What's your new fiddle tune?

[Aline]

Can I ask what is the playing speed used by folks here?

[Jim Garber]

Can I ask what is the playing speed used by folks here?

I am not sure there is one speed to aim for. It depends on the tune, the character of the melody, the type of tune (reel, hornpipe, jig, waltz, mazurka,etc.) and whether the tune is used for accompanying dancers or just listening or whatever. It might also depend on whether I am playing with others or just by myself. Find what feels good to you.

[Simon DS]

Can I ask what is the playing speed used by folks here?

Fiddle tunes tend to be faster, maybe because the fiddle can be more easily played faster. But also the fingering favours the fiddle -hammer-ons with all the notes of one measure on one string etc. that’s a fiddle tune
As a general rule though, half the time you should be playing tunes with a metronome much too slowly… and with too much feeling.
And at least 2% of the time you should play way too fast, foot tapping, hammering along.
The rest of the time is up to you, but I’d try all tunes with different tempos and even different time signatures.

A lot of tunes, in the 'wrong' tempo or harmonic minor, natural minor or whatever sound GREAT!

[tmsweeney]

quarter note = 80 is a bit on the slow side
quarter note = 100 is medium
quarter note = 120 is medium-fast ( I would think most jams are between 100 and 120)
quarter note = 180 Tony Rice and or David Grisman before coffee
quarter note = 200+ = Dave Apollon

I would think for beginners q=60 might be slow but not a bad place to start

as Simon said it is worth while to try the metronome slow after you can play at medium speed, once you know the tune, go back and discover what you don't know about it by spending more time with each phrase and note.

[Don Grieser]

I spent the evening watching college basketball and learning Pretty Bird by Norman Blake, a fine tune in the fun key of F. Matt Flinner taught Jack Rabbit Trail by Butch Baldassari in the key of F and mentioned how it's such a great key on the mando. So when I found this tune in the key of F, I had to learn it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAooAOeKS1Y The mando break is in the middle of the tune.