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Dominant Left Hand

by Brian Lambert
(Chandler, AZ)

I have read and been told that a left handed person should just learn to play on a right handed guitar. Does that advice hold true with classical guitar as well?

I am very left handed and while I had a few lessons on a steel string guitar 30 or so years ago, I am essentially a beginner.

Your thoughts please.

Hi Brian,

I'm not 100% sure on the exact answer to your question but I am also left-handed albeit for the "one-handed" things. For instance, when I write, I write left handed or throw a ball - left handed.

All the two-handed things like guitar or using a bat in ball games I'll do exclusively right handed, so I'm not sure if I'm the best person to answer your question.

I do, however, feel very comfortable playing right handed and couldn't conceive of myself ever playing left handed. Additionally, I didn't start playing a guitar until I was about 24 years of age either so I don't think age has got anything to do with it, it's how you practice and apply your knowledge.

Hope this is of help.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.

Comments for
Dominant Left Hand

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Lefty classical player
by: Anonymous

Essentially a right handed player is using their dominant hand to pluck or initiate the note. This is very crucial because the dominant hand will be in control of the execution and thus the rhythm/time/feel of the playing.

If right handed people play using their dominant hand to pluck or stroke then it makes sense for a left handed person to play lefty and thus use their dominant hand for plucking also.

If you argue that lefty should just play righty that is like saying all righties should just switch to lefty playing. The only reason lefties play righty (usually) is because a teacher will force them to switch so the teacher can teach or because there are few lefties guitars in stores etc..

I play both righty and lefty and I am a left handed person. I can attest to the fact that at least for my brain, when I play righty my left hand wants to initiate the time of a note and thus my right hand has to try to follow the left which is backwards. I can do it, I can force my left hand (fingering) to follow the right (plucking) but it is stiffer and I get very tired from it.

When I play lefty I can immediately feel that it is more natural and the left hand (plucking) is in control and the right hand (fingering) follows automatically and with ease.

I am sure it is possible for lefty to play righty and have that be better for them. Jimi Hendrix was a right handed person when using a pen or eating and he did play both ways I think I heard but he for what ever reason mainly played lefty so he was playing 'backwards' NOT using his dominant hand for plucking. There is a perfect example of how it can be aa personal thing.

My advice is to buy two very cheap guitars like in the $75 range from the same company and try playing each one day lefty one day righty and try to notice things how the hands work and then decide how to play. It does not matter that these guitars are cheap and don't sound very good if you get a cheap Yamaha classical or Hohner or Manuel Rogriguez it is not that much and you can sell them after your done and lose maybe $100

In my case I picked up a guitar when I was 12 and I picked it up 'backwards' and started playing it upside down. I went to the music teacher at school and he made me turn it around so he could teach me. That was a mistake I discovered later. I played righty for a few years and then on a hunch tried lefty and I am glad I did. Now I play both ways but with nails on classical I have to choose one or the other. I chose lefty.

By the way this R/L thing also applies to piano at least with me. I feel like I want to play melody with my left hand. I'd probably be able to play a left handed piano maybe someday someone will make one?

Dominant left hand
by: David Heap

I am also left handed but was told by my music teacher when I bought my one and only guitar to purchase a right hand instrument as the left hand then does all the fret work.

With all my disability problems I could not even think about playing any other way, all be it badly.

Just take your time learning and enjoy the sounds that you create.

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