How different is it to learn to play the violin left-handed?

So naturally, having the bow in your right hand (if you're right-handed) makes it easier when learning to play the violin. That's simply the way the violin is made; and for many years, there wasn't any other option. read more

You could probably use a normal violin, except with a left-handed chinrest, and swap the strings around, and get a luthier to cut you a left handed bridge (the bridge is the piece of wood that the strings sit on, and it's normally shaped to be shorter on one side to make bowing easier; you'd need it slanted the other way to play left handed). read more

Various luthiers (the craftspeople who create string instruments) and instrument brands have begun to fashion left-handed violins for left-handed students. While this can make it easier for beginners to learn, there are some additional challenges associated with playing a left-handed violin. read more

Left-handed students, particularly of classical music, are almost always encouraged to play the violin right-handed. It is much more common to find players in traditional music fields such as folk and jazz who play the other way round. read more