Simon Thoumier fingering

[fred v]

I've been watching this video and notice that his right hand at 1:43 is playing normally but at 1:46 his left hand is at 90 degrees to the fingerboard and he plays it more like an Anglo. In another video I notice that one side has been rotated on the bellows by, I think, one or two flats.

I messed a bit with this and it feels awkward but may have some advantages once I got used to it. Does he possibly have a wrist problem that requires this change up?

 

[Alex West]

Fred

 

No, Simon doesn't have a wrist problem that causes him to play that way (although the opposite may ultimately be the case).  And the bellows is definitely not rotated,  The thumb strap on the left is exactly opposite the one on the right, although the strap is twisted quite severely.  The instrument he plays is uniquely bedded into him and his style and vice versa.

 

Rather than his hand moving "vertically" up and down the rows, they move "laterally".  I'm sure this is partly what enables him to have the fluency and speed that he has.

 

Alex West

[David Barnert]

As I understand it, that’s just how he taught himself to play in the absence of any examples of the “right way” to hold an EC. Can’t say it’s held him back any.

[Alan Day]

Exactly following the horizontal possibilities rather than vertical system in historical use ,as discussed in horizontal v vertical we discussed recently.

Al

 

[wunks]

We're not strictly bilaterally symmetrical of course so different approaches or angles of attack for left or right can make physical sense.  Mixed grip for dead lifting weights comes to mind.  I briefly owned an EC with a one flat offset ( the straps, thumb. and pinkie rests were offset as well ).  I don't play EC but it was very comfortable to hold.