then I say give the patent thing a whirl and see what comes of it. If I played with pipes and the whatnot regularly I might be more interested, as it is my curiosity is definitely piqued.
# Posted on October 11th 2005 by musicfan
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
"A banjo has frets. Just thought you should know."
Except for the aptly named fretless banjo.
# Posted on October 11th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Right now it's in the blueprint stage, as the concept gelled in my mind whilst in the midst of a 3-tour I'll be returning from in December. The key is going to be finding suitable materials to make prototypes out of.
There'll have to be different models for different instruments obviously to compensate for the differences in fingerboard radii and widths.
And just for the record, fretless banjo is generally only found in old-thyme apalachian music, so I can't blame you for not knowing. I don't know any tenor players that masochistic.
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by downtowndalebrown
Re: Fiddle Capo - The 'Final Solution'?
Aye, I've an old 6 string banjo which is fretless, but it has lines marked across the fingerboard, where the frets should be.
I read somewhere that the 6 string banjo was an English phenomenon, would that be right?
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Ptarmigan