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My wife, who is left handed, asked if left handed players use re-strung/re-bridged instruments with reversed stance (left hand bowing) and I thought maybe the dominant left hand might actually work better at fingering notes.
What Say YOU???
The old curmudgeon!
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Both hands have complex tasks to perform. I'm not sure that either left-handed or right-handed people have any great advantage.
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AndrewH said
Both hands have complex tasks to perform. I'm not sure that either left-handed or right-handed people have any great advantage.
But do some left hand players use reversed bridge/strings and bow with left hand?
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JohnG said
AndrewH said
Both hands have complex tasks to perform. I'm not sure that either left-handed or right-handed people have any great advantage.
But do some left hand players use reversed bridge/strings and bow with left hand?
maybe? is this what you were asking?
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@ABitRusty - Thanks, from that link:
The Fiddlerman Left Handed Concert Violin was designed from the ground up for violinists overcoming injuries, lack of mobility or dexterity in their left hand, and those who need to play the violin in opposite hands. It is not intended for violinists who are left hand dominant, as the violin is traditionally played on the left shoulder regardless of which hand is dominant.
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I believe Fiddlershop sells a left handed violin.
I think the nut has to be swapped, too. Aren’t the grooves in the nut grooved to match the string thickness, also? I never paid that much attention to compare the grooves at the nut, but to get the string to sit snugly, I would think the nut is grooved for a specific string. If so, just stringing from E to G in reverse to hold the violin in right hand for a left handed player, would not allow the strings to sit properly in the nut grooves.
I don’t think you just reverse the strings because of the nut and if the bridge is reversed, the flat side of the bridge will face the wrong way, too, wouldn’t it?
I may have misunderstood the whole conversation. 🥴
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Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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@Mouse - This is from the Fiddlershop description, "The Fiddlerman Left Handed Concert Violin was designed from the ground up". So, yes there is one with all the proper changes such as you mentioned and no, it is not designed for left hand dominant people, but for special cases like for people with a left hand prosthesis.
The old curmudgeon!
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"Left-handed" violins need to be built entirely reversed. The positions of the soundpost and bass bar are switched, and the bridge is mirrored.
Note that the E string side of the bridge is lower than the G side, so it's not just the thickness of the strings at issue.
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@JohnG and others. I am left handed and play on a right handed string instrument. No issues at all.
A true left handed string instrument is constructed as a mirror image of normal. The bass bar is where the sound post “should be,” the placement of the pegs on the peg head is swapped (which is a good method of determining a left handed instrument in auction pictures), and so on.
Converting a guitar is easier for a left handed person, but again I see no reason to do so if a person has similar functional utility of both limbs.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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Be cause of a hand injury I play a right handed fiddle left handed, there are and have been folks who have done that in the past and now both classical players/ conductors and fiddlers who are very very good.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
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Mark said
Be cause of a hand injury I play a right handed fiddle left handed, there are and have been folks who have done that in the past and now both classical players/ conductors and fiddlers who are very very good.Mark
That's inspiring and a testament to your dedication! I'm impressed.
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As Andrew said, we sell instruments that are made to be left handed with everything, including the inside of the violin, reversed. Bass bar should always be under the heavy string and soundpost under the highest string.
Actually, besides the bridge and fingerboard angle, the positioning of the pegs is quite important to keep your fingering hand clear of the pegs a bit more.
Many people don't consider that and think they could just switch strings and leave everything the way it is.
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