What is Western Swing Fiddling?
Western swing fiddling is the jazzy, improvisational style which originated in the 1930s with Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies and Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. But the traditional breakdown style of fiddle playing that preceded those bands captured a bit of the jazzy feel. In fact, Texas breakdown fiddlers eventually became known for a “long bow” technique in which they played in one smooth, bluesy motion rather than the more typical, rhythmic style of tapping the bow against the strings. The Depression spawned swing, as Americans attempted to dance away their woes. Such jazz violinists as Joe Venuti and Stuff Smith led the way. In Texas, which was becoming increasingly urbanized, the style was adapted by “hot” fiddlers. They played what was called “hokum,” or jazz, in which the fiddler took off on solo flights that abandoned a song’s melody in order to embellish it. Though this was a departure from the traditional music they heard growing up, these men still played within th
