left handed?!?

[blindinglights7]

I will (hopefully) be getting my guitar soon (acoustic electric). I am left handed... but I don't think I want to learn guitar left handed. It just seems like it would be very inconvenient. What do you think???

Plus, any tips for a newbie at guitar would be much appreciated... or any links to old threads. Thanks!

 

[Theedge070]

My brother is a lefty and he learned right handed, and he plays fine.

I think that if it's something totally new that the muscles are trying, like playing guitar, it doesn't necessarily matter which way you play the instrument.

 

[WalkOn21]

I think it's actually easier to play a right-handed guitar if you're left-handed.
'Cause you get to do the most difficult part of playing with your 'good hand'.

 

[edgeboy]

Im a lefty. I couldnt play right-handed to save my life.

 

[Mofo]

Another Lefty here! I also play left-handed guitars, I tried for a time playing right after I started learning left and could never do it, it's ok, but it sucks that I can never join a group or something because 99.9% of the time there are only right-hand guitars, you should give it a try with right-hand guitars also left-hand guitars are usually more expensive and harder to find.

 

[U2Stephen]

I'm a lefty too, definately learn on a right handed guitar. There will be a lot of occasions when you are visiting someone who has a guitar or two, and if you only can play a left handed guitar there's not a lot you can do. Besides both hands on the guitar are required to do some pretty complex maneuvering, so I don't see why it would be easier to learn on one or the other.

 

[mirrorballman]

im a lefty, and play right handed guitar. i feel like it has a good and a bad side.

good: as explained above, you have your "stronger" hand for hard chords.

bad: i feel like when i try strumming fast (like the elevation solo or gone at the end, boston style), i just cant do it with my hand. ive tried with my left and it works better...

 

[JMScoopy]

i am left handed and i also play right handed. I think its too awkward to finger the frets with my right hand.

 

[U2Kitten]

My husband is left handed, but can only play guitar right handed, though he can't eat or write with his right hand. He plays very well.

 

[raphatrind]

i´m lefthanded and i play "righthanded guitars", i don´t change the chords, i just play upside down ...it´s difficult but it´s fine

 

[WalkOn21]

i´m lefthanded and i play "righthanded guitars", i don´t change the chords, i just play upside down ...it´s difficult but it´s fine

That must be odd, you have to strum the other way.

 

[passionxwarfare]

I'm a lefty and I play righthanded as well. It has its advantages: for one, you will probably already have a lot of dexterity in your fretting hand.

Whatever you choose, I wish you best of luck in your musical endeavors!

 

[loveryday]

i am lefthand. and i am sure i won´t be that good on the right hand. although i can take all the chords playing righthand. what is the difference may be the feeling in rhythm strumming of chords and solos. so i am glad to play lefthand. but the disadvantage of lefthand is that lefthand guitars choice is very small and they are of course?why more expensive. but all in all i am a glad lefty!

 

[loveryday]

i am lefthanded and i don´t see any problem the way i am - and that is fret with right hand and strum with left hand. by the way i can play every chord with a right hand guitar just upside down.
the only problem is that left hand guitars a bit more expensive ... so go if you are left go left i only can recommend !

 

[raphatrind]

i am left handed and i can play in right way and in upside down way ... it´s quite difficult to make some solos when you play upside down, as VERTIGO SOLO...

 

[craigp]

im a left handed bass player but i play right handed guitars. its so much easier. Plus, right handed guitars are much cheaper than lefties and theres a greater range