What is a fiddle?

A fiddle is a stringed instrument in the violin family, generally played with a bow. It's essentially the same instrument as a violin, but the term "fiddle" is often used to refer to the instrument when it's played in folk music traditions such as bluegrass, country, Celtic music, and others.

While the instrument itself is generally the same, the style of playing, tuning, and repertoire differ significantly. Fiddle tunes are often dance tunes, jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Fiddlers might use different types of bowing techniques that are unique to the specific genre. Some common fiddle tunings differ from standard violin tuning (G-D-A-E), offering different resonances and tonal qualities.