If you are looking for an instrument that is much more forgiving, thus easier to play, than a violin or a fiddle, consider a Renaissance Vielle or Renaissanace Fiddle. We are making both related instruments in both a 4 or 5-string treble version (tuned like a modern fiddle or 5-string fiddle: g, d, a, e or c (or d), g, d, a, e respectively) as well as a larger tenor version (tuned an octave lower than a modern fiddle or 5-string fiddle: G, D, A, E or C(or D), G, D, A, E respectively).
All of these instruments are more forgiving, frankly, because they are not as efficient as modern violins. The all look about the same (see the photo, which you can enlarge by clicking on it), the trebles being about size of a modern fiddle and the tenors about the size of a modern 16" viola. If you care at all about historical correctness, you will wan t to play them with a Baroque bow, which does not allow for all of the nuance that a modern Tourte bow affords (less opportunity for mistakes but also less opportunity to show off).
While looking the same externally, the vielles have a single bass bar placed between the bridge feet and NO sound post...so you can anticipate that early musical instrument raspy and nasal sound (which is beautiful for what it is!). The Renaissance Fiddle was a transitional instrument that is almost a violin. It has a bass bar under the bass side of the bridge and a sound post. Historically, the Renaissance fiddles have had frets; not the metal kind but rather similar to the frets on a viola d'gamba, of tied thin gut or imitation gut on reproductions. A good Renaissance Fiddle has a very nice sonority and, in the tenor form, is the ultimate octave or baritone fiddle. It has an extra level of forgiveness owing to the frets.
The Renaissance vielles and Renaissance Fiddles by Don Rickert Design are available at the Adventurous Muse Online Store.
