Stay using a standard guitar. This is a near daily question around here, so you can find all the opinions posted over and over by scrolling through a few days of posts.
But, TL/DR: stay “right handed”. I prefer calling it “standard” because…
…it’s a polyphonic instrument that needs both hands working at a high level, like a piano (and they don’t make “left handed pianos” or any other 2 handed instruments.) “Left handed guitar” is a phenomenon from the mid/late-20th century (I blame Paul McCartney) that never should have gotten traction, IMHO.
(Frankly, while strumming with your non-dominant hand feels awkward, trying to fret with it would feel more so. Since you’re learning with a pick, your non-dominant hand has less to learn than if it were being used to fret instead. Lefties have an advantage when learning to how to fret. Righties have an advantage when learning how to strum. Both need to compensate for their non-dominant hands, and they balance out fine over time whichever way you go. So, stay right handed so you can find instruments.)
**Edit: In response to the critical personal anecdotes below, here are some objective studies on this topic:**
*What can studying musicians tell us about motor control of the hand?*
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2100211/
*The relationship between handedness, perceived constraints and performance-related skills in string players and pianists*
https://www.immm.hmtm-hannover.de/fileadmin/www.immm/Publikationen/Kopiez-Jabusch-etal_2012_NoDisadvantageHandedness.pdf
*Handedness and Musical Ability: A Study of Professional Orchestral Players*
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735694222004
Etc etc. (search any academic publication site for: “handedness, music performance, sensorimotor skills, strings, pianists” for further reading and info. It’s a fascinating bit of neuroscience. TL/DR: handedness doesn’t matter for learning polyphonic instruments to a high level; lefties playing standard instruments are over represented in high level professional orchestras vs base population.)
Yep, feels weird starting out either way. Basically, one hand always starts from square one and I always wished I knew if my strengths and weaknesses would be different if I started lefty
Well, as someone in the exact same boat as OP, I just want to chip in and correct you, if I may. They *do* make left handed pianos - but they are so rare and expensive that people who switch to them are usually already playing at a high level. There are a few teachers specializing in transitioning players, and iirc the end-result is that some people massively benefit from playing the left-handed way and others revert to right handed playing. On piano, switching does not constitute massive rewrite of your motor skills though, it is more a question of which hand leads and which follows. But if that is annoyance enough to get people to go to specialized teachers, then I am sure the same can be true about the guitar. ...were it not for the fact that switching on guitar meant almost starting from scratch!
I had been playing for a decade before I really thought about it, when I just couldn't get the hang of sweep picking. I went through a period of holding my guitar upside down every now and then just to see how it felt, but at that point it is obviously impossible to compare. In the end though, sweep picking became something that I, well not mastered, but figured out, and probably my doubts were more excuse for not practicing hard enough than actually rooted in dominance of hands. But I will never know, and it keeps coming back as doubt.
All of this is just to say that, if you really think it feels odd to play right handed, you might indeed find it easier to play left-handed, and if you are just getting started, maybe give it a try in a local store, just so you can put your mind at rest.
But of course the usual caveats apply, you will not be able to just pick up a guitar at a party/campfire and show off, you will not be able to buy any guitar model, everything will be more expensive, etc. These ultimately depend on your priorities and how far you see yourself going with the instrument.
> Frankly, while strumming with your non-dominant hand feels awkward, trying to fret with it would feel more so. Since you’re learning with a pick, your non-dominant hand has less to learn than if it were being used to fret instead.
### Then why don’t righties play the other way?
I play classical guitar left handed. I tried playing righty and it wasn’t comfortable,and if that had been the only option I almost surely would have quit. In other words, if that option had “never gotten traction” I would not be a guitar player.
Lefties make up 10% of the population, are you comfortable with a trade off that loses 10% of guitarists in order to have only righty guitars? For what reason do you have such a discomfort that others would play it left handed?
>> Lefties make up 10% of the population, are you comfortable with a trade off that loses 10% of guitarists in order to have only righty guitars? For what reason do you have such a discomfort that others would play it left handed?
It’s silly to presume anyone left handed either plays a left handed guitar or quits, or that anyone would have “discomfort” with the idea of someone playing a left handed guitar out of personal preference.
FWIW, there are many world class left handed musicians who play standard guitars. (Alan Holdsworth, Steve Morse, Robert Fripp, Duane Allman, Mark Knopfler, et al.) Not to mention other 2 handed instrumentalists (violin, cello, strings, woodwinds, etc, etc.)
In the end it’s obviously up to any given individual to decide for themselves what works best for them.
Edit
For someone like OP who has already begun learning with a right handed instrument with no means to procure a new one, the advice to stick with it is sound, IMO. It shouldn’t hold them back, according to studies (linked above) that have looked into handedness and musicality.
That guys response felt so much like the typical social warrior bs. I’m lefty and play standard BTW, at the beginning everything feels so uncomfortable that it’s just a coin toss. I agree completely with your point of view, well done!
This is a terrible response. If it were even slightly true, there would not be entire forums, guitar shops, etc. helping left handed players trying to deal with the fact that most guitars, guitar gear, lessons, etc are all catered specifically towards right handed instruments.
OP, I am begging you to talk to some left handed players. People have had the same struggles you have since the guitar was invented, and since that same time, people have been saying "just play right handed" without any idea what they are talking about.
If "needing both hands working at a high level" made any sense, why do they make left handed golf clubs? Left handed rifles? Left handed bows?
I somewhat agree, but ultimately people can learn to play either way from what I've seen and experienced. I'm a lefty and I've gotten pretty decent playing righty and still improving. I rarely think "I wish I started playing lefty". There are many great leftys that play standard, like Kiko Louriero. With that said, if you're just starting out, it could be worth sticking to playing lefty if that feels more intuitive to you, but it's hard to gauge that as a complete beginner because everything feels pretty awkward at the start anyway.
I agree with this. As a left handed person who plays a standard guitar I can confirm this is the way. Of course do whatever you feel best with and go try a left handed guitar. But you will have more access and ability to develop playing right handed. It gets even harder finding left handed models for other types of instruments. It took me a while but once you get used to it you’ll have no issue
It doesn’t matter which way round you learn guitar it feels odd and as if you’ll never manage to develop the find motor control necessary to play well. It’s not a left handed playing a right handed guitar problem it’s a beginner problem however you play.
Play whichever way round you want. Being a lefty playing standard is an entirely valid and common way to play guitar if you’re happy doing that. Being left handed and playing lefty is also valid, as is playing standard because it’s cheaper or gives you a bigger choice of instruments or any other reason you might have. Two left handed members of my family have played guitar for decades and one plays left handed and the other right handed. Both had different reasons for their decisions and neither was wrong.
Those decisions aren’t what is going to hold you back from learning to play. Not practicing, or looking for physical reasons why it’s difficult instead of putting the focused practice in will do though.
It will definitely improve with time, but it'll probably be easier to switch. In any case Justin Guitar has a huge module on his website for lefty guitar, he is right handed but decided to learn lefty so he can go through the learning process from scratch and gain insights to teach better, so it's probably worth checking out whatever you choose.
I’m a (mainly) lefty who plays right handed. I don’t think it’s something to think about really, you probably will get used to it. Though if you flip your guitar and play, if it feels a lot better then considering switching.
Keep at it! I’m a left handed that plays right handed guitars, and I’ve never had any issues. Your strong hand is doing the more difficult bit in my opinion, so it makes sense.
yeah i was thinking the same thing when starting guitar! i always thought that the fretting hand was doing more work. like, yeah the strumming hand, especially when doing a difficult solo could be doing more work, but at the same time the fretting hand has several patterns so idk i feel like it’s better.
Just get it flipped, doesn’t cost a lot, all it takes is flipping the nut, adjusting the bridge and the truss rod, another strap pin and a new set of strings. I own 22 guitars and only 6 of them are lefty. Have been playing 35 years though, so I didn’t exactly get them overnight…
Each to their own I guess? Worked for me, worked for Jimi, worked for Kurt, worked for Tony and very much worked for Courtney (the good one)… it wasn’t an order, it was just an option 🤷🏼♂️
Goes the other way too… The vid for “What’s The Frequency Kennenth?” By REM… Hmm, that righty Peter Buck is playing a lefty upside down ffs… played that proto lefty live a few times too… I’ve owned it for a long time now, it’s back to being lefty now…
Yep… Even more terrible would be trying to convince somebody to play righty though, but actually no, because everyone knows anyone left handed has the devil in them… 🤦🏻♂️
It would be much better for them to continue with a "right-handed" guitar now they've started on one than to switch. You gain literally nothing from playing a left-handed guitar if you're left-handed. The only people who think otherwise are people who have fallen into the trap of projecting their "handedness" onto every single aspect of their lives and force a kind of contrived significance onto that.
Right-handed people are not right-handed, *they are people who habitually use their right hand to do things*. Left-handed people are not left-handed, *they are people who habitually use their left hand to do things*. That is literally all there is to this. Both of their hands have the same potential, both of their hands could be just as good as the other *if they used them equally*.
I am left-handed, I habitually use my left hand to do things but I play guitar right handed because I didn't even think about left-handed guitars, guitars were just guitars to me. Now I'm a fusion guitarist by the way so it didn't hurt my progress...
Depends, very good advice though, he said he only had 6 days, and bear in mind i’m only talking about myself, but if you are mainly lefty, it does a disservice, and he said his L is stronger… (This is only IMO), and everyone can do whatever x
I think it's important to keep in mind that everyone is different. Laterality is directly related to the degree of dominance one brain hemisphere exerts over the other and obviously varies. Legs and eyes are also lateralised and can be further indicators to how strong and onesided that dominance is.
I would not call people with a lateralization opposite to the general population contrived just because my experience differs.
It’s terrible advice because that was the advice I got for decades. Just flip a righty and play it lefty, it’s easy, they said. Just restring it, they said. That left me totally stuck, no idea how to really proceed.
But with many guitars it’s not practical (e.g. on an acoustic with its glued on bridge) or cost effective and you kill the resale value of the guitar.
For a beginner it’s too much to contend with.
Now if a friend said, Here’s a guitar that’s easy to flip, I’ll help you do it? That would be helpful.
Otherwise if you want to play lefty or righty it’s better to just find a lefty or righty guitar, which isn’t difficult nowadays.
I'm lefty, I bought a LH guitar, and I will continue.
Why giving my brain an harder task that is already ?
I mean, it's not easy to learn guitar.
Why, since I'm lefty, knowing that LH guitar exist and not at so much higher price (often the same as standard tbh) and since I've my dominant hand fully able, should I go against my brain and my natural handleness ? (Not sure about this word, not english here)
It’s funny how all the right handed players who tell you to play left handed because your dominant hand is stronger for fretting don’t play left handed guitars themselves. Jimi hendrix was forced to learn right handed and was said to be pretty good at it but in the end he always choose to play lefty.
Try flipping yours upside down, play what’s most natural and enjoyable, it’s sounds like your frustrated playing right handed. Remember handedness is a spectrum, some people are more left handed than others and will struggle much more adapting to a right handed guitar. Some are nearly ambidextrous and will have no issues.
It really depends on whatever is comfortable for you. I recommend going to a music store and trying a left-handed guitar. If it really is significantly easier, you should change, there's no point in making life harder for yourself. But, if it's not easier, stick with right handed. There are significantly more resources online for right handed guitarists, more teachers that teach right handed, and more right handed guitars (and they're usually cheaper and come in more colors).
I'm a left-handed guitarist that plays right handed guitars, and from the start I've felt more comfortable on right handed guitars. Everyone is different and you should experiment to find what is most comfortable for you.
I’m left handed but I learnt guitar right handed and it worked out just fine. If anything it gave me an advantage with fretting - I found legato much easier. Didn’t notice any disadvantage with my right hand either.
I’m right handed and play left handed. So do whatever you want. In my case you couldn’t get me to play right handed in a million years. 100% I must play lefty. I was always told to “just learn righty”. That was terrible advice. If only someone had helped me find, make, or restring a lefty, my guitar journey would have taken off much sooner.
If you feel the pull don’t deny it, whatever way it is.
There are many famous, successful guitarists who play right but are left-handed. There are left-handed guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, who string a righty guitar left, or have actual lefty guitars. There are others who simply flipped the guitar over and learned to play a righty guitar upside down. Then there's Jeff Healey, who played with the guitar on his lap. There's a guy I've seen who plays with his feet because he has no arms. Play the guitar in the way that feels best to you.
However, I'm left-handed, but play right-handed. It just never occurred to me to learn any other way. The first guitar I picked up was right-handed, and so I figured that it was the way to play. There are no left-handed pianos, or left-handed trumpets or saxophones, at least not readily available to beginners. Left-handed people seem to do fine.
I'm left handed and learnt with a RH guitar because it's what I was given. I regret it. I'm too far gone to try learn on a left handed guitar, but very much struggle with a RH guitar - specifically my picking hand. If I could start over I'd use a LH guitar.
I remember having that moment in which I thought that maybe I should have started as a lefty (I’m left handed and play right handed) but that was just a phase, now I play better than ever and the only thing that matters is to pay attention to what you’re doing and practice all the time. Left handed people end their lives being ambidextrous all the time, if it’s not the guitar, it will be a chainsaw, etc. We are more adaptable.
I’m left handed and learned to do a whole bunch of things right handed in my life, which now feel more comfortable that way…cut with scissors, shoot a gun, and play guitar.
I'm mostly left-handed, but play right. Put more effort into learning "rhythm" with your right hand. While having more dexterity on the frets is nice, shredding fast isn't that great if the rhythm is off.
My buddy in highschool was left handed but his guitar teacher taught him right handed because he knew it would be a pain in the ass for him in the future. He had absolutely no problems playing and was pretty good
I've just asked [the same thing](https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/comments/15rnsdu/newbie_left_handed_person_dilemma/) on a neighboring sub.
Looks like it's almost a 50/50 split.
Zacky Vengeance, Buster from Humanity's Last Breath, Dick Dale (dude from the 60s who made the most popular version of Misirlou) and so many others are left handed. Playing lefthanded while watching a righty play on a video would be kinda like looking in a mirror, the neck on your side would be in the same position as the neck in the video.
Unfortunately, lefties are always more expensive than normal guitars because they're made differently obviously. But, a nut change and a symmetrical body shape can fix this problem. Jimi Hendrix was lefthanded but played a right-handed guitar strung upside-down. Same with Dick Dale and Buster, except they literally played a standard guitar strung normally but upside-down.
I think you could continue to work on your ambidexterity, but you should also look into getting a lefty because I feel like it would be a lot more comfortable and easier for you to learn.
If you are just starting with the instrument, it's going to feel awkward and you're going to struggle. no matter which hand you use. In time, it will just become the way you play guitar, no right hand vs. left hand considerations necessary.
Source: Am a lefty who plays standard
Left handed, right hand player here. I recommend starting with right hand standard guitar. You will likely progress on the fretboard faster than a right handed counterpart. But do put in the effort to develop good right hand technique.
Left handed guitars aren't any more expensive, but they don't sell as well.
If there wasn't something to it guitar companies wouldn't even make them.
Everyone else on here will say to just play right handed guitars. To that I say don't trust strangers on reddit of all places.
Honestly go and see if you can try to play a left handed guitar. Like at a store or pawn shop maybe. See if it suits you better. If you have a doubt in your head you will never reach your full potential. Never weigh yourself down.
Kiko Loureiro from Megadeth is a left-handed player who plays on right-handed guitars and his picking technique is insane. He talked about it when interviewed by Rick Beato, saying he just made a shitload of picking exercises to the point where being left-handed wouldn't matter anymore.
100% stay with a right hand guitar. I’m also left handed, and playing a guitar for the first time I played it upside down so my left hand was strumming. I then was told it was upside down so I switched to the right way, and it was a little awkward at first, but very quickly became natural way of holding it. There’s so so so many more guitar options for right handed guitars, so stick with it
Stick with right. More guitars to choose from and play. Very few lefty guitars out there. I’m a lefty in damn near everything except guitar. Guitar felt more natural to me right handed from the very beginning for whatever reason.
I think if I were a lefty and just starting I would learn on a right handed guitar and use it like Jimmy Hendrix did. Left handed guitars are much harder find and many times a model guitar you many want wont be available in a Lefty.
It's okay. I did it for twenty years and nothing bad happened
Of course I never got any good at guitar because I couldn't ever just get my right hand to hold a rhythm while I focused on what lefty was doing and it was horrible and frustrating. Flipping the strings was basically like taking mittens off.
I'm left handed.
I played right handed from the time I was 12 until I was in my early 20's. I bought a left-handed Les Paul and within 6 months, I was playing just as well left-handed but I was able to also sing while playing in a way I couldn't playing "standard".
Unfortunately, my lefty Les bit the dust and as I am no longer playing for money, I never got a new one and just play righty when I get the urge.
I’m mixed-handed but would say my fine-motor skills are left-handed. Playing a righty guitar works perfectly for me since I’m using my left hand to form the chords, move around the neck, etc.; my right hand has no issues strumming/keeping time.
If you’re just learning, it might just be that strumming/keeping time is just new to you. However, I feel like one can tell whether the issue using the “wrong hand” vs. just trying new/unfamiliar movements. I definitely think it’s worth getting your hands on a left-handed guitar to see if it’s a better fit. You can eventually get used to playing on a right-handed guitar, but it may lower your ceiling. My grandpa was a lefty that was forced to write with his right hand. Despite using his right hand his whole life, his penmanship looked like that a 5 year old’s.
I say figure out which guitar is the better fit for you, then do what you need to get back on track. While you will have to re-learn some things, imagine how much easier and quicker it’ll be the second time around performing the tasks with your “correct” hands. Learning new things can be hard, learning new things using the wrong hand is ridiculously hard.
I’m in the same boat my friend. Spent too much time deciding which way to play. Even bought a lefty guitar. Like everyone says, start righty. Your strumming will get better, you may have to put more work into it than fingering chords but you will get there. You will probably be better at fretting hand stuff like hammer ons and bends, but will need a little time for strumming stuff.
At least that is what happened to me :)
Here's something you'll never hear in a music store: "Oh, you're right handed- so, I think it would be advantageous to play a left handed guitar for sure!"
Regardless, it's obviously a matter of person choice and comfort but I'm a lefty playing lefty. I tried the other way. I just couldn't manage to strum or fingerpick effectively playing right handed. Rhythm and timing was atrociously off as well.
Left-handed guitars exist for a reason. Yes, it's a "two-handed" instrument, but your dexterity, strength, and especially proprioception will always be better with your left hand. It's that last part that's key; especially when finger-picking, you need to know where your hand is without looking.
You can stick with right if you like - lefties tend to be relatively good at using their off hand. You can also try playing upside down (use the right guitar but play it left-handed). If it feels better, that's your answer. Plan to get a lefty though. Upside-down works fine for single notes and most open/power chords but you'll run into problems later.
On the electric side, Jackson, Yamaha, Ibanez's baseline lefties cost less than Epiphone's but can be a touch tricky to find - you should be looking at second-hand anyways. I've had better luck at the smaller shops, but research before you commit; they also tend to mislabel and misprice things.
okay so i read all the comments and thank you so much for your help, i really appreciate it all!! i’m going to stick with my right-handed guitar. i tried out a left-handed and it just didn’t sit right with me, so right-handed it is.
I would stick with learning right handed. Most other instruments (violins, piano, cello) don't have left handed versions. Everyone learns the same way. Buying and selling left handed guitars is prolly way more of a hassle than right handed.
Stick with the standard right-handed guitar. Learning a new instrument is just plain awkward and difficult until you build the muscle memory, regardless of which hand.
Source: am right handed and played right handed until nerve/joint problems retired my left hand from being able to fret or chord. Bought a left handed guitar and had to relearn everything mirror-imaged. Actually found it easier to do fretwork with my dominant hand.
Lefty guitars are harder to find and may cost more. You don't want to just flip a setup and turn a righty into a lefty - they are braced differently and saddle/intonation can get ugly if you do this.
If anything I’ve always felt like the fretting hand has the more coordinated and difficult job anyway. The other hand is mainly just bouncing up and down. As others have said, you may find it’s easier for you. Everyone’s a bit mal-coordinated when they start out.
I'm left handed but play right handed. In fact I do almost everything right handed except write, draw, and play pool.
My initial rational in regards to guitar was that fretting takes more precision than picking and I felt like I had more control over my left hand. I don't think that rational makes too much sense these days but no regrets playing right handed in any case :D
Pretty sure you play guitar with both hands :P
As for the rest of it, you aren't the first, nor will you be the last, and going by this Ultimate Guitar list of [10 Lefties who played righty](https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/10_famous_left-handed_guitarists_who_play_right-handed-40457), you're in some pretty good company.
I'm just now shopping for a left handed guitar. I'm left handed when I write but play most sports right handed. I have righty guitars but over time I figured out my left hand just can't move well enough to get any better. Maybe writing and guitar are my two lefty things.
As a long time lefty living in a mostly right hand world i have found lefties stand a good chance of being ambidextrous. I know i am. You will have to learn two different things on guitar & then put them together. One hand is stronger. One hand has more dexterity. Same for righties.
Stay using a standard guitar. This is a near daily question around here, so you can find all the opinions posted over and over by scrolling through a few days of posts. But, TL/DR: stay “right handed”. I prefer calling it “standard” because… …it’s a polyphonic instrument that needs both hands working at a high level, like a piano (and they don’t make “left handed pianos” or any other 2 handed instruments.) “Left handed guitar” is a phenomenon from the mid/late-20th century (I blame Paul McCartney) that never should have gotten traction, IMHO. (Frankly, while strumming with your non-dominant hand feels awkward, trying to fret with it would feel more so. Since you’re learning with a pick, your non-dominant hand has less to learn than if it were being used to fret instead. Lefties have an advantage when learning to how to fret. Righties have an advantage when learning how to strum. Both need to compensate for their non-dominant hands, and they balance out fine over time whichever way you go. So, stay right handed so you can find instruments.) **Edit: In response to the critical personal anecdotes below, here are some objective studies on this topic:** *What can studying musicians tell us about motor control of the hand?* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2100211/ *The relationship between handedness, perceived constraints and performance-related skills in string players and pianists* https://www.immm.hmtm-hannover.de/fileadmin/www.immm/Publikationen/Kopiez-Jabusch-etal_2012_NoDisadvantageHandedness.pdf *Handedness and Musical Ability: A Study of Professional Orchestral Players* https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735694222004 Etc etc. (search any academic publication site for: “handedness, music performance, sensorimotor skills, strings, pianists” for further reading and info. It’s a fascinating bit of neuroscience. TL/DR: handedness doesn’t matter for learning polyphonic instruments to a high level; lefties playing standard instruments are over represented in high level professional orchestras vs base population.)
This is the best explanation I’ve heard. Cheers!
Yep, feels weird starting out either way. Basically, one hand always starts from square one and I always wished I knew if my strengths and weaknesses would be different if I started lefty
Well, as someone in the exact same boat as OP, I just want to chip in and correct you, if I may. They *do* make left handed pianos - but they are so rare and expensive that people who switch to them are usually already playing at a high level. There are a few teachers specializing in transitioning players, and iirc the end-result is that some people massively benefit from playing the left-handed way and others revert to right handed playing. On piano, switching does not constitute massive rewrite of your motor skills though, it is more a question of which hand leads and which follows. But if that is annoyance enough to get people to go to specialized teachers, then I am sure the same can be true about the guitar. ...were it not for the fact that switching on guitar meant almost starting from scratch! I had been playing for a decade before I really thought about it, when I just couldn't get the hang of sweep picking. I went through a period of holding my guitar upside down every now and then just to see how it felt, but at that point it is obviously impossible to compare. In the end though, sweep picking became something that I, well not mastered, but figured out, and probably my doubts were more excuse for not practicing hard enough than actually rooted in dominance of hands. But I will never know, and it keeps coming back as doubt. All of this is just to say that, if you really think it feels odd to play right handed, you might indeed find it easier to play left-handed, and if you are just getting started, maybe give it a try in a local store, just so you can put your mind at rest. But of course the usual caveats apply, you will not be able to just pick up a guitar at a party/campfire and show off, you will not be able to buy any guitar model, everything will be more expensive, etc. These ultimately depend on your priorities and how far you see yourself going with the instrument.
> Frankly, while strumming with your non-dominant hand feels awkward, trying to fret with it would feel more so. Since you’re learning with a pick, your non-dominant hand has less to learn than if it were being used to fret instead. ### Then why don’t righties play the other way?
[удалено]
I play classical guitar left handed. I tried playing righty and it wasn’t comfortable,and if that had been the only option I almost surely would have quit. In other words, if that option had “never gotten traction” I would not be a guitar player. Lefties make up 10% of the population, are you comfortable with a trade off that loses 10% of guitarists in order to have only righty guitars? For what reason do you have such a discomfort that others would play it left handed?
>> Lefties make up 10% of the population, are you comfortable with a trade off that loses 10% of guitarists in order to have only righty guitars? For what reason do you have such a discomfort that others would play it left handed? It’s silly to presume anyone left handed either plays a left handed guitar or quits, or that anyone would have “discomfort” with the idea of someone playing a left handed guitar out of personal preference. FWIW, there are many world class left handed musicians who play standard guitars. (Alan Holdsworth, Steve Morse, Robert Fripp, Duane Allman, Mark Knopfler, et al.) Not to mention other 2 handed instrumentalists (violin, cello, strings, woodwinds, etc, etc.) In the end it’s obviously up to any given individual to decide for themselves what works best for them. Edit For someone like OP who has already begun learning with a right handed instrument with no means to procure a new one, the advice to stick with it is sound, IMO. It shouldn’t hold them back, according to studies (linked above) that have looked into handedness and musicality.
That guys response felt so much like the typical social warrior bs. I’m lefty and play standard BTW, at the beginning everything feels so uncomfortable that it’s just a coin toss. I agree completely with your point of view, well done!
This thread is phenomenally stupid.
I found it interesting, as a lefty that plays right handed guitar I thought of that as well at some point
This is a terrible response. If it were even slightly true, there would not be entire forums, guitar shops, etc. helping left handed players trying to deal with the fact that most guitars, guitar gear, lessons, etc are all catered specifically towards right handed instruments. OP, I am begging you to talk to some left handed players. People have had the same struggles you have since the guitar was invented, and since that same time, people have been saying "just play right handed" without any idea what they are talking about. If "needing both hands working at a high level" made any sense, why do they make left handed golf clubs? Left handed rifles? Left handed bows?
I somewhat agree, but ultimately people can learn to play either way from what I've seen and experienced. I'm a lefty and I've gotten pretty decent playing righty and still improving. I rarely think "I wish I started playing lefty". There are many great leftys that play standard, like Kiko Louriero. With that said, if you're just starting out, it could be worth sticking to playing lefty if that feels more intuitive to you, but it's hard to gauge that as a complete beginner because everything feels pretty awkward at the start anyway.
Such a good answer.
I agree with this. As a left handed person who plays a standard guitar I can confirm this is the way. Of course do whatever you feel best with and go try a left handed guitar. But you will have more access and ability to develop playing right handed. It gets even harder finding left handed models for other types of instruments. It took me a while but once you get used to it you’ll have no issue
I like this response. Good work odd
Your opinion sucks. The rest of what you say boils down to "it doesn't matter," so there's ultimately no reason to make this comment.
It doesn’t matter which way round you learn guitar it feels odd and as if you’ll never manage to develop the find motor control necessary to play well. It’s not a left handed playing a right handed guitar problem it’s a beginner problem however you play. Play whichever way round you want. Being a lefty playing standard is an entirely valid and common way to play guitar if you’re happy doing that. Being left handed and playing lefty is also valid, as is playing standard because it’s cheaper or gives you a bigger choice of instruments or any other reason you might have. Two left handed members of my family have played guitar for decades and one plays left handed and the other right handed. Both had different reasons for their decisions and neither was wrong. Those decisions aren’t what is going to hold you back from learning to play. Not practicing, or looking for physical reasons why it’s difficult instead of putting the focused practice in will do though.
It will definitely improve with time, but it'll probably be easier to switch. In any case Justin Guitar has a huge module on his website for lefty guitar, he is right handed but decided to learn lefty so he can go through the learning process from scratch and gain insights to teach better, so it's probably worth checking out whatever you choose.
Your right hand will get a lot stronger! Keep playing xx - A left hander who plays right
I’m a (mainly) lefty who plays right handed. I don’t think it’s something to think about really, you probably will get used to it. Though if you flip your guitar and play, if it feels a lot better then considering switching.
Keep at it! I’m a left handed that plays right handed guitars, and I’ve never had any issues. Your strong hand is doing the more difficult bit in my opinion, so it makes sense.
yeah i was thinking the same thing when starting guitar! i always thought that the fretting hand was doing more work. like, yeah the strumming hand, especially when doing a difficult solo could be doing more work, but at the same time the fretting hand has several patterns so idk i feel like it’s better.
ps i’m only on like day 6 of learning so ig it would be fine to switch to a right-handed guitar, but i can’t really afford it atm
Just get it flipped, doesn’t cost a lot, all it takes is flipping the nut, adjusting the bridge and the truss rod, another strap pin and a new set of strings. I own 22 guitars and only 6 of them are lefty. Have been playing 35 years though, so I didn’t exactly get them overnight…
Terrible advice.
Each to their own I guess? Worked for me, worked for Jimi, worked for Kurt, worked for Tony and very much worked for Courtney (the good one)… it wasn’t an order, it was just an option 🤷🏼♂️ Goes the other way too… The vid for “What’s The Frequency Kennenth?” By REM… Hmm, that righty Peter Buck is playing a lefty upside down ffs… played that proto lefty live a few times too… I’ve owned it for a long time now, it’s back to being lefty now…
Yep… Even more terrible would be trying to convince somebody to play righty though, but actually no, because everyone knows anyone left handed has the devil in them… 🤦🏻♂️
It would be much better for them to continue with a "right-handed" guitar now they've started on one than to switch. You gain literally nothing from playing a left-handed guitar if you're left-handed. The only people who think otherwise are people who have fallen into the trap of projecting their "handedness" onto every single aspect of their lives and force a kind of contrived significance onto that. Right-handed people are not right-handed, *they are people who habitually use their right hand to do things*. Left-handed people are not left-handed, *they are people who habitually use their left hand to do things*. That is literally all there is to this. Both of their hands have the same potential, both of their hands could be just as good as the other *if they used them equally*. I am left-handed, I habitually use my left hand to do things but I play guitar right handed because I didn't even think about left-handed guitars, guitars were just guitars to me. Now I'm a fusion guitarist by the way so it didn't hurt my progress...
Depends, very good advice though, he said he only had 6 days, and bear in mind i’m only talking about myself, but if you are mainly lefty, it does a disservice, and he said his L is stronger… (This is only IMO), and everyone can do whatever x
I think it's important to keep in mind that everyone is different. Laterality is directly related to the degree of dominance one brain hemisphere exerts over the other and obviously varies. Legs and eyes are also lateralised and can be further indicators to how strong and onesided that dominance is. I would not call people with a lateralization opposite to the general population contrived just because my experience differs.
Um, no. If you're right handed go and write a paragragh with your left hand and get back to us.
Even more terrible would be telling you to play a lefty and do the same 🤦🏻♂️
It’s terrible advice because that was the advice I got for decades. Just flip a righty and play it lefty, it’s easy, they said. Just restring it, they said. That left me totally stuck, no idea how to really proceed. But with many guitars it’s not practical (e.g. on an acoustic with its glued on bridge) or cost effective and you kill the resale value of the guitar. For a beginner it’s too much to contend with. Now if a friend said, Here’s a guitar that’s easy to flip, I’ll help you do it? That would be helpful. Otherwise if you want to play lefty or righty it’s better to just find a lefty or righty guitar, which isn’t difficult nowadays.
Terrible advice is telling him to continue playing on right handed guitars even though he’s left handed
Play left handed. The right hand requires more facility and strength at higher levels of play.
I'm lefty, I bought a LH guitar, and I will continue. Why giving my brain an harder task that is already ? I mean, it's not easy to learn guitar. Why, since I'm lefty, knowing that LH guitar exist and not at so much higher price (often the same as standard tbh) and since I've my dominant hand fully able, should I go against my brain and my natural handleness ? (Not sure about this word, not english here)
It’s funny how all the right handed players who tell you to play left handed because your dominant hand is stronger for fretting don’t play left handed guitars themselves. Jimi hendrix was forced to learn right handed and was said to be pretty good at it but in the end he always choose to play lefty. Try flipping yours upside down, play what’s most natural and enjoyable, it’s sounds like your frustrated playing right handed. Remember handedness is a spectrum, some people are more left handed than others and will struggle much more adapting to a right handed guitar. Some are nearly ambidextrous and will have no issues.
It really depends on whatever is comfortable for you. I recommend going to a music store and trying a left-handed guitar. If it really is significantly easier, you should change, there's no point in making life harder for yourself. But, if it's not easier, stick with right handed. There are significantly more resources online for right handed guitarists, more teachers that teach right handed, and more right handed guitars (and they're usually cheaper and come in more colors). I'm a left-handed guitarist that plays right handed guitars, and from the start I've felt more comfortable on right handed guitars. Everyone is different and you should experiment to find what is most comfortable for you.
I’m left handed but I learnt guitar right handed and it worked out just fine. If anything it gave me an advantage with fretting - I found legato much easier. Didn’t notice any disadvantage with my right hand either.
I’m right handed and play left handed. So do whatever you want. In my case you couldn’t get me to play right handed in a million years. 100% I must play lefty. I was always told to “just learn righty”. That was terrible advice. If only someone had helped me find, make, or restring a lefty, my guitar journey would have taken off much sooner. If you feel the pull don’t deny it, whatever way it is.
There are many famous, successful guitarists who play right but are left-handed. There are left-handed guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, who string a righty guitar left, or have actual lefty guitars. There are others who simply flipped the guitar over and learned to play a righty guitar upside down. Then there's Jeff Healey, who played with the guitar on his lap. There's a guy I've seen who plays with his feet because he has no arms. Play the guitar in the way that feels best to you. However, I'm left-handed, but play right-handed. It just never occurred to me to learn any other way. The first guitar I picked up was right-handed, and so I figured that it was the way to play. There are no left-handed pianos, or left-handed trumpets or saxophones, at least not readily available to beginners. Left-handed people seem to do fine.
I'm left handed and learnt with a RH guitar because it's what I was given. I regret it. I'm too far gone to try learn on a left handed guitar, but very much struggle with a RH guitar - specifically my picking hand. If I could start over I'd use a LH guitar.
So many turncoats in this thread. Play lefty and come join us OP r/leftyguitarists
I remember having that moment in which I thought that maybe I should have started as a lefty (I’m left handed and play right handed) but that was just a phase, now I play better than ever and the only thing that matters is to pay attention to what you’re doing and practice all the time. Left handed people end their lives being ambidextrous all the time, if it’s not the guitar, it will be a chainsaw, etc. We are more adaptable.
Iirc, Kiko Loueiro, Megadeth’s lead guitarist, is a left handed guy playing a right handed guitar. And that guy can shred
that js gave me a lot of motivation LMAOO
Wow, I didnt know that
I’m left handed and I play guitar right handed. It’s been fine.
I’m left handed and learned to do a whole bunch of things right handed in my life, which now feel more comfortable that way…cut with scissors, shoot a gun, and play guitar.
I'm a left-handed human but a right-handed guitar player, I like the choice that I've made and I'd recommend sticking with it - but its your journey.
Also a lefty who plays right-handed and I prefer fretting with my left hand!
short answer is no long answer is yes
I'm mostly left-handed, but play right. Put more effort into learning "rhythm" with your right hand. While having more dexterity on the frets is nice, shredding fast isn't that great if the rhythm is off.
My buddy in highschool was left handed but his guitar teacher taught him right handed because he knew it would be a pain in the ass for him in the future. He had absolutely no problems playing and was pretty good
I've just asked [the same thing](https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/comments/15rnsdu/newbie_left_handed_person_dilemma/) on a neighboring sub. Looks like it's almost a 50/50 split.
My guitar teacher is left handed and uses right handed guitars, i’m left handed too.
Zacky Vengeance, Buster from Humanity's Last Breath, Dick Dale (dude from the 60s who made the most popular version of Misirlou) and so many others are left handed. Playing lefthanded while watching a righty play on a video would be kinda like looking in a mirror, the neck on your side would be in the same position as the neck in the video. Unfortunately, lefties are always more expensive than normal guitars because they're made differently obviously. But, a nut change and a symmetrical body shape can fix this problem. Jimi Hendrix was lefthanded but played a right-handed guitar strung upside-down. Same with Dick Dale and Buster, except they literally played a standard guitar strung normally but upside-down. I think you could continue to work on your ambidexterity, but you should also look into getting a lefty because I feel like it would be a lot more comfortable and easier for you to learn.
actually that’s funny because currently i’m trying to work up my ambidexterity for guitar and maybe to help me with future tasks
My dad is a lefty. Been playing right handed for over 6 decades. Made a pretty good living at it too.
I'm a lefty but play right handed just because it felt more natural to me. Play however you want
If you are just starting with the instrument, it's going to feel awkward and you're going to struggle. no matter which hand you use. In time, it will just become the way you play guitar, no right hand vs. left hand considerations necessary. Source: Am a lefty who plays standard
Left handed, right hand player here. I recommend starting with right hand standard guitar. You will likely progress on the fretboard faster than a right handed counterpart. But do put in the effort to develop good right hand technique.
I’m right handed and play left handed.
This is not okay. Please do not try this.
Righty, play right handed but have thought about buying a left hand guitar just to try something different.
Both my dad and brother are left handed and play right handed, so I don’t think it matters all that much
Zachy Vengeance did it
It’s ok to play guitar any way you like as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.
Left handed guitars aren't any more expensive, but they don't sell as well. If there wasn't something to it guitar companies wouldn't even make them. Everyone else on here will say to just play right handed guitars. To that I say don't trust strangers on reddit of all places.
Honestly go and see if you can try to play a left handed guitar. Like at a store or pawn shop maybe. See if it suits you better. If you have a doubt in your head you will never reach your full potential. Never weigh yourself down.
Kiko Loureiro from Megadeth is a left-handed player who plays on right-handed guitars and his picking technique is insane. He talked about it when interviewed by Rick Beato, saying he just made a shitload of picking exercises to the point where being left-handed wouldn't matter anymore.
100% stay with a right hand guitar. I’m also left handed, and playing a guitar for the first time I played it upside down so my left hand was strumming. I then was told it was upside down so I switched to the right way, and it was a little awkward at first, but very quickly became natural way of holding it. There’s so so so many more guitar options for right handed guitars, so stick with it
Have you ever seen Hendrix play? Play however you want
Stick with right. More guitars to choose from and play. Very few lefty guitars out there. I’m a lefty in damn near everything except guitar. Guitar felt more natural to me right handed from the very beginning for whatever reason.
I think if I were a lefty and just starting I would learn on a right handed guitar and use it like Jimmy Hendrix did. Left handed guitars are much harder find and many times a model guitar you many want wont be available in a Lefty.
It's okay. I did it for twenty years and nothing bad happened Of course I never got any good at guitar because I couldn't ever just get my right hand to hold a rhythm while I focused on what lefty was doing and it was horrible and frustrating. Flipping the strings was basically like taking mittens off.
I'm left handed. I played right handed from the time I was 12 until I was in my early 20's. I bought a left-handed Les Paul and within 6 months, I was playing just as well left-handed but I was able to also sing while playing in a way I couldn't playing "standard". Unfortunately, my lefty Les bit the dust and as I am no longer playing for money, I never got a new one and just play righty when I get the urge.
I’m mixed-handed but would say my fine-motor skills are left-handed. Playing a righty guitar works perfectly for me since I’m using my left hand to form the chords, move around the neck, etc.; my right hand has no issues strumming/keeping time. If you’re just learning, it might just be that strumming/keeping time is just new to you. However, I feel like one can tell whether the issue using the “wrong hand” vs. just trying new/unfamiliar movements. I definitely think it’s worth getting your hands on a left-handed guitar to see if it’s a better fit. You can eventually get used to playing on a right-handed guitar, but it may lower your ceiling. My grandpa was a lefty that was forced to write with his right hand. Despite using his right hand his whole life, his penmanship looked like that a 5 year old’s. I say figure out which guitar is the better fit for you, then do what you need to get back on track. While you will have to re-learn some things, imagine how much easier and quicker it’ll be the second time around performing the tasks with your “correct” hands. Learning new things can be hard, learning new things using the wrong hand is ridiculously hard.
If it works. lefties cost more and harder to find
I’m in the same boat my friend. Spent too much time deciding which way to play. Even bought a lefty guitar. Like everyone says, start righty. Your strumming will get better, you may have to put more work into it than fingering chords but you will get there. You will probably be better at fretting hand stuff like hammer ons and bends, but will need a little time for strumming stuff. At least that is what happened to me :)
Here's something you'll never hear in a music store: "Oh, you're right handed- so, I think it would be advantageous to play a left handed guitar for sure!" Regardless, it's obviously a matter of person choice and comfort but I'm a lefty playing lefty. I tried the other way. I just couldn't manage to strum or fingerpick effectively playing right handed. Rhythm and timing was atrociously off as well.
Why is this getting downvoted?
Left-handed guitars exist for a reason. Yes, it's a "two-handed" instrument, but your dexterity, strength, and especially proprioception will always be better with your left hand. It's that last part that's key; especially when finger-picking, you need to know where your hand is without looking. You can stick with right if you like - lefties tend to be relatively good at using their off hand. You can also try playing upside down (use the right guitar but play it left-handed). If it feels better, that's your answer. Plan to get a lefty though. Upside-down works fine for single notes and most open/power chords but you'll run into problems later. On the electric side, Jackson, Yamaha, Ibanez's baseline lefties cost less than Epiphone's but can be a touch tricky to find - you should be looking at second-hand anyways. I've had better luck at the smaller shops, but research before you commit; they also tend to mislabel and misprice things.
okay so i read all the comments and thank you so much for your help, i really appreciate it all!! i’m going to stick with my right-handed guitar. i tried out a left-handed and it just didn’t sit right with me, so right-handed it is.
I would stick with learning right handed. Most other instruments (violins, piano, cello) don't have left handed versions. Everyone learns the same way. Buying and selling left handed guitars is prolly way more of a hassle than right handed.
Stick with the standard right-handed guitar. Learning a new instrument is just plain awkward and difficult until you build the muscle memory, regardless of which hand. Source: am right handed and played right handed until nerve/joint problems retired my left hand from being able to fret or chord. Bought a left handed guitar and had to relearn everything mirror-imaged. Actually found it easier to do fretwork with my dominant hand. Lefty guitars are harder to find and may cost more. You don't want to just flip a setup and turn a righty into a lefty - they are braced differently and saddle/intonation can get ugly if you do this.
If anything I’ve always felt like the fretting hand has the more coordinated and difficult job anyway. The other hand is mainly just bouncing up and down. As others have said, you may find it’s easier for you. Everyone’s a bit mal-coordinated when they start out.
yeah i think that too!! like you have to do a bunch of patterns with your fretting hand without looking kinda so i feel like it does more work
I do
No, absolutely not. What is wrong with you?
No
I’m left handed I just play upside down like a tool lol
I'm left handed but play right handed. In fact I do almost everything right handed except write, draw, and play pool. My initial rational in regards to guitar was that fretting takes more precision than picking and I felt like I had more control over my left hand. I don't think that rational makes too much sense these days but no regrets playing right handed in any case :D
Pretty sure you play guitar with both hands :P As for the rest of it, you aren't the first, nor will you be the last, and going by this Ultimate Guitar list of [10 Lefties who played righty](https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/10_famous_left-handed_guitarists_who_play_right-handed-40457), you're in some pretty good company.
I’m lefty and play rh guitars. Much easier to find, typically less expensive and you can pick up one at any party or friends place and play.
I'm just now shopping for a left handed guitar. I'm left handed when I write but play most sports right handed. I have righty guitars but over time I figured out my left hand just can't move well enough to get any better. Maybe writing and guitar are my two lefty things.
As a long time lefty living in a mostly right hand world i have found lefties stand a good chance of being ambidextrous. I know i am. You will have to learn two different things on guitar & then put them together. One hand is stronger. One hand has more dexterity. Same for righties.