Why does conventional playing style give the string manipulation to the left hand?

Question

For the majority of players, the right hand is used for most tasks that require exacting manipulation: writing, throwing, etc. However, guitar, violin, lute, etc., etc., use the right hand for plucking the strings - often with a pick - and the left hand is required to do the more exacting work of pressing the strings to the neck of the instrument. As a player myself, this feels nothing but natural.But - if you could start from scratch with no preconceived notions - wouldn't it be better to use your right hand to manipulate the strings on the neck? That requires faster and more exacting finger movement then waving a pick over the strings or holding a bow and sliding it back and forth.

Answer 1

Hello, violist/ violinist here! I've gotten this question before from students who are right handed and struggling with left hand technique. It's a reasonable question: "Why can't I use my dominant hand to press the strings down? It seems more difficult." I'm right handed and probably asked the same question when I started!

First, playing a bowed or plucked string instrument doesn't actually rely on dominant handedness. Both hands are basically equal in importance. If you are left handed or right handed, any advantage you have early on is negligible. In fact, if any side is dominant, it should be the often-ignored bow (or plucking) arm. Your bow arm is your voice - it makes the sound. While the left hand changes the pitch, (in bowed instruments) the bow arm must create a beautiful tone and a variety of dynamics, colors, etc. Because left hand technique can be quite difficult - especially in the first few years of playing - players often have the misconception that they should focus only on the left hand at the expense of the right. In reality, most technical problems at beginning and intermediate playing are right hand (bow) problems that seem like left hand problems.

There are some left-handed string players out there but I would only recommend it if you have a physical condition (other than handedness) that prevents you from learning the traditional way. It might also be difficult to find a teacher who is willing or able to teach you if you are reversed.

Hope this helped!