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Question: Should i learn how to play guitar right of left handed?

(Posted by: on 2010-02-05 08:52:24)

I was thinking of using my mom's old guitar to start out, but I just realized that I'm left handed and that guitar is right handed. Is there anyway to play a right hand guitar left handed? If so how? http:/ / en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Left- handedness#Guitars Here on wikipedia, it said something about converting a right hand guitar to a left. So how does that work? Or should I just buy a left handed guitar? Or should I just learn right handed? (I learned to cut with scissors right handed cuz most of the time I couldn't get my hand on lefty scissors and now it comes naturally) I'm thinking that just learning right handed would be best, because if I ever have to play someone else's guitar i could do it easily. It would be best to learn both, lol. So what do you think? (Even if I go with right handed, I'd like to know how to convert a guitar to left handed just in case)

Posted by: juicebypete on 2010-02-05, 09:06:32

I would say right handed. Since a majority of people play right handed it would make more sense for learning purposes.

Posted by: TommyMc on 2010-02-05, 09:32:03

I realize that it must be difficult to be a left handed person in a right hand world....scissors and learning to write are good examples. Please don't let your left hand orientation cause you to learn guitar left handed. Your mom doesn't have a "right handed " guitar....she has a normal guitar. Ever see a left handed piano? Flute? Sax? This isn't an issue of right-hand vs left hand. Playing any instrument requires equal work from both hands....so even right handed people have a hard time at first. I realize that there are some left handed guitars sold: enough people have self-taught themselves to create a small market. The majority of people...left handed or right handed just learn to play a regular guitar. You *can* learn left handed....so could a right handed person.....but knowing that you can learn either way, why would you want to make your life difficult? All the instructional material, chord charts, etc will be backwards. You'll never be able to play other peoples guitars...or try out new ones. The selection of left handed guitars is very limited and mostly they have to be special ordered. Some guitars can be strung backwards, but there's more to it than just putting the strings on backwards. Slots have to be re-cut and intonation has to be adjusted. Since acoustic guitars have fixed bridges, you'll never get the intonation correct without major surgery to the guitar. My suggestion is to try to learn on your mothers guitar, just as it is. Give it a couple of months. All beginners feel like their off-hand is clumsy at first, so don't let that discourage you. If right hand playing just doesn't work for you after a fair trial, try it left handed.....just realize it will be a harder road you're starting down. Best of luck.

Posted by: JR on 2010-02-05, 20:32:55

I think it would be best to use a left handed guitar instead of trying to convert a right handed guitar. Depending on the type of guitar you have, there are some things that are not that easy to convert. The bridge of some guitars are a specific height and distance from the neck to allow for both clearance and to adjust intonation. If it is not set up correctly the guitar will sound awful. The nut also has to be changed to make the change. There may also be some sound degradation if you have a guitar where the big e string is farther from the nut than the small e string. It is somewhat difficult for a beginner to set up a guitar without help from someone more experienced. I suggest that if you decide to convert that you find a guitar shop in your area and ask them for help. The wrong set up on a guitar making the wrong sound will frustrate most beginners to the point of giving up. Good Luck! JR jrsguitars.com