OK. The vast majority of reels, jigs, hornpipes and the like are in either the the key of G or D, because those are very convenient keys for fast fiddle playing using open strings. Most all of them are played by the fiddle in first position only, with frequent and intentional use of open strings. One would not play these types of songs in anything other than first position if one wants it to 1. sound authentic, 2. play the tune very fast as these songs usually are (particularly reels).

Look at the first measure of the 2nd part (A-E-A-C-A-E-A). This would be played on on the D and the A strings. One would never ever see a session player play any of those notes on the G string. If you want to learn celtic music, old time music or blue grass, learn to love the 1st position and stay there -- forever.

Here it is, notice how it's played.

And this one -- just because she makes such cute faces when she plays:

Yew said

I've been watching these videos for a while now, both, but never actually figured out the way they performed the reel. So you're advising me to play that sheet an octave higher e.g. on the D and A strings? As for the celtic/scottish/scandinavian music, I do have an immense affinity towards it. This fascination is what dragged me to invest in a violin and what gives me the mindset and dedication to learn. And what you stated as base rules for authentic fiddle playing, that's exactly what I'm striving to achieve, the ways of the folklore musicians, in other words - to play with your soul, so I'm open to tips 'n tricks for playing the fiddle, and I stress on fiddle, as for me, both instruments are next to identical, structuraly, though, what makes them different is the manner in which one interprets the music he plays, and the genre of the music itself. Sorry if I'm talking too much jibberish :P. My first instrument is the guitar, second the tinwhistle and now the violin and and am just getting into recording, a bit of a struggle at first, and can't wait to include the fiddle in a recording

The fiddle (double reed instruments aside) is among the most difficult instruments to learn, initially, and will take some time to gain the proficiency required to make pleasing sounds. As in turkey hunting, the fiddle requires the 3 P's to have a successful outcome: Practice, Patience and Perseverance. For Celtic music the first thing to learn is the G scale and the D scale in first position. These are all the notes you'll need for 90% of all the music you'll see on The Session. Practice them until you have perfect intonation for all of these notes, because they are the ones you need for most of these songs.