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The Shetland Fiddler reel

Also known as The Shetland Fiddlers.

There are 37 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The Shetland Fiddler appears in 1 other tune collection.

The Shetland Fiddler has been added to 56 tune sets.

The Shetland Fiddler has been added to 343 tunebooks.

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Three settings

1
X: 1
T: The Shetland Fiddler
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:AB|d2fd Adfe|defg afdf|e2 ge Bege|cdef gece|
d2fd Adfe|defg afdf|(3fga fd (3fga fd|Bgec d2:|
|:cd|eAfA gAaA|eaaf gfed|AeBe cede|efed cABc|
dAeA fAgA|eaaf gfed|(3fga fd (3fga fd|Bgec d2:|
2
X: 2
T: The Shetland Fiddler
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:A|d2 fd A2 fe|defg afdf|e2 ge B2 ed|cdef gece|
d2 fd A2 fe|defg afdg|fafd fafd|Bgec d2:|
|:eAfA gA f2|faaf gfed|cAeA fA e2|efed cABc|
dAeA fA g2|faaf gfed|fafd fafd|Bgec d2:|
# Added by JACKB .
3
X: 3
T: The Shetland Fiddler
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:AB|d2fd A2fe|defg afdf|e2 ge B2ed|cdef gece|
d2fd A2fe|defg afdf|(3fga fd fafd|Bgec d2:|
|:cd|eAfA gAaA|faaf gfed|AaBa cada|efed cABc|
dAeA fAgA|faaf gfed|fafd (3fga fd|Bgec d2:|

Eight comments

The title would suggest that this tune is Scottish, but it sounds like it’s from Donegal to me.

This is one of those “high” sounding reels. It goes well with tunes like Dinkey’s.

In the last phrase, of both parts, I’ve written in triplets. Now, normally I don’t write ornamentation in the basic tune transcription, but I have yet to hear this tune played without those triplets. The ornamention is, effectively, a permanent part of the tune.

If the constant crossbowing/crosspicking in the last part is too much, try just playing single notes.

The Shetland Fiddler (reel)

This is a pipe version of an old hornpipe called “The Hawk”, composed by Scots-born but Gateshead-lived fiddler James Hill.

AKA Doughie McFay’s

See Irish Session Tunes - The Blue Book. Ossian (2003) p.8 number 3.1

The Shetland Fiddler

I know this by heart, but the version I learnt was played by a Scottish dance band in the 60’s more slowly and without the triplets.

I also heard it played by Bobby Crowe in the old Cupar(Fife) accordeon and fiddle clup around 1983. He alsow did not play it fast and played without the triplets.

Without the triplets it sounds more Shetland than Irish, I think!

JD

As I have it;

X: 1
T: The Shetland Fiddler
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:AB|d2fd A2fe|defg afdf|e2 ge B2ed|c2ef gece|
d2fd A2fe| defg afdf|(3fga fd fafd|Bgec d2:|
|:cd|eAfA gAaA|eaaf gfed|AaBa cada|efed cABc|
dAeA fAgA|eaaf gfed|fafd (3fga fd|Bgec d2:|

Re: The Shetland Fiddler

A fun little song to play, regardless of its origins… Without or without the triplets, it’s fun either way, but I think the triplets throw a little extra spice into the tune. Thanks so much for taking the time to post it!!