PLAYING LEFT HANDED: Living in a Right Man's World

By Paul De Carlo

Loads of 1966 Lefty Fender Stratocasters

So you decided to pick up a guitar, but you held it upside down. Don't worry, it is not as bad as they say, and yes, you can be just as an accomplished player as any righty out there. But I won't lie, it does have its drawbacks, but more about that later.

So you were growing up and playing air guitar or tennis racquets upside down compared to most of your friends, or you emulated Jimmi Hendrix and decided it was cooler to be different. Whatever the fact is, you are either left-handed, ambidextrous or it just feels more comfortable to hold a guitar with your right hand at the fret board instead of holding a plectrum.

If you are left handed, it is not your fault that you are statistically 27% better at the creative arts than your right-handed counterparts. It's not your fault that you are trying your hardest in a field that is generally dominated by the right-handed.

If you have picked up a guitar and you have found it comfortable to play right-handed (left hand working the frets, right hand plucking/strumming the strings), then for God's sake, KEEP ON DOING THAT. It will prove to work to your advantage and make things a lot easier, give you wider opportunities in purchasing guitars and be cheaper for you in the long run. If, like me, it is more comfortable to play the guitar upside down then you are in the same boat as me and about 1/9th of the world's population.

Left-handed players Martin Marnell and Paul de Carlo.

So, now you're thinking, why should I pay more for a guitar than my right handed counterparts? Why should I have a smaller selection of guitars to choose from when I am looking to buy? Well the answer is simply because that's the way it is, I agree it is unfair, but no amount of screaming ranting and raving will change the fact that all music/guitar shops are there to make money, and the large majority of players are right handed, so that is what the shops sell. The guitar companies who make the guitars are also there to make money and to make a line of left handed models slows and complicates production, so they only do a few runs a year of only a few models, and that is just the way it is, life is cruel, but I am sure you will learn to deal with it.

Most enterprising guitar shops will always have a small selection of left-handed guitars, and are always able to order left-handed models, but be careful here. As I am sure you are aware, guitars, like most instruments are not all the same, no matter if they are the same model. If you have a guitar in mind, and they make that model in left hand, and you like the tone because one of your mates has the same one BEWARE! When you pick one up to play, you may notice that it does not sound like your mates, or you just don't like the tone. All guitars are not the same, and even the same brands and models differ between each individual guitar.

Be honest with the folks at the guitar store, tell them you are serious about purchasing a new left handed guitar, this is how much you want to spend, this is the style, shape or brand you are seeking and talk with them about what they can do. Make it clear to them that you will not purchase the guitar once it arrives at the store, but you will buy it, if after you play it, it is all you thought it would be.

So the first question you need to ask yourself prior to purchasing a lefty is, what do I want? Your answer to begin with is simple. Electric or acoustic? That is an answer I can't help you with, my only suggestion is pick what ever grabs you the most. Learning one is not better than learning the other. Learning something you enjoy listening to is the key.

 Left handed guitarists Sean Nash and Martin Marnell demonstrating their left handed shaker skills.

Shop around, use the net to your advantage and pick up and play as many lefty's as you can. What ever you do, do not pick up a right-handed guitar. Do not even contemplate buying it because you want to string it upside down a la Jimi Hendrix. Jimi had no choice - but you do. If it is an acoustic, the guitar will never sound, nor play as it should when strung upside down. The bracing of a guitar is used for support and tone, if you mess around with the strings, then the bracing is compromised as is the tone, feel and structure of the guitar. If you want electric, then you are lucky as you have a pretty good selection as a lefty.

So there are all the negative things about being a lefty, so what are the positives I hear you ask? Well as a lefty:

• You stand out from the crowd (think Kurt Cobain, Jimmi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DaVinci, Napoleon and of course Ned Flanders from The Simpsons).
• You can play anything a righty can and there are no limitations to what you can play despite all the false information out there.
• It makes guitar lessons a breeze, because if you are sitting in-front of your teacher, all you need to do is mirror what he/she does, which is easier than looking and reversing the finger positions like righty's have to do.
• You are more likely to make it in a band and attract attention because a band is also about looks these days and left-handed guitarists look unique.

Well I hope this has been of some help, below are some useful links for all you lefty's, but most of all, have fun playing, enjoy it and keep playing that baby upside down.

Lefty's unite! ! ! ! ! !

Gnome Links:

• You can find Left-Handed Guitars online: www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/guitar.html or www.ebay.com
• Compare Guitar Lessons: www.GuitarLessonsReview.com
• Learn Guitar Crash Course: www.learn-to-play-guitar.net
• Left-Handed Heaven: www.lefthandedguitars.co.uk
• Southpaws Rule This Site - this company in the US specialises in left-handed stringed instruments. Guitars, basses, banjos. www.southpawguitars.com
• But wait! There is hope for the Left-Handed In Australia! www.pksmusic.iinet.net.au