Left Handed Violin Playing, Part 1, by Ryan Thomson "You have a choice!"

[loombaron]

GUYS, can you help me, Im left handed for the guitar but my violin teacher suggested that I learn to play violin as a right handed. I know by playing guitar that my hability is as left handed so whta should I do?

[4stringjoe]

@loombaron Well, let's see. If you already know how to finger guitar with your right hand, you can transfer all of that coordination over to fingering a lefty violin with your right hand.

If you feel comfortable controlling the tone, loudness, timing, and dynamics of your guitar playing with your left hand, you can transfer that skill over to controlling the tone, loudness, timing, and dynamics of your violin while holding the bow in your left hand as well.

I vote for left handed violin.

[loombaron]

thanx I ll do that. You know I write with my right hand, I play soccer with my right leg but for some reason for musical intruments Im left handed. I cannot play guitar as a right handed, my hability is an left handed. Same happens with pool, I play as left handed. Is quite weird.

[sanjosemisch1]

Well, that was my problem its hard for me to make a vibrato cause Im right handed.

[Crunchymarie]

I've been playing classical guitar for several years now, and I'm a very good player!

And I decided to learn violin last year,after trying my friend's one.

BUT, here's the big deal! I'm a left handed classical guitar player... so there is no way I can learn right handed (wich the same friend don't seem to understand...)

So for now I have a right handed violin, and play backward... because I was told that one can't just switch the strings, or the violin would break apart... is that true? :|

[4stringjoe]

@Crunchymarie Its true that a violin can be damaged by just switching the strings. You have 3 good options: Have the violin fully converted to left handed; Purchase and play a ready made left handed violin; or continue to play lefty on your right handed violin. The only possible problem with playing lefty on a right handed violin is that fingering patterns will not be mirror image and thus won't match standard classical violin fingerings. No problem if you don't intend to play classical music.

[DanceMakeupPrincess]

I'm left handed but I play right handed

[YellowMellowJello]

I'm starting violin. I bought a right handed violin back in the eighth grade, really without any knowledge, only to discover I'm left handed. I write with my left hand anyway. I've tried playing right handed, and it just feels terrible. I'm much more comfortable bowing with my left hand. Do you have any tips?

[4stringjoe]

@YellowMellowJello Most left handed beginners tell me that they feel more confident and coordinated while bowing with their left hands. As far as tips go, I encourage you to continue to play in the way that feels natural to you, perhaps finding a violin teacher to work with. Some teachers will be fine with left handed playing, others may require persuading. You might be interested in either my book about left handed violinists, or my left handed fiddling method video as described on my web site.

[Maestro2500]

Thank you so much for this, sir.

[Vishu95100]

All Indian violinists are right handed. When will a left handed violinist will come to my nation!

[4stringjoe]

@Vishu95100 Thank you for writing but you are incorrect. The great indian violinist Baba Allauddin Khan played left handed, bowing his violin with his left hand. There are many other left handed violinists from around the world that I have also written about in my book - Playing the Violin and Fiddle Left Handed, ISBN 0-931877-42-3

[EnslaveTheEmos]

what is this "hard to find a lefty teacher bull shit"

notes are notes, actions are actions. i play guitar left handed, there is no difference in musical theory, strumming, or fretting based on the fucking hand you are using. i learn from righties.

its the same with violin. the teacher teaches you form, actions, notes, theory, and technique, all of which has nothing to do with the hand orientation.

someone please tell me how a lefty cant be taught by a righty. it blows my mind.

[mcocco1891]

This man is now my hero! I've wanted to learn the violin since I was 6 years old, so I went to a local music teacher who insisted that there was no such thing as a left-handed violin. Attempting to learn to play right-handed, I had a very hard time adjusting my non-dominant hand to do the complicated fingering, so after a while I gave up in frustration. Now, I have hope again that I can learn without changing the fact that I was born left-handed. Thank you!

[4stringjoe]

@mcocco1891 and thanks for sharing your story! best, Ryan

[TangyMess]

I'm very happy to have found this video, as I am interested in learning, but feel as though my right hand would simply lack the dexterity required. I'm interested in reading your conversion instructions!

[4stringjoe]

@TangyMess Thanks for watching. Yes, Your perceived dexterity in your bowing hand is very important, since good tone in violin playing is determined far more by your bowing than by your fingering. It makes logical sense that the motions of a violin bow be controlled by a hand that you feel secure with, whether it be your right or left hand. My book outlines the steps involved in the right to left conversion process by an experienced luthier or violin maker.

[LexingtonWells]

I'm lefty/ambidextrous, and play violin righty, in part because that's just how i learned, and lefty violins are just so rare (not bad, of course, just rare). Plus I would think I would bump peg heads with my stand partner in orchestra lol. I do play guitar lefty tho, even that's relatively rare but still far more common than lefty violins. I know u disagree, but I DO think there's an advantage to a lefty having the lh on the fretboard. It helps in my case anyway =)

[4stringjoe]

@LexingtonWells Thanks for the comment. My feeling is that everyone should have a choice. If righty playing works for you, that's great. I play left handed and often share music with a righty stand partner. It works fine on either side. The stand partner playing "problem" with lefty playing is just another myth.

[FaeryRibbon]

I'm left-handed, but I play right-handed. I find it heaps easier because all of the complicated little finger positions are performed by the left hand. I was taught by my violin teacher that left-handed people are better adapted to playing because of this. :\

Why, therefore, is everyone so upset that they're not able (for whatever reason) to play left-handed? I thought that left-handed people were at an advantage.

[4stringjoe]

@FaeryRibbon Anyone can choose to play left handed if they want to. For example, according to your teachers logic, right handed people would have an advantage if they played left handed, because then the fingering would be easier for them because they could finger with their better right hand. But since hardly any right handed person ever chooses to play lefty, the theory of a fingering advantage is flawed. The main reason for that is that bowing is far more important than fingering.

[EnslaveTheEmos]

@FaeryRibbon I am the exact opposite. i never played violin, but im looking into it.  i play guitar, and im left handed. i play lefty because all the power is in my left hand, for struming, and both my hands have equal motor skills, so it was more comfortable on a lefty set up. i have picked up violins, and there is no way in hell i could play a right handed one.

[gamemasterluigi]

I'm not allowed to play left handed at my school and I'm lefty :{.

[4stringjoe]

@gamemasterluigi I know of several lefty violinists who have fought schools for the right to play left handed, and have won, several in public schools in the US, and one who had won a music scholarship to a US university. They had heard his audition recording, accepted him, and when he showed up, discovered that he played lefty, and at first tried to force him to relearn to play right handed! Luckily common sense won out.

[TheMaschica]

@gamemasterluigi Why? that is so discriminating...i couldn't play it any other way...it just feels wrong! can'T play the guitar either if it's not a lefty...

[gamemasterluigi]

I'm not allowed to play left handed at my school and I'm lefty :{

[Cosmographia83]

Thank you so much for this! I'm just learning how to play the violin, and I took it to a violin professor at my university, and he snapped when I showed him my left-handed violin. He pretty much acted like it was something blasphemous--first time he had seen one too--and I felt terrible about it.

[Yakilan]

@Cosmographia83

It is hard to find a left handed violin and a teacher...

I'm a leftie myself and play right handed...

Most left handed people usually have more skilled right hands than right handed people have left hands, so playing reverse is not as difficult to us, having the left hand on the fingerboard means you will learn intonation & vibrato easier, and bowing more difficult

individual hand skills are nothing, they can be easily developed - the real challenge is coordination

[xlilytreex]

Thank you so much for the information. My daughter is going to be starting violin in the fall, and she's a lefty. I hadn't realized how much different it was for a lefty violin. I'm hoping her teacher will be willing to teacher her as a lefty!

[xlilytreex]

As a follow up - her teacher at school will not teach left-handed. But now I know and if she finds it too awkward righty, we'll find a private violin teacher.

[Rhawneld57]

Interesting. so many things to know about right handed fiddlers and or left.

Ron!

[Trcls]

I'm from the philippines and I'm left handed. There are no left handed violins here. :(

[4stringjoe]

@Trcls You have several options: Have a right handed violin converted to left , have a new lefty violin built for you by an instrument maker or luthier, purchase a ready made mail order left handed violin and have it shipped to you, learn to play a right handed violin lefty, or learn to play a right handed violin righty. My book - Playing the Violin and Fiddle Left Handed, explains these options in good detail.

best,

Ryan

[KiltedMusician]

Also, bless you sir for validating my hopes that somewhere in the world there are people who play right handed fiddles left handed. And they're Scotts for cryin' out loud! Scottish fiddling was my plan all along and fits with my musical education. I think I'm going to check out your book.

[4stringjoe]

@KiltedMusician Glad to have helped out. I know of several great scottish fiddlers doing that. You'll be soon fiddling yourself!

May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee

[KiltedMusician]

I've tried to pick up the violin for years since my grandfather passed away and left his to me, but I was never able to make a breakthrough until I found an app for the iphone that simulates the fingerboard and produces notes. I practiced until I could read my bagpipe sheet music while fingering the strings with my left hand, and then when I tried the real violin I was immediately more comfortable fingering with my RIGHT hand, and could still play. Well I could remember the notes anyway.

[Sisiorange]

I'm left handed but I'm playing right handed on a right handed violin. I'd actually like to try a left handed violin but is it hard to get used to it after playing right handed for years?

[4stringjoe]

Sisi, Give it a try! It would be a fun experiment. Your right handed playing experience is a plus because you can transfer all of your playing techniques to the other side. Bowing transfers most quickly because you get to use your more coordinated hand. Fingering follows along as well. Right handed players finger with their less coordinated hand and do okay, so you will also. I know several people who have made a successful switch from righty to lefty even after years of playing righty.

Ryan

[jJenova]

I'm actually looking to find a good left handed Violin, but when I called a local Violin distributor and asked about a left handed Violin, the woman kind of scoffed at me. Like I had the nerve to ask about a left handed Violin. When I asked about them, she said that left handed Violins weren't used, and that they couldn't be used in an orchestra because the conductor can't conduct properly when he moves right and someone moves left due to a left Violin.I was just curious to know if that was true

[4stringjoe]

Some stores don't see a profit in selling left handed violins. I'd suggest the left handed violins offered by violinsloverdotcom or other sources listed in my book. Lefty playing is rare in classical music, more common in folk, but can be found in orchestras, string quartets, etc. On You Tube search out the Keilber Sunfunk-SinfornieOrechesta rehearsal of Strauss II Fledermaus with the left handed viola player in their midst. My book delves into the subject in great detail with pros and cons.

[4stringjoe]

Some stores don't see a profit in selling left handed violins. I'd suggest the left handed violins offered by violinsloverdotcom or other sources listed in my book. Lefty playing is rare in classical music, more common in folk, but can be found in orchestras, string quartets, etc. On You Tube search out the Keilber Sunfunk-SinfornieOrechesta rehearsal of Strauss II Fledermaus with the left handed viola player in their midst. My book delves into the subject in great detail with pros and cons.

[FallenAngel2737]

I'm right handed but I cant play the violin the normal way so I am learning how to play left handed with a right handed violin because I cant really afford the left handed violin. if that makes any since.

[4stringjoe]

Tiffany - Lots of left handed fiddlers play a regular right handed violin, but play it left handed. There are some advantages and also disadvantages, but the bottom line is - Yes, you can certainly do that with success. In my book - "Playing the Violin and Fiddle Left Handed," I discuss lots of these players and the styles of music that they play, along with the advantages and disadvantages of using a right handed violin.

best,

Ryan Thomson "Captain Fiddle"

[bloodiedsand777]

I just got a violin today and I

am left handed but this is my first time ever playing one and I'm already getting tunes in low and high sounds on a right handed vioilin so yay! This video helped.

[NOCOMMENT3176]

I'm left-handed and have been playing right-handed. Will I probably play better if I get a left-handed violin??

[4stringjoe]

Its very possible, depending upon: your general health and physical condition, mental alertness, how long you’ve already been playing righty, how strongly left handed dominant you are, and how much effort you put into switching over. A number of people have written to me with good switching success. They had all been playing five years or less. Any one can do it but the longer one has played righty, the longer it will take to catch up and surpass their former playing level and skills.

[NOCOMMENT3176]

@4stringjoe lol. it's only like 5-6 months! haha!.

I want to try it one time, if I can find someone to convert my violin. I don't want to buy a new one. Plus I looked for it before and couldn't find any as well. so.. >.>

lol.

[SantoRedentor]

I'm left handed. But if I wanted to start playing violin, should I play left handed or shouldn't I? Since violin playing requieres both hands, I think that if I played right handed, I would be easier for me to finger, whereas if I played left handed, It would be easier to bow.Is any of the 2 diferent parts considered much more difficult than the other, so that it's best to use your "good hand" to do it? Or it just doesn't matter?I say this because it's much easier to find a right handed violin.

[4stringjoe]

The decision involves several factors. That’s why I wrote a book on the topic, in order to help educators, new adult players, and parents of lefty kids alike. There are now numerous sources for left handed violins. Great violinists will tell you that after the initial effort to learn fingering, bowing is virtually everything when it comes to violin playing. Bowing controls your tone, how loud and soft you play, your timing, quality of your double stops, the duration of each note and lots more.

[adriana12995]

Hello Ryan! I am left handed and i play the violin holding the bow with my right hand. I am in my first year of high school and when i graduate i plan to go to a music school but everyone that sees me holding the violin the opposite way tells me that i won't get accepted into a good orchestra because of the symmetry. should i start putting my hopes down of being a left handed violinist on a orchestra? please reply! this is very important to me!!

[4stringjoe]

Adriana, If you are holding the bow in your right hand, then you are playing violin right handed like all right handed people do. Did you mean to say that you hold the bow in your left hand?

[adriana12995]

@4stringjoe oh yes. im sorry for making such a dumb mistake. I have been having some crazy days... well yeah,i do hold the bow with my left hand and the violin with my right hand.

[4stringjoe]

Adriana, no problem. Although my book documents some notable exceptions, such as a lefty player in a major orchestra, typical “looks” for professional musicians include cowboy hats in country bands, wild hair and clothes for rock, formal outfits and right handed bowing for orchestras. But lefty players are welcome in classical string quartets, at solo concerts, as music teachers, for studio recording work, and in many ensembles playing non classical violin music such as celtic, jazz, rock, etc.

[adriana12995]

@4stringjoe So it is possible for me to be successful in a music career even though i am lefty. thanks a lot! this video has really encouraged me to try my best. in the future i am sure i will have difficulties being in a orquestra while playing the violin the opposite way but i will try always my best! thanks!

[iRate5Strs]

To all people who are thinking fo playing a left handed violin viola chello or anything i would not recomend it if you have any plan to go into any major orchestras for one reason.you have a one in 100 chance of makinging it no matter how good you are because no one hires or accepts left handed players. They dont because of the direction of the bows. no one likes to see 20 people's bows going one way and one ersons going the other it makes the orchestra look bad/unproffetional.

[4stringjoe]

Actually, I think it would look really awesome if all of the first violins were bowing left handed, and the seconds were bowing right handed. Or maybe have the sections split, like this - \ \ \ \ \ / / / / / or perhaps like this - / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / Audiences would pay extra to see such an orchestra. After all, as you say, its not about the music, its about how it looks.

[NOCOMMENT3176]

@iRate5Strs lol and they say we aren't discriminated XD

[MrFlbob]

I would like you to view the you tube vidoe of Keilber Sunfunk-SinfornieOrechesta rehersal of Strauss II Fledermaus with the left hand viola player in its midst. Awesome. Phenomenal.

[4stringjoe]

Thanks for referencing this excellent You Tube video which demolishes the myth that someone playing left handed won't be allowed to play in a symphony or orchestra! Good music is good music, whether or not someone plays left or right handed. In my book I've listed and described additional string players playing left handed in professional string quartets and a major symphony in the US.

[whatthehell58]

Hi Ryan. I have a question. you might have explained it in the video but I do not think I fully understood. I want to use my parents right handed violin but im left handed so my parents said convert it to a lefty I went to the music shop and they said i have to buy a new Scroll for it with which would cost a lot of money. so in the video you had a right handed converted to a lefty. am i able to turn this violin to a lefty without switching the neck (Scroll) or am i sol

[4stringjoe]

Good question. There's no need to change the scroll at all. Although true left handed violins have a reversed scroll, a righty scroll as is, is perfectly usable with reversed strings. I know, since two of my own favorite instruments that I've played for years are converted righty violins with scrolls left alone. However, sometimes the neck needs to be "reset" for tilt angle. Suggest to the music shop that they read my book, since I devote a chapter to the conversion process and what it entails.

[Xyrenus]

Hello Ryan.

I want to start playing violin, and I'm left handed. I assume bowing with my left hand would be to prefer, but I've never seen any left handed play left handed in any orchestras. Do you think it would be the best for me to start playing left handed?

And one other thing, do you have any tips for getting a left handed violin, I find it very hard to find any on the internet or at local shops.

Sorry for so many questions, but I don't know many people playing left handed.

[4stringjoe]

Left handed violins have recently become easy to obtain. Anyone can choose to play either right or left handed. Since the bow hand controls the quality of sound that is produced on a violin, there is a likely sound and ease of playing advantage to those who bow with their dominant or preferred hand. There are many other opportunities for playing violin besides orchestras. There’s not much room to reply here. My book answers your questions in great detail. Email me at the address on my web site.

[razielarcha]

@Xyrenus It's rare to see a lefty in an orchestra because they like their uniformity. If you really want to be in an orchestra, the easiest way will be to play righty, but I think I remember mention of string quartets and an orchestra or two allowing a lefty to play lefty.As for finding a lefty violin, I bought mine from violinslover(dot)com.they're Gligas and seem to have okay to good reviews. The more expensive, the fewer factory direct problems. I have a student one with no problems though.

[4stringjoe]

Yes, there are some examples of lefty players being welcomed into classical orchestras and quartets. I've written about them in my book. I've also been happy with Gliga violins, both left and right handed.

[iRate5Strs]

@Xyrenus

It would be much eaisier for you to play right handed for future reasons. If you plan on going into any orchestras they probably wont accept you because of the bow direction it makes it look like your playing the wrong way so i would not recomemnd playing with a left handed violin.

[ummhea]

Nice Video! I'm a right player despite being left-handed and I've never heard of about left handed instruments until very recently. Very interesting! Even so I can't imagine playing with the left hand...

[ninjaztar27]

Im just curious. Are you both handed? I dont know the word for it.....

[4stringjoe]

Thanks for writing. The word is ambidextrous, which means someone is equally good with both hands. However most people, even if they can do things well with both hands, usually choose one hand which is the best for them. I learned with much practice to bow a violin very well with either hand, but I am not truly ambidextrous, since I prefer bowing with my right hand. Its the same with writing. I taught myself as a child to write with either hand, but I'm faster and neater with my right hand.

[o0moxyxmoron0o]

so I play viola, and I'm left-handed, but have a right-handed viola and I don't think I play badly, and I have been playing for about 9 months on it...but do you think i should look intot a left-handed viola since I am left-handed? I figured I'd ask, since I started on the right, and don't really know if I should continue or switch...

[4stringjoe]

You've already made righty progress, but its not too late to switch. I'd suggest spending time with a left handed viola, learning how to play some of the things you already know right handed, but don't stop playing righty meanwhile. When you can play a bit on the lefty instrument take note of whether it is any easier to master playing techniques than when you play righty. If lefty playing is starting to feel more natural, you could make the switch, if not, continue on your present course.

[angelodeza]

Hi I am i left handed violinist from the philippines... Thank you for this video... :)

[GassyCoke]

Hi Ryan, your video was wery helpful, but i have a question:

I've been playing guitar and electric bass like 2 years/3 years, i'm left handed and have a lefty guitar and a lefty bass and i want to get a new violin, so, What would be the best option for me?? to get a new left handed violin and play it left handed, get a right handed violin and change the strings or learn to play a right handed violin, right handed?

Thank You

[4stringjoe]

You already finger with your right hand on bass/guitar, so continue with that on violin. Your lefty guitar and bass have strings reversed from righty instruments, so I'd suggest to stay in that direction with violin. Based upon your budget you'll have to do research on costs and quality for each option - righty conversion vs new left handed violin. It is an apple vs orange issue, with pros and cons for each. My book covers this, and complete conversions, (lots more than just reversing strings)

[FeVerHerTz]

I need to buy a violin left? or is the same

[4stringjoe]

If you play left handed you can use either a right or left handed instrument. Some people find that a left handed violin is better than a right handed violin for "classical" music. It doesn't seem to make a difference for other styles of music - rock, jazz, celtic, latin, bluegrass, gypsy, etc, and there are people who play all of those different styles on both right and left handed violins. There is more information about that in my book. Ryan

[CpJubie]

LOL!!!

i have been playing right handed viola for 5 years, but i'm a left handed, and people said there were no such thing as left handed violins, but i knew there had to be something!!! ;PPP

[4stringjoe]

There have been left handed violins for hundreds of years. My book contains an ancient engraving of two violinists playing together, one righty, and one lefty! I'm not sure if there has been an actual "conspiracy," so I must assume that it is just the result of ignorance that the "no left handed violins" myth became spread far and wide. Such a myth certainly makes the job easier for music educators who continue to foster the belief that there is only one "right" way to play the violin.

[nellievic]

I have played the violin right handed for 25+ years, although I am left handed. Ive always suspected I would be better off playing left handed because of the bowing, but I never realised it was a viable option. When I rosin my bow, I instinctually hold the bow in my left and rosin in my right. It feels so natural. I then swap hands and hold the bow in my right, which never feels as comfortable. Im so pleased youve done some research into this. I shall be reading everything youve written.

[4stringjoe]

Thanks for your comment! Other players have shared that same intuition with me. I remember watching my grade school teacher force a left handed student to hold a pencil in her right hand against her natural inclination. I wondered why left handed pencil holding was not allowed, if the end result was to merely draw a picture or write a name. A couple of years later the first "left handed" school desks were purchased by our school, and children were allowed to choose which hand to write with.

[kissinkov]

oh thank you so much and i have just seen the other video posted,, god damn it!! then what is the reason that makes them make excuses and tell us this myth.. is harder to teach a left handed person or what?

[4stringjoe]

Reasons: more righties in the world, so most items and violins made right handed, ages old cultural and religious stigmas against left handed people, laziness by teachers who have never tried, but only imagine that it is too difficult to teach left handed playing, music stores that won't bother carrying left handed instruments for a lefty minority, evidence that left handers can (with extra effort) learn to write or bow righty, so the attitude is - why not make them play right handed?

[kissinkov]

PLEASE I NEED HELP!!!

hi, im left handed. and im a bignner. i have told my instructor that im left handed n need to change my strings so i can hold the bow with my left hand. he told its better to hold the bow with ur right hand if u were left handed. cuz the hand which will be holding the strings is more important than the one holding the bow. is that true or is just making me fool?!!

[4stringjoe]

Your instructor is incorrect. Fingering is important but your bow "plays" the violin. Your bow controls loudness, tempo, and the quality of your tone. Neither you or your instructor are foolish. It is a common myth that left handed people will be able to play better if they finger with their coordinated left hand. However, if that statement was in any way true, then right handed people should play left handed, so that they could finger with their more coordinated right hands! And they don't!

[b7160]

@kissinkov I was told the same thing about the guitar, that as a lefty I would be better off playing right handed because my dominant hand would be doing the more complicated work... I say you do whatever's comfortable to you.

[xiel2009]

thank you for sharing this information. :)

I have a question though: will it be harder for me to play violin as left handed if my right hand is the dominant one? I know it might sound very stupid to ask this but thank you in advance for your response. :)

[4stringjoe]

Excellent question. Almost all right handed (right dominant) people find it harder to do tasks requiring manual dexterity and skill with the left hand, so yes, I'd predict that it would be easier for you to play violin right handed, and harder to play left handed. However, any right handed person could certainly choose do the extra effort required to learn to play left handed, just as a left handed person can learn to use their right hand to write with a pen, cut with a knife, or play a violin.

[sprklingdiamnd7]

Thanks so much for this video, Ryan. I've been wanting to take up the violin for a long time, but definitely hesitated after doing some research and discovering a lot of the hostility and pretentiousness of the righty-dominated string world. I'll be buying your book- can't wait to learn from a Southpaw supporter. Too bad you're not in Cali... Know anyone in the San Diego region that might actually be willing to teach a lefty?

[4stringjoe]

I'm happy that you found my video useful! I remember watching a grade school teacher trying to force a lefty child to write with her right hand. I think that its time for a lefty revolution in violin playing. Write to me using the email address on my web site. I do have musical contacts in San Diego.

[DominicanViolinist]

I'm a musician of about 15 year and recently got a violin. I'm progressing very well but am concerned because I'm left handed playing a right handed violin. How is this going to affect me in the long run. My strings are opposite of the traditional violinists and before i got too comfertable, which I already am, I wanted to know what I should do. I've notice that traditional players' E string is closest to the floor but mines is the top string. Is this reason for concern? I'm purchasing your book

[4stringjoe]

Most people that play classical music left handed (Bach, Mozart, etc) reverse their strings so that the E is closest to the floor. In every other style of violin music there are many players who play left handed on regular right handed violins. There is more about this in my book. I personally have my strings reversed, and play several different styles of music on my violin, iincluding classical. It would be possible to do classical on a righty violin, but I don't know anyone who does that. Ryan

[philphie]

can i just buy a right handed violin and restring it?

[4stringjoe]

Maybe temporarily, but you have 3 much better long term options: play lefty on a right handed violin; fully convert a righty fiddle to left handed; or buy a pre-made lefty violin. My book - Playing Violin and Fiddle Left Handed, describes the pros and cons of these various options in detail. best, Ryan

[philphie]

ahk thanks, are there any consumer student brands that make left hand violins or would i have to get one made by a luthier?

[4stringjoe]

Yes there are, and you can also have a luthier make one. Write back to me using my regular email address from my web site and I can give you more detail on that. And of course my book lists many resources for lefty fiddling, getting instruments converted, luthiers who convert and/or build, etc. best Ryan

[lamacielada]

It's good to know we do have a choice! My nephew was just born and he is missing 3 fingers on his left hand, so he only has 2. There is hope! Thank you for demonstrating also, I can't thank you enough for posting this!

[ASTROALCHER]

Hi Ryan , I thought you had a mishap and had to switch to lefty playing. Ashley McIssac plays lefty but on a right handed fiddle. You had to go and do both a true ambidextrous,

Many permutations trully. Good show don't mind if I poke some fun into your playing, you good , you.

[missallgood]

Thanks so much! I just started teaching lessons with a young girl and she didn't tell me she was left handed until we started. She's eleven. I only have my right handed violin. Should I change the order of the strings and the move the chin rest?

[4stringjoe]

Thanks for writing. Unfortunately its not as simple as just changing a couple of things on the violin. My book goes into good detail about what a complete conversion process entails. There are other factors to consider as well before someone might choose to play left handed. Send me an email to the address on my web site and I can give you more information about your options.

[ralph5656]

I play left handed and wouldn't do it any other way. I have learned to mentally deal with written music for righthanders ,but it would be nice to have material for lefties Just now trying to play the banjo because of the string that don't go all the way up. Now days they makem for lefties too!

[4stringjoe]

I've produced a series of instructional videos and books for playing lefty on both fiddle and banjo. Take a look on my web site for descriptions and ordering information.

[DarkSkies132]

very good vid and i was born left handed but as for me im more comphertable with my left on the strings and my wright on the bow