Any lefty guitarists?

[Anonymous]

Hi - anyone have a lefty playing guitar? Are you having them play RH or LH guitar? Would appreciate any feedback because apparently this is a *major* debate (even amongst professional guitarists/teachers) and I'm struggling about what to do for my beginner DS. Insights welcome!

[Anonymous]

Take her and try a bunch of guitars and see what she likes.

[Anonymous]

My DD's guitar teacher says absolutely no to a left handed guitar. That being said, my husband bought one for himself because he once broke his pinky finger and cannot bend it normally to play the guitar in the normal right handed fashion. When he was trying to self teach himself off youtube, it was a challenge--there is very, very little out there for left handed guitars and he would have to spend a lot of time figuring stuff out.

[Anonymous]

My lefty played with R handed guitar. You use both hands. Just as my left learned how to knit right handed. Otherwise would have to reverse pattern instructions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD's guitar teacher says absolutely no to a left handed guitar. That being said, my husband bought one for himself because he once broke his pinky finger and cannot bend it normally to play the guitar in the normal right handed fashion. When he was trying to self teach himself off youtube, it was a challenge--there is very, very little out there for left handed guitars and he would have to spend a lot of time figuring stuff out.

Why would he object to lefty guitars? If it's good enough for Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix, it should be good enough for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

Same here. My lefty son "plays" guitar with his right hand. As others pointed out, both hands are used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

Same here. My lefty son "plays" guitar with his right hand. As others pointed out, both hands are used.

Huh? I've played guitar for 17 years and what you're saying makes no sense. Yes, you play the guitar with both hands, but each hand does VERY different things. Strumming/finger picking vs. finding notes on a fretboard require very different types of motor skills.

Your son being able to play a right-handed guitar doesn't necessarily mean everyone should/can just play guitar right-handed. There's a reason professional guitarists like McCartney and Hendrix play/played left-handed guitars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

You're not getting this. They don't make left and right handed violins/violas/cellos, etc. They do for guitars. A guitar isn't really a string instrument.

You really don't know what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

You're not getting this. They don't make left and right handed violins/violas/cellos, etc. They do for guitars. A guitar isn't really a string instrument.

You really don't know what you're talking about.

Actually I know exactly what I'm talking about. When I say my DS plays several string instruments I'm including viola, mandolin, ukulele, guitar. God help us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just play it the right hand way - it makes ZERO difference. Its an instrument for two hands and you use two hands. End of story.

My DS is strongly LH and has been since he first started picking things up with his fingers. He plays several string instruments and has never needed any accommodations.

Same here. My lefty son "plays" guitar with his right hand. As others pointed out, both hands are used.

Huh? I've played guitar for 17 years and what you're saying makes no sense. Yes, you play the guitar with both hands, but each hand does VERY different things. Strumming/finger picking vs. finding notes on a fretboard require very different types of motor skills.

Your son being able to play a right-handed guitar doesn't necessarily mean everyone should/can just play guitar right-handed. There's a reason professional guitarists like McCartney and Hendrix play/played left-handed guitars.

Well Hendrix is long dead and McCartney is nearly there. Old news.