Irish Fiddling: Reels are a common type of Irish Fiddling. They work in 4/4 time (four beats per measure) and are composed of mostly eighth notes.
Hornpipes are similar to Reels but have a bouncy sound that you create by lengthening the first two sets of eighth notes. Hornpipes are very often used for dancing to.
Polkas have a slower tempo and go in 2/4 time (two beats per measure). most of the time they have fairly simple melodies.
Jigs are one of the oldest Fiddling styles and work in 6/8 time.Jigs are mostly played in pairs but also can be played with three or even four parts.
Slip Jigs are far less common than ordinary Jigs and use 9/8 time. They are used for graceful soft-shoe dances. These dances were normally preformed by women.
Slides are also common to Jigs but working in a quick 12/8 time. Slides have long melodic phrases that would not fit into the Jig's 6/8 time.
Slow Airs are partly taken from old-style Gaelic singing and focus more on tone and are not often used as dance tunes.
American Western Fiddling: This style of music is a hybrid of Jazz of the 1930's and 1940's of America and tunes of rural Texas. A very intriguing form of Fiddling.
