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String Pedagogy Techniques: Left Hand

II-1: Left-Hand Finger Patterns

II-1: Left-Hand Finger Patterns

Using the descending tetrachord you can see the hand shapes on all of the instruments.

II-2: Two Tetrachords

II-2: Two Tetrachords

A simple descending major scale.

II-3: Accidentals

II-3: Accidentals

The movement of low and high second finger is shown in close-ups of the violin hand.

II-4: Harmonics

II-4: Harmonics

These are especially useful in early stages of string playing to free the player’s left arm placement and to secure the instrument hold and match pitches of the octave.

II-5: Shifting

II-5: Shifting

The relationship of the left thumb in shifting is clearly demonstrated in the violin close-ups.

II-6: Cello Backward Extension

II-6: Cello Backward Extension

This is a short video close-up of the cello backward extension left hand shape.