Did Michael Landon Really Play the Fiddle in ‘Little House on the Prairie’? What the Cast Has Said About His Skills
Find out whether Landon was a skilled fiddler and what other instruments the actor had experience with
Key Takeaways
- Landon mimed fiddling; the show's fiddle music was added in post.
- He played piano, guitar and harmonica and recorded a few pop tracks.
- The real Charles Ingalls often played the fiddle and was a skilled fiddler.
Fans of Little House on the Prairie adore the Western series for its wholesome, family-forward storytelling. With the close bond between the Ingalls’ family and the warmth they share with neighbors and friends, it’s hard not to fall in love with the show and its characters.
One memorable part of the series that appealed to viewers and added to its heartwarming feel is when Charles “Pa” Ingalls picks up the fiddle and starts playing a tune for his girls to sing and dance to. In fact, the fiddle that Michael Landon played in the show was eventually purchased by Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls, and later donated to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
But did Landon really know how to play the musical instrument? Find out whether the actor was truly a musician or if he had a bit of help from post-production.
Did Michael Landon really play the fiddle?
Considering the amount of time Landon had to play the fiddle as Pa, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had actually played the instrument. But as it turns out, he wasn’t really a proficient fiddler. In fact, he didn’t know how to play at all.
During scenes of the show where his character was playing, Landon held the fiddle and mimicked the bow movements as well as the fingering to make the playing seem real. The actual music heard in the show was added during post-production.
Over the years, several fans have chimed into the conversation, pointing out that Landon’s bow speed and placement didn’t match the song’s tempo or notes. Dean Butler, who starred on the series as Almanzo Wilder, shared his thoughts on Landon’s fake fiddling skills.
“My longtime feeling is that Michael could prioritize a lot of things and he did brilliantly, but that [fiddling] was not a priority for him,” Butler said. “If it had been a priority for him, he would have done it beautifully.If you’ve ever been around someone who plays, you know he’s not playing, but you forgive him because the exuberance is wonderful and because it’s Michael. You just accept it.”
Conversely, the real Charles Ingalls was a skilled fiddler! Laura Ingalls’ father often did play the fiddle for his family and music was always an important element of the books and the series.
Landon played other instruments
While fiddling may not have been Landon’s forte, the actor was skilled on other instruments. He was known to have some casual musical experience with the piano, guitar and the harmonica in real life.
Beyond musical instruments, Landon was also a singer for a short time. Early on in his career, the actor recorded a few pop tracks, as well as music with the cast of Bonanza. Some of the songs he released include, “”Be Patient with Me” and “Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh?”
So, while fiddling may not have been one of Landon’s many talents, rest assured that the actor did have a few musical bones in his body.
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