After years of receiving letters from left handed people inquiring about the possibilities of playing violin left handed, I've put together a set of resources:
This book contains sources for left handed violins, the best reasons why a leftie may wish to play either right or left handed, biographies and stories of over 100 people who play left handed rather than the standard righty way, including both professional fiddlers and classical violinists alike!
The book is a complete reference designed
for anyone with an interesting in learning more about left handed
playing, including: parents wondering about their left handed
children; persons contemplating classical violin lessons; folk
fiddlers intending to teach themselves; experienced players of
any genre of music, music educators and string teachers, and those
interested in general left handed issues.
I have a great advantage in understanding differences and similarities
between right and left handed playing since I'm an experienced
violin teacher who has also had many years of experience playing
both right and left handed. This book isn't an instruction
book on how to play the violin left handed. For instruction see
the book, CD, and DVD video listed below:
This book and DVD combination is a teach yourself method for learning folk style fiddling suitable for playing contra dance, bluegrass, or square dance music. It is recommended for learners with no experience playing violin or fiddle. Topics include: holding the fiddle and bow, fingering, bowing, tuning, scales, and learning several tunes.
This course is designed for learners with
basic playing skills such as being able to play some scales or
simple tunes on a left handed violin with reversed strings. No
music reading is required. The video teaches one tune each of
5 different Irish tune styles: jig, slide, hornpipe, reel, and
polka. Fingerings and bowings are illustrated in detail. Tunes
are demonstrated both slowed down and up to dance speed. Alternate
bowings, ornaments, and variations are demonstrated for each tune.
DVD one hour, ISBN 978-0-931877-43-8
January 15, 2005
I can't tell you how excited I was to see
that someone out there thinks it's okay to play the violin/fiddle
left-handed. Long time ago I learned to play the guitar right
handed and have always regretted it. So I took the plunge.
D.G.
September 10, 2000
Dear Mr. Thomson,
I purchased an inexpensive used violin and had it restrung for
left hand. When I went to a music store to purchase a chin rest
and told them I had my violin restrung for left hand they said
I was 'out to lunch'. In the meantime I began to teach myself
how to play it 'fiddle' style and really enjoy myself, even though
I am very inept.
Here's the question; If I were to take lessons would playing left
handed be a stumbling block? Also, if I were ever to get good
enough to merit a better instrument how practical is it to restring
finer instrument? Should I string my instrument back to right
hand and reteach myself (which would be difficult, at best). I
feel I cannot move forward in my skill until I know whether fiddling
left handed is going to hinder me in any future growth in my skills.
I feel I am at a musical crossroads. Can you help?
Jennifer
Dear Jennifer,
I took a right handed chin rest and tools, and filed it down a
bit until it was comfortable and fit my chin playing left handed.
They are also available from some violin shops.
Jennifer - If I were to take lessons would playing left handed
be a stumbling block?
Ryan - This depends upon the teacher. I have no problem teaching
either left or right handed players, but some teachers will object
to it. Keep checking around to find an open minded teacher. There's
no problem teaching someone to play left handed.
November 10, 2001
Bravo to you for learning to play left handed. I am naturally
left handed, and 1 1/2 years ago I decided to take up fiddle playing
at age 57. I tried to play right handed for 10 months, then found
a left handed violin for sale, and made the switch.......It took
me about a month to retrain my right hand to the fingering, and
bowing left handed was very easy because that was my natural side.......I
just want to say a big yee haw to you for making the switch and
sticking with it.
Kay
Oregon
December 18, 2001
Can you believe that at 23 I have wanted to play the violin for
most of my life. I finally have enough cash and discipline to
seriously consider playing and then realise that me being left-handed
is a serious obstacle to me ever playing. Every website I've visited
(besides yours) tells me their is no point in trying to play left-handed,
it's a waste of time. I feel like I'm being discriminated against
for being a leftie, does that sound paranoid?
I live in South Africa, I know now already that there's no chance
I'll find a violinmaker who does left-handed violins. I have phoned
every music shop in the district and each one simply suggests
I start right handed. In my minds eye I just can't wrap my head
around it though, my hands don't want to fit the roles they have
be pre-assigned?
I have no idea what to do, I don't want to simply give up, should
I simply try playing right handed? It just feels like I'm being
handicapped before the race has even started.
Regards
H.C.
December 30, 2001
Just a quick note to say how glad I am to see a south paw being
able to accomplish what seems to be the impossible.I also had
an arm injury and must use my left hand. I always wanted to play
the fiddle, I have one, but the only person who teaches in my
neck of the woods can't stand to see my fiddle in the opposite
hand, she says its to confusing.You were fortunate to be able
to teach yourself......Thanks for the inspiration.
B.M.
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
January 8, 2002
Hi Mr. Thomson,
Wow I've been searching for a little advice on the internet for
the past few days. When I saw the
address I was suprised as I am close by in W, My little girl is
5 and asked for a violin for
Christmas. I was thrilled as I also play and would love to see
her pick it up. She is a lefty and feels
much more natural bowing with her left hand. Before taking her
to a lesson, I asked the teacher if she would consider teaching
her left handed. She hesitantly agreed she would try it.
Well within 45 seconds of the lesson(seriously!) T struggled with
the beginner hold on the frog while doing the "windshield
wiper action" and the teacher switched it to her right hand
immediately! She struggled equally with holding it with her right
but the teacher continued. So rather than argue with the teacher
in front of T I waited and went back to her later to let her know
I didn't think that was very cool!
T is now a little confused and when we got home she picked up
the instrument left handed again. I
tried to explain that most everybody plays right handed and it
might be easier for her to play that way in the long run. Personally
I feel that if left is her God given way then she should play
left! If she never makes it to an orchestra pit that's ok by me.
I'd rather listen to her playing a little Natalie or
Alison Krauss anyway, both who blow away most in any orchestra!
I am willing to go the extra mile to find her instruments or whatever
it takes.
She may decide to give it up in 3 months but if she does take
to it, I want her to be able to someday reach her playing potential.
One advantage T has is even though left bowing is her natural
way, she seems to be pretty ambidexterous so if she was forced
to switch she probably could. But I think she should play her
natural way. If you have any advise you could lend, I'm all ears.
Thanks
Best Regards,
S.P.
January 27, 2002
Hello Ryan,
I read your article on changing to left handed fiddling. Thank
you. I have a question. Did you have your fiddle restrung, with
a base bar and sound post change or have you just moved the chin
rest and left the strings as is playing all strings in an opposite
fashion?
J. P.
July 8, 2002
Alan wrote:
Hi, my name is Alan and I've decided to learn the violin. I've
never played an instument before and I'm left handed. I've talked
to several shops and they all conclude that learning to play right
handed may be the best solution.
Ryan: Hi Alan,
The advantages to right handed playing are that you can play any
regular violin, and that right handed violins are easy to find.
Also, someone else could play your violin. Teachers are used to
this also. Most left handed people play right handed with no particular
difficulties.
Alan: It was even suggested I simply turn the violin up side down
and teach myself as there probably are'nt many teachers who could
teach that way.
Ryan: I know someone who plays a right handed violin lefty and
does quite well at it. However, its easy for good and/or willing
violin/fiddle teachers to teach someone who plays a left handed
violin, left handed, but it may be more difficult to teach a left
handed player playing a right handed violin.
Alan: I thought of having a right handed fiddle converted, but
because of the internal construction it would'nt sound right.
Ryan: If it is properly converted, it will most often sound as
good as before, although there is some variability, as sometimes
they sound even better than original, and sometimes not quite
the same, but with a different sound quality. I've had several
converted with good results. I've never had one sound worse than
before the conversion if I had it done by an expert.
Alan: Now I'm back to learning right handed. My only fear is that
it may limit my potential.
Ryan: Yes, that is a likely disadvantage. In violin playing, 85%
of the sound quality is from how you handle the bow, and you're
at a disadvantage using your right arm if you are left handed.
I can tell you this with authority since I've played 20 years
right handed, and 9 years left handed (I'm right handed) With
tremendous amounts of work I've gotten quite good at playing left
handed, but I got to the same level right handed with much less
work and effort.
Alan: Do you have any suggestions?
Ryan: You might consider continuing right handed lessons, but
simultaneously getting a decent right handed violin converted
by a good shop, and then also trying out your new skills left
handed to see how it feels. A number of lefties who have tried
both ways have told me that playing left handed feels much more
natural, although some are happy the other way around. If you
try both ways, it will help you decide.
Alan: Also I checked out your 1985 Fiddler's Almanac from my local
library, I enjoyed it very much. And judging from the condition
of the book so have many others. Thank's for your time,
Alan.
Ryan: Thanks for writing. I'm glad that you enjoyed my book, and
suspect that you may find some of my other books and recordings
useful. I hope you'll keep me informed on your progress!