The words fiddle and violin are two names for the same stringed instrument— fiddle is just an informal way of referring to the violin. In the context of classical music, it’s typically called a violin. In a bluegrass band, it’s more likely to be called a fiddle.

The answer is a surprising “no.” A violin and a fiddle are the same four-stringed instrument, generally played with a bow, strummed, or plucked. They are identical in their physical appearance. What distinguishes a violin from a fiddle is the style of music that is played on the instrument; it’s all in how you play it.

The most common answer is that it’s the same instrument, but used in different music styles. The violin is used for classical music and jazz and the fiddle for folk, country and bluegrass. However, there are plenty of classical musicians who call their instrument ‘fiddle’. According to musicologists the violin is a type of fiddle.