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The bass is tuned to the same notes (down an octave) as the lower four guitar strings... any guitar chart will work, just ignore the two highest pitched strings.

My fiddle is fairly old, and "well loved" by its former owners... there is no finish to speak of on the neck, except for the skin oils it has soaked up over the years. Quite smooth, and feels good to the touch.

Finding the pitches with my left hand came quickly, but I never mastered the art of the bow (and have since moved on to other instruments!). I have a feeling that is the downfall of many potential fiddlers... having an experienced teacher would be helpful when it comes to handling the bow.

Welcome! I really can't do any better than Mr. Harding has:

Nice sentiment, and certainly the feeling that I take away from my visits here.

Dunlop Tortex, I love the finish and feel. I play Uke, so I'm using a bit thinner gauge than most of you!

On beauty: "They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's a matter of taste. They say beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes way down to the bone. They say a picture  is worth a thousand words. And Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships. There are exotic  beauties. Hidden gems. Diamonds in the rough. The crown jewel. There are beauty queens. Ugly ducklings. Acquired tastes. Late-bloomers. Classic beauties. There are looks that kill.  Looks to die for. Looks that turn heads and looks that stop traffic. But looks aren't  everything. You can't judge a book by its cover. Cuz the prettier the face the dumber the  head. But could be, they're more than just a pretty face. For beauty comes in all shapes  and forms. And it's what's on the inside that really matters. For a thing of beauty is a  joy forever. But remember: The star that burns brightest burns briefest. And every rose has its thorn."
-T. Ishida

It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.
-- Henry David Thoreau, "Where I Live"

I know a few guitar players who don't trim them but coil the strings into loops about 2-3" across and wind them around themselves as you coil - keeps them under control, and eliminates putting your eye out.

I do the same thing with my uke, because I had a string break once at the bridge. I can just re-knot and pull enough string out of the coil to let me hook back up and keep playing.

We have a dog, Max, just over two years old near as we can figure. Two cats (one indoor, one out) and 6 hermit crabs. All "rescue pets". I've had dogs and cats my entire life, can't imagine NOT having a furry friend of some kind around.

Mekidsmom; time, love and patience for the dog. Hopefully the pup will begin to de-stress in the new atmosphere, but in the meantime make sure she is monitored closely when the kids are around her. Start click-training, it can really give you control and let you shape her behavior if you stick with it. Good Luck! Always nice to hear about a pet moving from a bad to a good environment.

Yes, Thanks for the laugh!

Just to add a couple to the lists already here (which hit most of my favs):

Tonight I'll be staying here with you

I shall be released

Theory is not so strict as we all might think. It is simply a way to describe what we are doing musically in a common language.

How do we get away from a "strict" key? You can modulate (essentially changing keys) within a song, and you can also borrow related chords into your progression.

In the Beatles' I Feel Fine (key of G), The chorus runs G - Bm - C - D on the first line, and G-Bm - Am - D on the second. Since the Am is the relative minor of C, we say the chord is borrowed.

In Cry Baby Cry, the verse runs down as Em - EmM7 - Em7 - Em6 and lands on C7. That C7 (which we have all head a million times) will never sound so "twangy" to your ear as it does coming at the end of that Em run, falling off the C# in the Em6. (Try substituting a C#°7 for the Em6... same notes: E-G-B-C#. )

Great story, MKM!

I can relate to that comment... my daughter is 7, and while she does plunk around occasionally (she can finger two chords, but it takes her a minute to get her fingers in place), she has yet to really get the bug. Patience...