Left Guitar
If you’re left handed and have a knack for guitars then congratulations, you’re probably one of the rare few hardcore lefty guitarists out there. Finding left handed guitars is a bit of a challenge even in today’s modern world. Not only that, the question is often asked whether a left handed person should play the guitar right handed or use a lefty guitar instead. Here are a few pointers for folks who are left handed and are interested in guitar playing.
Trouble at the Store
Guitar enthusiasts will definitely want to get the best guitars even when they’re still learning their very first lessons in the craft. You walk into a guitar or music store and you’ll find a lot of the great brands like Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, Taylor, Santa Cruz, Breedlove, and Collings. You definitely want to get a guitar among those brands.
It is quite unfortunate for lefty guitarists that among all those great labels, they will be stuck with fewer options than what you see on the shelves or on display. At times, if you want to stick with playing a left handed guitar, you’ll have to get one custom built, which basically jacks up the price. This is in spite of the fact that laws have been passed against discriminatory practices such as this.
Left Handed or Right Handed Guitar
The question that lefty guitarists pose, especially new guitarists, is whether they should continue their search for left handed guitars or just play using right handed guitars. There isn’t a single answer that will suit everyone. The solution might even baffle lefty guitarists themselves. The first step to finding a solution is to give a guitar to a southpaw and see whether he plays it left handed or right handed.
If a lefty guitarist finds himself more comfortable playing a guitar right handed then by all means get a right handed guitar. If not, then you can search for a left handed guitar or have one custom built for you. Hard core lefty guitarists will just have a hard time switching to the right hand than naturally playing with their left. However, do take note that there are lefties that play right handed pretty well. It’s all just a matter of which hand you’re most comfortable playing with.
Finding a Left Handed Guitar
Finding a lefty guitar is as challenging as it is rewarding. You can do all the dirty work and drive from one music store to another in search for a lefty guitar that works best for you. It may be a bit frustrating since, as mentioned earlier, manufacturers mostly make right handed guitars.
You can also do a search online and look for online stores that sell lefty guitars. Make sure that the site you find online has their phone number listed. Take note that not all the lefty guitars they have in stock will be displayed on their web site. You should also ask if they have a store or a showroom where you can examine the guitars.
Even if you find a model that you like on their site, make sure to ask if they have other models or brands not found on the site. Some manufacturers make dealer agreements that prohibits dealers from displaying everything on the dealer’s site. Nowadays, even popular brands such as Gibson and Fender are beginning to manufacture more lefty guitars.
Other Options
There are other options other than hunting for a left handed guitar. As mentioned earlier, you can have one custom made. Another option is to find a good guitar tech and have him convert a right handed guitar to a lefty one. Of course, both these options will cost you extra.
Another option is to learn to play right handed, which will prove to be a challenge for some lefty guitarists. Another option is to play a right handed guitar with the strings reversed. Yet another, though rarely accepted solution, is to just play a right handed guitar using your left hand without changing strings.
With that set up, the base strings will be at the bottom and the treble strings will be on top. This will be like tweaking a lot of bridges and making many guitarists drop their jaws just watching you play. Only a few notable guitarists were successful at it.