An oldie but a goodie, Charsept. (And not entirely untrue.)

I think it was Darol Anger who said that a violinist is paid twice as much.

The violin burns with a bright BLUE flame...

A violin has strings, a fiddle has STRANGS.

the main difference is one is more fun the other :) although some might say the difference i just how its tuned. don't bother with this dichotomy. just get yourself a manjo (big banjo).

Love to get comments like this, @Justnotthisway. Just think where you might be a year from now if you stick with it. Every new fiddle tune you learn is a friend for life. Welcome to the fiddle family!

Wow, @trueconextionmusic7707, well observed and stated. It is remarkable how some fiddlers can make you re-consider the way you think or feel about a tune.

@aryeh-xw7mi, if you're like me, when I revisit the videos on this channel, I hear always hear things I didn't catch before. New licks and new notes all the time. Which is what makes fiddling such an amazing art form.

@@joyoffiddling Yes, it's an amazing art form and she's a master.

Great session of musicians in a whole,love it❤

On a right-handed fiddle, no less.

Messes with your head just a lil' bit, doesn't it Leonard?

Yeah.. im a little left ,but i could not play it southpaw.. so i got stuck bowin with my right.. still cant play anywhere near that well.. think im gonna use my fiddlebas fire wood.. ha...

Dang.... she is...

like jimmy hendrix!

Shows what ya'll know. All fiddles are left-hand instruments - it's how to tell the difference 'tween a violin (a right hand instrument) and a true fiddle.

Feel free to indulge yourself, @richmonk508. Joy of Fiddling is open 24/7 365.

Welcome to the fiddle family @Katrina Wishinski! One of the stated goals of the Joy of Fiddling channel is to inspire, so, very glad you found us. Intimidation is a perfectly natural emotion for anyone who is trying out anything new… especially so if that new thing is learning an instrument. Do not be discouraged. Countless musicians have been where are you are now and if the music was in their heart and soul they simply found a way to persevere, go forward, put in the work, and gradually over time came to know the joy of what it means to play music. You are not the first person who started out playing violin and then fell in love with fiddling. It is true that the differences of style and technique between violin and fiddle are considerable. But do not think of your violinist background as a liability to be coming a fiddler. The two worlds are not mutually exclusive. And while "Arkansas Traveler" is not the easiest tune to start out on as a beginner, it is a quintessential fiddle tune and one that you will play throughout your lifetime.

Good for you! I started fiddling Aton my thirty’s which I found very difficult but worked really hard and took lessons from some great players and it is finally paying off. I’m 67 now and I’m having more fun than ever . It’s a life’s work.

Welcome to the fiddle family @Shaboynga! Glad you found the Joy of Fiddling channel. It's always good to hear that folks find inspiration in the videos. I think you will find a lot on this channel to help keep the creative musical juices flowing.

Hello how are you doing

Great, how about you?

Is the instruments interior a rebuilt mirror image of a right handed one?

@@philnewton4844 I don't think so. It's strung right handed.

Glad you found the Joy of Fiddling, Jeffrey, and you are most welcome.

Ashamed to admit, Greg, that I had to Google your reference to Elizabeth Cotton. Now that I know better, I would say your comment was mighty high praise, indeed.

Welcome to the club, @eldelacajita! A lot of us feel the same.😁

This version and the version by the 2nd South Carolina String Band are both amazing. Give the latter a listen, too.

Here sir

Here lol

@You Tube Yes I didnt expect that XD

Yes

aye

hey @Happy Carl Johnson. Quite a few gamers have stopped by this video actually.

Im

Love to hear that, @B Peake! We encourage any and all musicians to feel free to pick, pluck, or pound along with these jam sessions.

@eliastoukka, that was one of the coolest comments this channel has ever gotten. Small world. Thank you for taking the time to share that.

@@joyoffiddling Haha no problem, this tune is very popular over here :D

@Shade Tree Mech, while I cannot confirm or deny that any moon shine was passed around at this jam session, I can say the moon was definitely shining that night in Weiser, Idaho and there were a few light beers within reach.😉

Glad you noticed, Jimmy. One of the goals of this channel is to capture and document the spontaneous joy experienced when we play this music with our friends. There's a lot of that on the Joy of Fiddling channel.

You're most welcome, Jeffrey. Glad you found the Joy of Fiddling channel.

Thanks, @FrankCo Penn Bluegrass. Glad you found us!

Don't you worry about those pickers, @Iva Inez Harris...they're all having a ball.

@Melissa Grace Atteberry, I am always fascinated with the multitude of ways and reasons folks stumble across this channel, and yours is definitely one of the most interesting. Thank you for sharing.

That’s what brought me here too 🥰

@@ashleysovilla2037 Love it!

@@ashleysovilla2037 Love it!

Me too I’m at the part where Grandma is jigging! 🇨🇦

I believe that fiddle tunes are a lot like piñata's": if you keep whacking on them... sooner or later... candy will fall out. Some tunes are more conducive than others, but there's no doubt in my mind that a classic tune like "Arkansas Traveler" is one that will reward anyone who spends time with it. I think it is a tune that can reveal itself to you in new, interesting, and surprising ways all the time. So, Daniel, I say go for it.

Dancers always welcome, @PickingGaz1972.

Come back anytime, Tom. We're always open.

My pleasure, Ed. Stop by anytime.

O yeah pj explain

@@ayushmansingh4135 🤣

Thanks, @Eltamir. The more you know!🌈⭐

Well, Bev, I appreciate the fact you name check the whole group of musicians, as any fiddler will tell you that good or bad back-up pickers can help make or break a fiddler's performance. May I be one of the first to welcome you to the fiddle (violin) family and encourage you to follow up and learn "Arkansas Traveler". Arguably, one of the most famous fiddle tunes ever and one definitely worth knowing.

Joy of Fiddling Hi Again! Thanks for welcoming me and I must say that the fiddle is very fun to play! The lessons are going really well so far! I've already learned my first fiddle tune too. It's a simplified version of a tune called the hundred papers (It's Scottish). Also the fiddle is definitely harder than it looks, but I'll keep going, even though adding a second instrument into the mix might make it a bit hard (I'm going to learn the Chinese erhu too) anyway can't wait for your next Video !

As an announcer at a Texas fiddle contest used to say: "Ain't it good to ya'?"

Greetings and salutations to North Scotland! Honored to hear from you. As you no doubt already know, a countless number of tunes we Americans play here came over from your side of the world long ago.

It's an old tune some call it bringing home a baby bumblebee wont my mommy be so proud of me . I love Cape breton fiddle style

Hey there, Bryan. Not sure if you talking about all the videos on the Joy of Fiddling channel or specifically Katrina's, but either way, we love, love to hear it. You are the reason these videos are being made.

Joy of Fiddling I just love your channel. Ive been playing fiddle a year now after years of playing guitar. Its great listening and watching. Thanks alot

Well in that case, may I welcome you to the fiddle family! Not easy to switch to a new instrument. You have my respect and encouragement. One of my goals for this channel is to inspire so I am gratified these videos strike a chord with you. Come back and visit anytime.

Howdy Dark Starla. Not sure what the "recommended speed" for any fiddle tune would be...I believe how slow or fast a tune is played is up to the individual musician in the moment. I've heard lightening quick takes on "Sally Goodin" that were amazing but one of my all time favorite versions clocks in at around 100 on the metronome, which some folks might consider to be a snail's pace for that particular tune. I say, let the tune tell you how it wants to be played. If it says "Fast!" and you can pick it with clarity, intonation, timing, and taste, then go for it. And yes, I agree, there's good reason why "Arkansas Traveler" is such a well known composition. It's a classic number that has stood the test of time.

Hey @Dennis Adams. Your father was very unique amongst musicians. His instrument sounds beautiful. I sincerely hope someone rescues it from that attic. Fiddles are meant to be played and enjoyed.

Likewise, Glenn. They are special.

Easy not to notice, Paul, unless one is paying close attention. Katrina decided on her own at a very early age that this was how she was going to play her fiddle.

@@joyoffiddling It's like a left handed guitarist playing a right handed guitar upside down. If you flipped it the other way, they could play it normally. I've also noticed she doesn't use a chin rest, very impressive. I could take her fiddle and play it right handed.

I was reading other comments and I'm not the only one who noticed, sorry.

No worries,@@NHfiddle. There's a lot of comments here to get through.

@@joyoffiddling Not to blow my own horn, I've been playing "fiddle" for close to 42 years. I've had no formal violin training, just my best friend's father showing me the basic fundamentals of playing the violin(deceased in 1989). He hated fiddle style stuff, used to call it the "town and country" style of violin, wouldn't call it a fiddle, very snobby. But I learned by listening to audio tapes and figured it out myself. Love to pick it up and rip a version of OBS and wow the crowds.,

You are most welcome, Bill. Appreciate your note. I hope you will find a lot of eye/ear candy to chew on here on the Joy of Fiddling channel. We're all entitled to have a "lost day" every now and then and certainly music is a pretty good thing to get lost in.

@Leaf Forever, I think the Jimi Hendrix analogy is apropos and I'm sure Katrina would take it as a compliment.

@@joyoffiddling An absolute compliment. She is fabulous. All the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

@@joyoffiddling Bobby Slone, who played fiddle with JD Crowe & The New South, played the same way as Katrina. Left handed on a right hand strung fiddle. I'm still amazed how she can do it with such skill. What a talent...

My pleasure, BJ. Glad you found it.

whats with them saying "yeeeeaaaahhh!"

Hello, "Hi". Your question is a good one to ask for anyone who has never experienced a fiddle jam session like this one in person. Basically, when you hear someone say "Yeah!" at jam session, it just means they've heard something that they liked and that's their spontaneous expression of appreciation. It's a compliment. Variations on that theme could also be "Hell, yeah!", "Whoo!", "I hear ya'!", etc. If a fiddler does a particularly noteworthy lick or phrase you might hear what someone say... "Do that again!" With this video in particular, the two gentlemen saying "Yeah" the most are Matthew and Scott. Both of them monster pickers and accomplished fiddlers in their own right. The tune "Arkansas Traveler" has been around since the 1800's and has got to be in the running for one of the most played fiddle tunes of all-time. So, after all the millions of occasions that this tune has been performed, when a fiddler is able to do something new, fresh, and unique with it...or slip in some tasty licks that may never have been done before, it's cause for a "Yeah!" So, when you hear "Yeahs" in this or any of the other videos on this channel, it's because someone is acknowledging the fiddler has pulled some musical rabbits out of his or her hat.

Wow alright :)

Well spoken, WS.

Welcome to the fiddle family, @fateindustry! Learning a new way of drawing horse hair across strings will be a challenge, but if you keep at it you will have a very satisfying journey before you.

Well, Sarah, you are in good company.

Hey Josefa! Always glad to hear from young folks who appreciate old time string music. For the record though, the musical style in this particular video would not really be considered "Bluegrass" but rather an evolution of Old-time fiddling: More specifically, some would call it "Texas style", "progressive style", or "contest style" fiddling. Although, most certainly "Arkansas Traveler" is a tune that has been performed and recorded by Bluegrass musicians. Not an easy thing to explain in depth in a few sentences here in a comments section, but if you expose yourself to several examples of Old-time fiddling and Bluegrass, the major differences in style will begin to reveal themselves to you, especially in the traditional instruments that are used. You will see a lot more banjo and mandolin as well as fiddle, guitar, and bass in Bluegrass. And you're not likely to see many, if any, tenor guitars in a Bluegrass band. (There are two tenors being played by Jesse and Matthew in this video with Katrina.) Having said that, "The Unclouded Day" is a beautiful song and many of my fiddle friends are big gospel Bluegrass fans. I promise to keep my ear to the ground for you in case any of them play a good version of it. Thanks for stopping by, J.T.!

Wow!!! Well explained!!!! :)

Subscribe to my KZfaq channel, we'll be recording some music each week!

She lives in idaho, I actually have seen her and her father play at this local music outing in idaho, nampa

She also enjoys teaching violeners now

Join the club, @Dan Harville! Most of us can't play like Katrina.😬 But that's ok. You don't have to in order to experience the Joy of Fiddling. And Katrina put it a whole lot of time and work in the woodshed to make it look this easy.

No offense taken, Rhayne. When you have a classic, well known tune like "Arkansas Traveler", there are bound to be other melodies floating around out there that may sound similar.

I love the cheers and vocal supports and whoops from the other listeners and players...this is as close to the sheer joy and party spirit and spontaneity you get in Irish and Scottish céilidh and sessions. Very similar styles to Irish and scottish styles with more than a touch of jazzzzzz! I love the variations and improvisations in the turns of the tune.

Well said, MrRicmarc. Texas style fiddling pioneer Benny Thomasson described this style of fiddling as being like "a spider weaving a web around the tune." But your analogy is just as apropos.

(P.S. I'm a fiddler who also happens to be a long time dubstep fan.)

Solid

yeah, @Mountain Man, once rosin dust gets into your blood stream, yer in for the long haul.

@2gendersfacts, I do hope you will be able to find some folks to play with...there's nothing like it. But, in a pinch, there's no shame in playing along with backing tracks or even these videos, if you've got a mind to.

@@joyoffiddling i play with backing tracks almost every day after i get my practice and exercises in. love it!

@June1708, the Joy of Fiddling channel owes a tip of the hat to "Pa" Ingalls, as he's sent more than a few people to this video of Katrina playing the tune.😁

They've got a pretty wicked groove going on this tune, don't they Joshua? Every single musician you see in this video...Katrina, Jesse, Matthew, Anne, and Scott...have devoted themselves to this music for most of their lives. They have known each other and jammed together countless times over many, many, years...some of them since they were kids. There is a deep love and mutual admiration between them. I think you can hear that profound connection to the music and to each other in these videos.

+Joy of Fiddling indeed. really remarkable!

+Joy of Fiddling I hope and pray I can get to this level of play at some point in my life, kinda started late (17 y/o) but I am really determined!

You're not as much of a late bloomer as you might think, Joshua. Plenty of folks found fiddling much later in life than you and it has become one of their greatest joys. My mom once had a student named Ruth who was in her 80s. Ruth never went on to play concerts at the Grand Ole Opry or win national recognition, but she always had a ton of fun at fiddling conventions and jam sessions. She cultivated relationships with individuals who enriched her life that she would never have met had she not picked up a fiddle. And while it is important to set personal goals and wonderful to have musical heroes to aspire to, try not to let playing at someone else's level be your main objective. Playing the music that you love with the people that you love will be one of the greatest rewards you could ever hope to achieve. And it can reward you continuously throughout your entire life. And I'm sure I don't need to tell you that hope and prayer are important but it's the practice that will pay you the musical dividends you desire. The time that you put into your instrument is like money you put in the bank. Invest well.

+Joy of Fiddling Very wise words. Thank you my friend!

Glad you found us, @Kenney Chalifoux. Banjo pickers always welcome!

​@@joyoffiddlingThanks! I'm also a beginning Metis fiddler so I made sure to subscribe!

Welcome to the fiddle family@@KenneyCmusic! Getting some good Metis fiddle jam videos on this channel are not likely just around the corner, but, it's definitely on my bucket list.

@@joyoffiddling Woo! Can't wait! You should do Red River Jig or Riels Reel!

You got it, @@KenneyCmusic. Putting them on the list. For what it's worth, the reason I took a deeper dive on Metis style fiddling is because of a video featured on this channel of Calvin Vollrath playing a medley of four tunes, all of which I was familiar with except for one..."Surveyor's Reel" composed by Metis fiddler legend Andy de Jarlis. The melody grabbed me immediately. I learned and now play the tune at jams. So, if you haven't seen that video yet, consider checking it out in the meantime, while I figure out when and how I'm gonna' get up to Canada.😬

Yeah, Mel, I've gotten a handful of those "rosin critiques" and found it a bit perplexing that that was the only take away some folks had after watching any of Katrina's "Camp Sumner" videos. To each, their own, I reckon. One thing for certain, if you see rosin on a fiddle, that fiddle is getting played.

@@joyoffiddling But doesn't sound as good as it could.

Mark, that is one of the best fiddle related memories that has ever been told on this channel. Thanks for sharing it. I have always felt that some of the greatest aspects of this music and our fiddling and picking culture are the stories and history and the characters that inhabit them.

@@joyoffiddling As a teenager, I played the fiddle and once I was at bluegrass festival in Stuart, Va and came across a man sitting by his van in the shady playing a guitar. I spoke to the gentleman and we decided to Jam. It was just me and him playing there for a few minute then I notice a crowed started to form around us. The crowd got rather sizable and after an hour I just moved on. It was a few years later that I realized the guitar picker was a man by the name of Doc Watson. I did get to live the Childhood fancy for 3 minutes. At 14, my Uncle was a festival promoter and I was at his festival and he sent for me to come to the stage. I get to the stage and he pushed me and my fiddle out on stage. Right before me stood the tallest man I had ever seen and Mr. Monroe said, "Son, What are you going to play? I summed up all of my courage and said "Goldrush". Mr. Monroe said that's a good one and Kenny why don't you back him up...and for 3 minutes I was a Bluegrass Boy...after I finished Mr. Monroe said, "Kenny, I think he's after your job.

Two more great stories,@@markcox7497. I imagine that not knowing as a young man that you were jamming with the great Doc Watson, allowed you to approach him in the first place and play with him without feeling intimidated. From what I've heard, Doc was a modest and unassuming man and would not have felt the need to name drop himself to you in those moments. As for performing with Bill and Kenny....wow. Your uncle gave you a gift for a life time. Appreciate you sharing.

She sho'nuff did.

Here's wishing you well on that journey, Jeanne. Incredible things can be accomplished with practice, patience, and passion.