Learn To Play

Fiddler and teacher Sarah Nagell has written the series of articles below on learning the hardingfele. These articles first appeared in Sound Post Vols. 24 and 25 under the title "Sarah's Tips". HFAA thanks Sarah for her permission to use these informative guides. Additionally, Loretta Kelley has provided an article on changing strings from Sound Post Vol. 29 No. 1.

• Beginning to Tune

• Position and Hold

• Learning from Recordings

• Group Session Etiquette

• Changing Strings

Hardanger fiddle tunes are traditionally learned and taught by ear as explained in the above articles. However, in order to give eager fiddlers a chance to begin to learn a relatively simple fiddle tune, a transcription is attached below as a pdf. It is a bridal march from Vang (in the Valdres region and tradition) reprinted with permission by Bernt Balchen Jr. from his book "Bernt Balchen’s Course for Beginners in Hardanger Fiddle" available from our merchandise sales. Students are encouraged to listen to the tune as well to acquire style. The recording below is of Norwegian-Canadian Laura Ellestad. Please keep in mind that the transcription is an approximation of a living musical tradition, so not every nuance or note will necessarily be the same.