Left Handed Guitar: Pros and Cons of Playing

• November 28, 2016
• Guitar

We’re not born with the choice of having our left or right hand be dominant, but we do get to choose which guitar we play. There are some left-handed students who choose to learn on a right-handed guitar and do just fine with it. Others stick with the left handed guitar and that’s cool too. Being left-handed isn’t a problem at all, it’s just you have to decide which way you’re going to approach it. Mainly because, while there are plenty of left handed guitar players, there are not as many options to play as you might prefer. It seems that companies only make a limited number of the lefties while there’s more than enough for those who prefer their right hand.

Left Handed Guitar Pros

One of the pros to being left-handed is that science says left-handed people have better skills when using their left hand versus a right-hand person using his right hand. When it comes to left handed guitar playing, some people say the techniques like sweeping, finger style, or other difficult picking motions become easier. Truly, it’s about your gifting and rehearsal discipline.

With about 10-12 percent of the population being left-handed, how many of those are guitarists? How many of those work hard and actually pursue guitar, much less become successful? Among those who have made a name for themselves are Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, Paul McCartney, Kurt Cobain, Paul Simon and many more.

So how were they able to achieve success despite not being right-handed?. Not all left-handed guitarists play a left handed guitar or a left handed guitar strung left handed (Say that 5 times fast). Let’s look at some facts about playing left handed guitar with normal stringing.

Left-handed Guitar - Normal Stringing

Guitarists who choose to do this pick with their left hand. They put the strings in the regular order for a left-handed player, with the low E string on the top of the neck. They either have a real left-handed guitar or have right handed guitars altered for a left handed player.

Some guitarists like Paul McCartney play both genuine left-handed instruments and also right-handed instruments adapted for left-handed playing. Being “mix-handed” or ambidextrous is even better. Being able to do both is just crazy, but there are a few who can.

Altering a right-handed guitar to play left-handed involves several things. The nut has to be changed to accommodate the string widths. The bridge needs to be changed to make the lower strings longer than the top strings for correct intonation. Also, on almost all acoustic guitars, the bracing is non-symmetrical. On electric guitars, the controls will be backwards as well.

Left-handed Guitar - Strings Backwards

These are those who play left handed guitar, but with the strings as they would appear on an unaltered right handed guitar, thus the strings are backwards for a left-handed player. Dick Dale and Albert King are among those who had left-handed guitars with the strings as if they were on a right-handed guitar. They just learned to play that way.

It is said Jimi Hendrix was naturally left-handed but his father tried to force him to play right-handed because he believed playing left-handed was a sign of the devil. Hendrix took right-handed guitars and restrung them for playing left-handed.

Once he started making modifications that allowed him to play left-handed with the strings in the proper order, he still had to play right-handed with his father nearby, so he also learned to play right-handed with the strings upside down. His brother Leon's testimony confirms this in Sharon Lawrence's biography Jimi Hendrix: the man, the magic, the truth and in quotations from guitar players such as Mike Bloomfield in Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child of the Aquarian Age by Dave Henderson.

For more information on the best left-handed guitarists of all time, check out this earlier post of ours.

Left Handed Guitar Cons

There’s certainly nothing inherently wrong with being a left-handed guitar player. As you can see, plenty of lefties have made their mark in the world of music. The biggest downer just might be that there isn’t as many left-handed guitars to choose from.

Aside from this, there are challenges like taking guitar lessons and trying to find a left-handed teacher or a right-handed teacher who doesn’t look at you funny every time you sit down with your guitar.

Other cons might involve finding what works for you. If it means modifying a guitar, you just have a little more work to do than those who walk out of the store with a new right-handed guitar. Another con might be if you break a string on stage, you better have another left handed guitar or you’re in real trouble, unless you can play both ways. Hey, at least you’re not a left-handed drummer.

If you’re a lefty that teaches guitar, it might be much harder to get guitar students, since almost 90% of the population is right-handed. On a minor, and more visual, point it could be difficult to get your moves down on stage with the other right handed players. Bumping head stocks would be a disaster when you’re trying to rock out.

Don’t be discouraged if you’re left handed. There have been some mighty ax-slingers to come before you that have dealt with the same issue. Hendrix is probably the most recognized guitarist in the history of rock.. Plenty of others have made a name for themselves too.

You’re unique and you have an opportunity. There are left-handed guitars at most music shops. If you’re just getting started, try one of those left-handed guitars out as is. If it isn’t your thing, then try some other options. Ultimately, you have to find what works for you. You just might come up with something clever.

Once you’ve figured out your setup, you’ll want to look into taking guitar lessons. Following a consistent learning path is the best way to master a new skill and our professional instructors are happy to assist you. To find out how affordable guitar lessons can rock your world, click on the link below.