What is more difficult to learn, the mandolin or the fiddle?
I have a fairly solid musical background and have played a couple different instruments in many different bands. I have currently been playing bluegrass and country. I am thinking about learning a new instrument and was wondering if the mandolin or the fiddle were difficult to learn to play. Also, how do they compare to the guitar.
Both are difficult, but I’ve found that guitar is a little easier than either. Between the two, fiddle is definitely harder than mandolin.
On mando you have frets, but you have 8 strings(2 per open note) that you have to hit. I found that to be the most difficult thing(and tuning the strings to perfect unison can suck).
Fiddle, though, is hard. No frets, and it’s a major lead instrument, so if you’re going to perform, you’d better be good.
I’m not going to reccomend which I think you should try… Not my place to say. But good luck!
Both are difficult, but I’ve found that guitar is a little easier than either. Between the two, fiddle is definitely harder than mandolin.
On mando you have frets, but you have 8 strings(2 per open note) that you have to hit. I found that to be the most difficult thing(and tuning the strings to perfect unison can suck).
Fiddle, though, is hard. No frets, and it’s a major lead instrument, so if you’re going to perform, you’d better be good.
I’m not going to reccomend which I think you should try… Not my place to say. But good luck!
References :
I’m a professional musician
Both instruments are tuned the same way :
DGAE (looking from left to right).
The mandolin strings are "courses" or "sets" so that you have 8 strings – two strings placed close together for each note.
Blugrass mandolin players use a "pick" to play.
The violin have four single strings and is played with a bow.
not an "easy" task to learn well.
The standard guitar (6 strings) is tuned
E-A-D-G-B-E (looking from left to right)
If you know the guitar fret board well you won’t have any problems with the mandolin fret board,
except that they are in REVERSE order looking from left to right :
GDAE in mandolins vs ADGE in guitars
(not using the lowE and B strings in the guitars).
The violin does not have a fret board but with
practice you will "feel" where the "notes" are.
Bow work is one of the most demanding part of
playing the violin but again practice will help you improve your playing.
Other things "being equal" in quality of material a good violin will cost more than a good mandolin.
References :
Friends that play both instruments.