Left Handed Playing

[chiagerald]

Yo guys,

Wanna seek some advice...

I;ve got a friend who would like to learn guitar... but he's left handed... he doesn't and I also do not know which direction to take...

1) Learn to play a normal right-handed guitar
2) Reverse the strings from top to bottom and play a right-handed guitar like a lefthanded
3) Any other directions?

What do you think is the best way to do this in the long term? I was telling my friend that his choices of guitar might be limited if he chooses the play a left-handed guitar, but then again, I'm not sure...

Thanks a lot! Hope to hear from the left-handed players on the forum too!

 

[Slowish]

hey dude, im a lefty playing a right handed guitar. I had the same dilemma at the start but i thought what the heck, why make it difficult for myself i'll just follow the crowd. Its a good thing now that i dun have to worry about looking for lefty guitars which do not have an expansive catalogue as the righty ones do.

 

[wyldeboon]

i got an uncle, Arafat (the last time ossuarry guitaris) who is lefthanded. he just use a normal guitar and played it the other way round(left handed way).
he said wen he 1st start,its a bit confusing but wif many2 practice,now he's insane.

tat takes time too...

or easy,buy a lefthanded guitar

 

[JonEthan]

Depends if he's predominantly left-hand user or not.
It may be difficult for him to learn right-hand guitar if he's predominantly left-handed. But a lot of left-handers i know are ambidextrous, so if he's one, I think it's better to go right-handed guitar. More options when you buy, and you can easily pickup any guitar and play (ie like in an impromptu session).

Our vocalist/2nd guitarist is left handed but plays right handed

 

[DemonOfTheFall]

I'm left handed and well, there are hardly any left handed guitars available here. You could use a right handed guitar and string it the other way, as long as there is reasonable upper fret access.. or better still if you are comfortable playing right handed, why not ?

 

[Elias]

Advise him to consider whether he's comfortable with switching to right-handed since he hasn't started anything...maybe ask him to get a cheap acoustic/classical guitar for learning first and if he's still more comfortable with playing lefty, he can always restring and stick to being a lefty.

I've been a true blue lefty from the start and yes, many times, the limited lefty guitars can be frustrating but only if you've got GAS *lol* Otherwise, the selection of lefty guitars have improved alot over these years On the bright side, being a lefty probably saved me tonnes of $$ since alot of guitars are not available in lefty version :lol:

 

[audioslave]

i am a leftist guitarist myself...(yes i am also left handed by nature)

yea... agreed with Elia... sourcing for a left gun is a pain in the Ass...

why i switched over to left??, not cos the reason that i am left-handed, but

a childhood injury had left a permanent dislocation on my left wrist...

which i cant press the 'fooking" F barred Chord...

but then i still think it's a blessing in disguise...

cos..( my teenager mindset) ...hmm i may be joing the leagues of Paul Macartney, kurt cobain, Jimi.... hahaha just a joke, i am no way there yet to all these sages of God...

 

[kerplunk182]

all my lefty friends play righty guitars. Hahaha. The lefty drummers play righty style too...

 

[nic1327]

Hi I'm a lefty! Yay more lefties now. haha anyway, a few steps to find out which guitar to get.

Give your friend a normal guitar and see which way he's more comfortable holding it. If he's comfortable the right-handed way, then play that way, since it'll be easier overall.

If your friend is more comfortable holding the lefty way, then go with that. Take it from another lefty, it's rather hard to play right handed if you're comfortable with the lefty way, somehow my fingers wont coordinate haha.

I originally got a right handed guitar, and when I found out it was haaard to play the right-handed way (for me) I swapped the strings around and got another nut added so I could use a strap.

You could do that with your friend, overall it's well, cheaper (left handed guitars cost more! )
Alternatively, if playing left-handed is comfortable and he's found that out before he's bought a guitar, then get a lefty guitar, it's best in the long run.

Hope this helps! Feel free to PM or post if you need anything else

 

[Everdying]

i'm lefty but play right handed also.
found it easier to fret chords when starting out.

rather than struggling to fret chords with the weaker right hand.

btw, hendrix is a lefty but writes right handed.
so lets assume hes a righty but plays left handed

 

[audioslave]

Actually,,,, a fresh beginner who holds the guitar for the very frist time...

it doesnt matter whether you are a lefty or righter,- as a chop stick handler, or writing with pen etc....

learning the guitar is the same as it is... program the motor of your finger

 

[chiagerald]

Thanks guys, will print out this thread and pass to my friend... let him decide lah

 

[ShredCow]

Thanks guys, will print out this thread and pass to my friend... let him decide lah

One of the best things to do! Good choice.