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Hi!
I'm completely new at the business of violin playing, and I don't have an instructor to guide my way in these early, treacherous days when self-monitoring is not only lacking but possibly dangerous for proper progress. I've browsed this site a little bit and I really like the videos and resources I've seen so far. But now a combination of excitement and impatience has decided that I have questions to ask - and I apologize if this subject is readily available on the site or on this forum:
1. Are there any videos or images of full-body shots in regards to good violin posture? I've seen a lot of pictures and videos about how to position my upper body, but what does the rest of me do?
2. Are there any violin fingering charts available for printing that are a bit more "charty" without the image of the violin on it, here on the site? I like the violin chart for beginners here on the site, but I'm reaaaally stingy with my precious printing ink.
3. Are there any violin fingering charts for lefty players? I'm left-handed and so far I've had to mirror all the charts I've seen which isn't a huge problem, but it'd be nice with something that didn't feel like a right-handed persons old socks - I want something shiny and new, made just for us left-handers! (The image of the elephant man comes to mind from that old movie ..."I'm not an animal! ...I just want to play the violin."
Anyway, thanks in advance for all advice and suggestions!
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AmbientFire said
Hi!
I'm completely new at the business of violin playing, and I don't have an instructor to guide my way in these early, treacherous days when self-monitoring is not only lacking but possibly dangerous for proper progress. I've browsed this site a little bit and I really like the videos and resources I've seen so far. But now a combination of excitement and impatience has decided that I have questions to ask - and I apologize if this subject is readily available on the site or on this forum:
1. Are there any videos or images of full-body shots in regards to good violin posture? I've seen a lot of pictures and videos about how to position my upper body, but what does the rest of me do? sit up straight, edge of chair feet on floor. or stand up straight, feet on floor.
2. Are there any violin fingering charts available for printing that are a bit more "charty" without the image of the violin on it, here on the site? I like the violin chart for beginners here on the site, but I'm reaaaally stingy with my precious printing ink. set your printer to black only and draft quality.
3. Are there any violin fingering charts for lefty players? I'm left-handed and so far I've had to mirror all the charts I've seen which isn't a huge problem, but it'd be nice with something that didn't feel like a right-handed persons old socks - I want something shiny and new, made just for us left-handers! (The image of the elephant man comes to mind from that old movie ..."I'm not an animal! ...I just want to play the violin." Have your violin set up for lefthanded or reversed strings. then simply transpose the fingering chart in the reverse order. the chart is based on key and individual strings so it doesnt matter the order per se. I think a little white out and you can make em from the printing of the fingering chart on this website. The term for a left handed er footed surfer is "goofy-foot", so yours would probably "goofy-bower". much respect, I have a hard enough time doing it right handed.
Anyway, thanks in advance for all advice and suggestions!
Welcome to the forum, now that youve met me please stay anyways. pfish.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
pfish... you can't just reverse the string's to make it left handed and make it right. You would have to move the sound post to the other side of the violin and that would mean moving the bass bar to where the sound post is now.
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picklefish said
The term for a left handed er footed surfer is "goofy-foot", so yours would probably "goofy-bower".
Hey, now, I'm right-handed and a goofy-footer! Footedness actually has nothing to do with handedness; the division is almost 50/50 between regular and goofy, whereas left-handers make up only about 8-12% of the population. 
(Sorry, I'm a nerd in several fields at once...)
~ Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true. ~
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I have no idea. to me the term is funny but in a good way since I grew up surfing with my older brother who is 6'6. we always called him goofy since he surfed with his left foot forward, being skinny, tall and goofyish (like the cartoon) big ears and all, it fit. I do know that 67% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
@Alma- I hope you are practicing and are having a updated video in the works! Im counting on you.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Fiddlestix said
pfish... you can't just reverse the string's to make it left handed and make it right. You would have to move the sound post to the other side of the violin and that would mean moving the bass bar to where the sound post is now.
sorry, I assumed that a luthier would do it anyways. You are correct, the bridge would be reversed as well.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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picklefish said
@Alma- I hope you are practicing and are having a updated video in the works! Im counting on you.
I've not really had time to practice much this week with laboratory work at uni ending at ungodly hours, but as I'm off now I'll get right on it!
As for playing the violin left-handed, I think it would be easier to just keep the strings as they are (and as a result using "normal" charts). I don't see why it would be a problem to have the G-string closest to the palm instead of the E-string.
However, in junior high when I played the guitar in music class, I preferred the lefty stringed ones. I never understood why one would want to do the difficult fingering with one's sub-dominant hand...
~ Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true. ~
@ Alma..... here's a video I posted a few week's ago, dealing with this topic.
Right click and open it in a new window.
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@Alma- 15 min per day is better than none per day IMO. I totally understand about work getting in the way.....encouragement!
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Fiddlestix said
here's a video I posted a few week's ago, dealing with this topic.Right click and open it in a new window.
Yes, I saw that then! So cool!
picklefish said
@Alma- 15 min per day is better than none per day IMO. I totally understand about work getting in the way…..encouragement!
Thank you! When I say I don't have time, I really mean that I don't have the energy. I've played at least a little every day since getting my violin, but in order to really practise, I need energy...
~ Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true. ~
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AmbientFire said
1. Are there any videos or images of full-body shots in regards to good violin posture? I've seen a lot of pictures and videos about how to position my upper body, but what does the rest of me do?
Just make sure that your feet are slightly spread when standing. Approximately should width. The important thing with your feet is that you feel firmly planted and not off balance. Don't slouch but rather arched your back slightly. Head and neck as straight and relaxed as possible.
2. Are there any violin fingering charts available for printing that are a bit more "charty" without the image of the violin on it, here on the site? I like the violin chart for beginners here on the site, but I'm reaaaally stingy with my precious printing ink.
Here is a different one:
https://fiddlerman.com/wp-cont....._Chart.pdf
3. Are there any violin fingering charts for lefty players? I'm left-handed and so far I've had to mirror all the charts I've seen which isn't a huge problem, but it'd be nice with something that didn't feel like a right-handed persons old socks - I want something shiny and new, made just for us left-handers! (The image of the elephant man comes to mind from that old movie ..."I'm not an animal! ...I just want to play the violin."
Anyway, thanks in advance for all advice and suggestions!
Do you have a very good reason for wanting to play a left handed violin? Most left handed people play regular right handed violins and do not see an advantage of doing things differently. Who is to say that the dominant hand should be the bowing hand?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
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Almandin said
Fiddlestix said
here's a video I posted a few week's ago, dealing with this topic.Right click and open it in a new window.
Yes, I saw that then! So cool!
picklefish said
@Alma- 15 min per day is better than none per day IMO. I totally understand about work getting in the way…..encouragement!
Thank you! When I say I don't have time, I really mean that I don't have the energy. I've played at least a little every day since getting my violin, but in order to really practise, I need energy...
at least do the intonation and bowing exercises, for right now getting good at those is way more important than learning a song.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Fiddlestix said
@ Alma..... here's a video I posted a few week's ago, dealing with this topic.Right click and open it in a new window.
She sounds good and so on... but it still looks little strange
BTW. Is it really as hard for left-handed people to play "normal" violin? Because for example my father is also left-handed and play "normal" guitar and he doesn't see any problem playing.
Greetings from Poland 
I think you would be doing more stretching your finger's over to play the E and A string's if you were playing left handed on a right handed violin.
IMO,, it would be harder to learn, yes.
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Fiddlestix said
pfish... you can't just reverse the string's to make it left handed and make it right. You would have to move the sound post to the other side of the violin and that would mean moving the bass bar to where the sound post is now.
Exactly why I made the point a while back about giving out advice without any knowledge base.
Seriously people, if you dont know dont just make it up
There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
Let's not forget about the nu. it would also have to be changed and then there are the pegs, to make a proper left handed they would also have to be switched.
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I wasnt giving out real advise, just quipping. "hey just switch the strings", sorry if yall took it too seriously. I will change my sign off at the bottom to reflect the proper disclaimer. Thank you for the correction.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Don't worry about it picklfish. There are plenty of people here to correct us when we make mistakes. Lord knows I make plenty. 
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but the one who needs the least."
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Sorry for the late reply, I was away on a harvest festival over the weekend here in fair Swedonia.
Thank you for the other version of the violin chart, for some reason my brain also connects with it a little easier (maybe because it looks a lot like a guitar chart?)
The reason I play left-handed violin (or just started to) is because it feels a lot more natural to hold a lefty instrument. I've been playing guitar for a couple of years and I can distinctly remember the first time I held a left-handed guitar, as opposed to a right-handed guitar. When I didn't play guitar I was presented a righty guitar just to test guitar playing and it felt completely awkward. It literally felt like my body was not my own to control. It wasn't simply a case of not knowing what to do because I wasn't a guitar player - It felt like I had to both fight my body and learn the guitar at the same time.
The first time I tried a regular violin it felt EXACTLY the same. So I knew lefty violin was the thing for me - Maybe fiddlestix can back me up on this, or at least hopefully had a vaguely similar experience? So I'm not trying to be cool or original (if I did, I wouldn't play the piano) I just cannot play right handed instruments because it feels unnatural. I don't want the added up-hill battle of defeating my body in blood-hazed mental duelling everytime I try to learn something new on the violin - I want the playing of the violin to be the only challenge I face.
I don't know if it's a case of extreme handedness, or guitar experience, but since I had the same sensation when I tried out guitar the first time I think it's a handedness issue.
Thanks for a really awesome resource btw!
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