If you have an inkling to pick up the guitar and shred with the best of ‘em, and you happen to fall into the estimated 90% of individuals born right-handed that is sweet news for you. Along with right-handed people, right-handed guitars far outnumber the lefty guitars of the world. But that is not to say lefty guitarists are screwed.
First of all, if you are left-handed, yay for you for adding diversity to the world. Second of all, there are certainly left-handed guitars to be had. Thirdly, just because you are left-handed doesn’t mean you have to play a left-handed guitar. And finally, you don’t even have to play left-handed at all.
Four Options for Left-Handed Guitarists
David cook
1. PLAY A LEFT-HANDED GUITAR
Duh! Need I say more? Well, I will. American Idol winner David Cook falls into this category.
Paul McCartney
2. Play a right handed guitar modified to play left-handed
Take a right-handed guitar and flip the order of the strings and then play the guitar as if it were a left-handed one. Dare I mention yet another Paul? A 15-year old Paul McCartney attempted to play a right-handed guitar as a right-handed player, but when he eyed a poster showing Slim Whitman playing left-handed he reversed the order of strings.
Paul Dexter
3. PLAY A RIGHT-HANDED GUITAR RIGHT-HANDED
Say what? It is more common than you might think for a lefty to play right-handed. Paul Simon is one such bloke, but there’s another Paul you may have heard of who falls in this category. Our very own Paul Dexter of Dexter Music fame happens to be a lefty who plays a mean right-handed bass.
jimi hendrix
4. Play an unmodified right handed guitar left-handed
Simply play a right-handed guitar, as is, in the left-handed position. (Did I just use the word “simply” in that sentence?) Well, Jimi Hendrix learned to do just this. He played both right-handed and left-handed actually. His dad believed playing left-handed was a sign of the devil and made him learn right-handed, but whenever dear old dad wasn't around he played the same guitar, without re-stringing it, as a lefty.
A Right-Handed Guitar Player Can Play Left-Handed
Lefty’s aren’t the only one’s who can mix it up. John Meyer is right-handed, plays guitar right-handed, but can also play left-handed. Right-handed folks just have an easier time of it, what with all the right-handed guitars in the world.
So What's the Point Here?
The point is, for the lefties of the world who wish to shred, you have options. So figure out what works best for you and get to practicing. Dexter Music Camp will be here before you know it!
Written by Jenna Dexter ®2015
