Scottish fiddling is different from other folk fiddling styles because of its exact way of playing and lively, energetic style. For example, it uses specific rhythm patterns, such as the dotted-quaver/semi-quaver pattern, which is common in the Strathspey. Christine Martin, in her book Traditional Scottish Fiddling Players Guide, describes techniques like "hack bowing," "the Scotch snap," and "snap bowing." These methods are very different from the most common bowing patterns used in Irish fiddling. The Scottish style includes a wide variety of songs with different rhythms and musical keys. It also has a close connection to traditional Scottish bagpipes, which are more famous worldwide.

Regional styles

The Shetland fiddling style is lively and energetic, with influences from Norway. It uses open strings that create a bright sound around the main melody. There is also some influence from Irish music because of workers and sailors (fishermen and merchants). This led to a mix of musical styles between Shetland and Ireland. The Donegal fiddle tradition is more Scottish in style because of Donegal’s location in Ireland and its connection to Scottish culture.

• Tom Anderson
• Aly Bain
• Willie Hunter
• Chris Stout
• Fiddlers' Bid
• Maggie Adamson
• Arthur Scott Robertson
• Jenna Reid
• Alasdair Fraser

The Northeast style is elegant and has influences from classical music. It began in the bothy, a type of shelter. These tunes, called strathspeys, use short, separated notes and a technique called the Scotch snap, as well as a bowing style called the arrow stroke.

Notable fiddlers in the Northeast style include:

• Hector MacAndrew
• Angus Fitchett
• Ron Gonnella
• Alastair Hardie
• James Scott Skinner
• Douglas Lawrence
• Paul Anderson

• Niel Gow
• Nathaniel Gow
• William Marshall
• Peter Milne
• Robert Mackintosh

The West Coast, Gaelic, and Highland styles include areas like the Inner and Outer Hebrides and Argyllshire. These regions value the pipe march because of the importance of the bagpipe in their cultures. The Cape Breton style of fiddle music is connected to these styles. Cape Bretoners came from the Highlands to Nova Scotia in the 1700s. West Coast fiddlers include Angus Grant (Senior), Iain MacFarlane (Glenfinnan), Archie MacAlistair (Campbeltown), Alasdair White (Lewis), Allan Henderson (Mallaig), Eilidh Shaw (Taynuilt), and Eilidh Steel (Helensburgh). Highland fiddlers include Donald Riddell (d. 1992), Duncan Chisholm (Kirkhill), Bruce MacGregor (Inverness), Sarah-Jane Summers (Inverness), Alexander Grant of Battangorm (1856–1942), and Lauren MacColl (Fortrose).

The Highland style is known for the strathspey, which originated in the Strathspey region. Sarah-Jane Summers’s DVD, Highland Strathspeys for Fiddle, explains how the strathspey was passed from Alexander Grant of Battangorm to Donald Riddell and then to Sarah-Jane Summers.

• Angus Grant, left-handed fiddler
• West Coast Fiddle Style Archived 26 August 2003 at the Wayback Machine
• Duncan Chisholm
• Eilidh Steel
• Iain MacFarlane
• Sarah-Jane Summers
• Bruce MacGregor – founding member of Blazin' Fiddles and BBC Radio Scotland presenter
• Lauren MacColl

The fiddle music of the Borders is most similar to English and American fiddle styles. A technique called double-stopping, which plays two strings or notes at once, is common in hornpipe music. These compositions are often written for two or more fiddlers.

• Tom Hughes

Cape Breton musicians describe their music as a type of Scottish music. Some people argue that Cape Breton’s location in Canada makes it different from Scottish styles. Features like piano accompaniment and dance rhythms are common, often paired with step dancing. Cape Breton music was influenced by Celtic immigrants in the Americas. While Cape Breton style has changed over time, it shares some similarities with Scottish style, such as the use of an up-driven bow.

• Cape Breton fiddling
• List of Cape Breton fiddlers

Scottish fiddling in general

People from rural areas of Scotland have moved to industrial regions and other countries over time. Many of these people have returned to Scotland, bringing some traditions with them while others have changed by mixing with different styles. This is especially clear in the "Central Belt" area of Scotland, where two fifths of the population live. This region has been influenced by people moving in from Ireland and other parts of Scotland, which happened at the same time as the growth of industries.

Today, well-known Scottish fiddlers include Aly Bain, Bruce MacGregor, Johnny Cunningham, Duncan Chisholm, John Martin, John McCusker, Chris Stout, Iain MacFarlane, Charlie McKerron, Eilidh Shaw, Douglas Lawrence, Gregor Borland, Catriona MacDonald, Alasdair White, Paul Anderson, and Aidan O'Rourke.

Because of large-scale migration, Scottish traditions have spread worldwide with people who moved (both by choice and by force). Now, "Scottish Trad" is played in many countries. In the United States, key performers include Alasdair Fraser, Hanneke Cassel, Ed Pearlman, Bonnie Rideout, John Turner, Elke Baker, Melinda Crawford, Colyn Fischer, and David Gardner.

A culturally important style is the fiddle tradition of County Donegal, Ireland, which is Irish, not Scottish. However, the Donegal fiddle style is more similar to the Scottish style than to other Irish styles. Scotland and Donegal have a long history of connection, as seen in shared names and musical styles like strathspeys, schottisches, and marches. Donegal also has a strong highland piping tradition. Some Scottish fiddlers and some Donegal fiddlers use similar techniques, such as playing with a short bow and a direct style. In the past, workers from Donegal traveled to Scotland in the summer and brought Scottish tunes back with them. Donegal fiddlers have used Scottish tunebooks and learned from recordings of Scottish fiddlers like J. Scott Skinner and Mackenzie Murdoch. Fishermen from Donegal also returned from Shetland fisheries with Shetland tunes.

The Scotch snap is a unique feature of Scottish music. It is usually written in musical notation as a sixteenth note followed by a dotted eighth note.

Modern day fiddlers

• Bruce MacGregor – helped start Blazin' Fiddles and is a radio show host for BBC Radio Scotland
• Alasdair Fraser
• Aly Bain
• Allan Henderson
• Catriona MacDonald
• Chris Duncan
• Duncan Chisholm
• Iain MacFarlane
• John Turner
• Pete Clark
• Chris Stout
• Eilidh Steel
• Colyn Fischer
• Adam Sutherland, who performs with Croft No. 5, Treacherous Orchestra, and Peatbog Faeries
• Alasdair White
• Charlie McKerron
• Paul Anderson

Cape Breton fiddlers:

• Buddy MacMaster
• Natalie MacMaster
• John Campbell
• Ashley MacIsaac
• Winston (Scotty) Fitzgerald
• Dave MacIsaac

• Elke Baker
• Mari Black
• Hanneke Cassel
• Natalie Haas (cello)
• Jeremy Kittel
• Jamie Laval
• Jane MacMorran
• Ryan McKasson
• Bonnie Rideout
• Laura Risk