Leaning to the right
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381125)
Rockingham, Australia
May 31, 2026 11:42pm CST
I took this photo at the Band Championships that we attended on Sunday. The percussion players are standing at the back and in front of them are five bass players. I noticed that the bell of the middle instrument was pointing to the right while all the others pointed to the left. Then I worked out the middle player is operating the valves which his left hand which is very unusual.
When I checked, I found that bass instruments are manufactured en masse and it’s highly unusual to see a left-handed bass. I wonder what it cost him.
Vince used to play a bass. We used to call it the bath-heater. It was quite an effort to polish it as it was so big. It was too big for him to play on the march but when we marched he played the bass drum and was very good to judging 120 beats to the minute which was important for competition marching.
6 people like this
6 responses
@LindaOHio (221989)
• United States
2h
Interesting observation. I'll bet it was expensive.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169271)
• United States
1h
You are very observant. I have not listened to a live band in quite a while. They can be very stirring.
@Juliaacv (56104)
• Canada
4h
When I noticed him sitting in the last row with his instrument facing as it does, I wondered if he was a lefty.
I have a brother who is a lefty, and my parents attributed that to his difficulty to excel at the piano lessons that he took-I just think that he disliked playing the piano myself.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381125)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
I don't really think it makes much difference with piano. I'm sure being able to play the piano helped when I started to learn typing as all my fingers were quite strong. Some in my (adult) class had trouble making their little fingers (pinkies) do anything.
