Left Hand Hold Part 2

Manukau Youth Orchestra Elementary Violin Technique

The position of the left hand and the thumb along the neck are important. If they are in the wrong place both holding the instrument and fingering will be very difficult.

Your thumb should be just beyond the first finger with the top joint contacting the side of the neck below the top of the finger board and the back of the knuckle of your first finger should be in line with the start of the finger board.

There should be a small gap between the underside of the neck and your hand. Your wrist should be straight and the neck should never touch the palm of your hand.

Finally with your elbow underneath the violin you should find that your arm turns "naturally" so that your fingers come up and over and down onto the finger board as shown to the right. Don't forget to stop and stretch, the position is actually not that natural.

Your left hand plays a particularly important role in holding the violin but do not forget that the other end of the instrument should rest against your neck, as the contact with the skin on your neck will help keep the violin in place.