Handbook of violin playing

by Carl Schroeder

Position of the left hand and the left arm.

The left hand is placed so that the neck of the violin is held between the lower joint of the thumb and the third of the index finger. The neck must not be gripped, but lightly held[12], and care taken that between the neck and that part of the hand which connects the thumb and first finger, there is an open space. The inner part of the hand is kept away from the fingerboard, so that the fingers may fall upon the strings from above. The position of the left arm must be such as to bring the elbow far enough to the right to place it underneath the middle of the violin. To attain a correct manner of holding, place the first finger on

the second on the 2ⁿᵈ note of the A string,

the third on the D string,

and the fourth on the G string,

so that the fingers lie as follows:

The fingers being lifted simultaneously, and allowed to remain in position over the strings, the position of the hand will be correct.