Learn How To Play Guitar & Guitar Accessories

Question: Left handed guitar or right handed guitar?

(Posted by: RileeBby on 2009-10-16 15:40:30)

I'm a beginner and I wanna learn how to play the guitar. But I don't know weather to buy a right handed guitar or a left handed one. I'm left handed to begin with but im not sure.. What do u think i should do? Or is there a way you can tell witch one would be better? Please help or give me opinions. Thanks =). Thanks lester =)

Posted by: Lester G on 2009-10-16, 15:45:51

Most lefties learn to play right handed and it's a wise decision. Both hands have an important job to do and if anything the fretting hand has the more challenging job. If you learn to play right handed you would be fretting with your dominant hand, a distinct advantage. Plus, there are more guitars available to you as well as more teaching materials. Many manufacturers charge a premium for a left handed model. Overall, right handed is the best way to go. Good luck.

Posted by: byrde94 on 2009-10-16, 16:38:16

Lester is right most lefties do play right handed as long as no one makes a big deal of it, when you/ they start playing Since the left hand is doing most of the work, you actually have an advantage good luck

Posted by: TommyMc on 2009-10-16, 17:14:58

I agree with Lester. People who play left handed guitars will tell you that they felt awkward when they tried to play a normal guitar. The truth is that *everybody* feels clumsy at first. Both of your hands are going to be doing complex work and need to be trained. I could even argue that lefties have an advantage because it's the left hand that's doing all the fancy fingering at first. If you were learning any other instrument, we wouldn't be discussing this. Left handed piano? Flute? Sax? If you chose to learn left handed, you will find that all the instructional material and chord charts are backwards. You won't be able to play most other people's guitars. Your selection of instruments will be significantly reduced. Most music stores don't stock left handed guitars, and not all models are available left handed. Since they have to be ordered, you won't be able to try before you buy. This isn't a lefty-in-a-right-hand-world issue. Lefties do learn to play standard guitars with no more difficulty than anybody else. I also know some very good musicians who play left handed. I don't mean any disrespect to them, but there are a lot of practical reasons to learn on a standard (right handed) guitar. I would urge you to at least give it a fair chance