Left Handed Guitar Players Help For Lefties

Creative juice seems to be very when represented when it comes to lefties. Think Mozart, Beethoven, Michelangelo. So why does the lefty guitarist need a wee bit of help. What is their problem?

Some of the most creative people of all time were known to be left handed. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Einstein, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Bach one could go on and on. But when it comes to Guitarists there is a problem...Which way round does this thing go.
If you are right handed this may have never blipped on the radar of your mind. You have been surrounded by right-handed players playing right-handed guitars. Everything in the universe is just as it should be; Shops are full of your kind of instrument they knew you were coming. All is peace in the valley.
Not so for our creative genius lefty he or she has to make a monumental decision before the starters flag falls, which way around do I stick the pointy end? And as it turns out there are good reasons either way. Life has this funny habit of not doing what it’s told, and going in a straight line.
At the risk of sounding a bit philosophical, the best way to approach your decision is to see it as series of creative opportunities. You can be like Bob Geldof and play left-handed but with right handed guitar, strings upside down. This has the advantage of giving you a different style, and when you visit your mates you can still play their guitar, the down side is it may limit your speed and technique latter on. (Ask Bob)
You can take the Hendrix approach and just turn the strings around on a right-hand guitar. Looks cool and the only downside is unless your guitar playing mates are all lefty too, you got to travel with your instrument man. (No biggie when you’re keen.)
But the option that gets my attention is the lefty playing right-handed on a conventionally strung axe. This speaks of new territory and strange possibilities. And this is something muso’s are always on the hunt for. Who wants to sound like everybody else? You don’t have to look far for some inspiring examples. How does Gary Moore sound, or Duane Allman, Paul Simon, Mark knopfler. (Bunch of duds.) The big pro’s on this approach are a thundering fret hand, and no shortage of guitars to pick up. The main con is you will have to work hard at least initially on you strumming technique.
It should also be kept in mind that way we hold the guitar today was inherited from classical playing, when finger picking, not pick playing was the only approach in town. So today we are at least free to experiment.
My advice if you are a lefty starting out wether young or mature. Give both left and right playing a try and see how you feel. Keeping in mind both methods will feel awkward at the start. But it is not a life sentence and certainly no waste of time. For my money the most important part is getting underway. Especially if you have a few years on the metaphorical clock. Don’t procrastinate, an old guy said to me one time “If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it”
In the end there is no right and wrong approach just your choice. All the best for your musical endeavours. Make a noise, you’ll be glad you did.


Check out these great resources http://muzoflight.info/ for the young guys and dolls, and http://muzoflighta.info/ for the people setting out a bit latter. Good luck and don’t be afraid to have a go you’ve got nothing to lose. Thanks for reading.