capefiddle - Posted - 05/22/2025:  12:36:16

I've noticed this occasionally when I watch fiddler's left hand positioning (eg: YouTube videos). When the 3rd finger is used to play a note, the 4th finger is laid on top of the 3rd (see attached photo). I was wondering if this is some "technique" or is it just an occurrence per individual player that kind of just happens. Thanks.

 

pete_fiddle - Posted - 05/22/2025:  12:56:26

imo, don't do it if you can avoid it. i reckon all fingers should be as independent and relaxed as possible. But that's just me.

looks like they are having trouble playing with 3 fingers, let alone all 4.

But there are a very few incredible players who only have the use of 2 or 3 fingers.

If you have all 4 why not try to use them all?

Peghead - Posted - 05/22/2025:  14:55:53

Obviously the most efficient thing is for the pinky and all the fingers for that matter to be in a straight line with the others and just over the string to minimize the motion required when its needed. Its hard to tell from the photo, it may just be be a snapshot in time. You can play lots of tunes without needing your fourth finger. It took me some to get my elbow to rotate to where I could use my pinky.

crunchie812 - Posted - 05/23/2025:  07:27:12

Huh. I can't get my pinky to do that even if I try.

Peghead - Posted - 05/23/2025:  09:28:39

Sometimes when I play a high 3 my third finger touches and scoots under the pinky a little but this actually it appears as though this individual's pinky is not straight, it's resting over the ring finger because it's curved at the last joint I suspect that it was injured or broken at some point and not set? If the joint was straight it would be oriented correctly. That's a tough iinjury because if that's the case it would take extra effort to not play flat with that finger especially with drones.

ChickenMan - Posted - 05/23/2025:  10:21:40

quote:

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Originally posted by crunchie812

Huh. I can't get my pinky to do that even if I try.

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Same, totally impossible without much effort to make it happen.

Is say it's not a technique at all.

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 05/24/2025:  07:15:19

It’s not an advisable idea. The third finger has plenty of strength and doesn’t need another finger to assist it. Pushing down with another finger is likely to lead to an excess of pressure. It limits the capacity for vibrato as well. It doesn’t look intentional, so I’d call it more a bad habit than a technique.