What Is a Left-Handed Violin?

A left-handed violin is a non-violin designed to be played by those whose dominant hand is the left hand. It is a mirror image of the traditional violin, a soprano stringed instrument held under the chin and played with a bow.

People who use traditional violins support the instrument and execute fingering with their left hand. They do all the bowing work with their right hand. This makes sense considering that the control of the bow largely determines the sound the violinist can produce with his instrument. However, it means that traditional violins are problematic for left-handed individuals, because these players must control the bow with the non-dominant hand. A left-handed violin is supposed to address this problem so that left-handed players can achieve the same level of tonal richness, responsiveness and overall technique virtuosity as right-handed players.

As a mirror image of a traditional violin, a left-handed violin is strung starting with the lowest string, G, on the right side rather than the left. Some people try to adapt regular violins by merely restringing the violin, but this doesn't work. The differences in string and overall performance positioning mean that the peg holes, base bar and sound post all have to be flip-flopped. Adjustments also are necessary in the bridge and chin rest.

A left-handed performer using a left-handed violin ultimately may play at a higher level than if he played with a traditional violin. There are disadvantages to left-handed violins, however. The first is that, because more people are right-handed than left-handed, the demand for left-handed violins is lower. Left-handed violins thus are hard to find. People often have to custom-order them, and when they do, the instruments are more expensive because the manufacturer has to absorb the added costs associated with a customized product.

Those who want to use left-handed violins also face limitations in education opportunities. The majority of violin teachers and method books assume that the violinist is right-handed, so a left-handed violin player may have to mentally flip all the directions given if a teacher does not remember to do so. Some teachers insist that playing right-handed is the only way to play the violin and try to force right-handed playing, similar to the way some left-handed children used to be forced to write with the right hand.

Performance opportunities also are an issue for a left-handed violin player. Playing in a very small group usually is not problematic. In larger groups such as orchestras, however, seating accommodates right-handed bowing and is designed to support a uniform look within the group as members play. A left-handed player may have issues with his bow interfering with the bow of his neighbor unless the group allows him more room. Even if the group does this, the left-handed player will stick out visibly to the audience, which may serve as a distraction from the performance.