Left handed musicians?

Kaneda

I figured with a forum this size, there has to be at least a few left handed musicians among us - playing an instrument which tends to discriminate towards right handed people (such as guitar, bass, violin, most stringed instruments, really - I know drums can pose a problem too).

So I was wondering how the lefties here go about it. Do you play a reversed (left hand) instrument? In the case of stringed instruments, did you restring a right hand instrument for left hand? Or just turn it upside down (believe me, some do)? Or are you "simply" using a right handed instrument?

When I was a teen I wanted to start playing the guitar. Which my music teacher in high school quickly put me off by emphasizing all the supposed difficulties I'd have, being left handed. Of course, his historical knowledge turned out to leave something to be desired...

Just a few off the top of my head...

- Jimi Hendrix played a Strat turned upside down and restringed for left hand.

- Gary Moore, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea, Steve Morse (current Deep Purple), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Duff McKagan (Guns 'n' Roses), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Chris Martin (Coldplay), Adam Jones (Tool), Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), Glenn Frey (Eagles), James Root (Slipknot), Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) and Bob Dylan are all left handed, but play right handed guitar/bass.

- Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney and Iggy Pop play/played left handed guitar.

- Albert King simply used a right handed guitar turned upside down with no restringing.

- Chaplin played a left handed violin. Very Happy

So, more than 10 years after my teacher disillusioning me, I finally started playing electric guitar - right handed - in order to eventually supply my band (where I'm lead singer, but also keyboardist/pianist/sax player) with even more possibilities by having two guitars - we do original material as well as covers in all genres from classic rock, jazz and acoustic ballads to metal.

Chose right handed because:
1) People - and books - who taught me were right handed.
2) I want to be able to pick up a friend's guitar and play - as well as let someone else play mine.
3) Right handed guitars are a bit cheaper.

But then, I'm not the kind of left handed person who'll buy bread knifes, scissors and computer mice especially tailored for lefties. I'll barely notice if someone has moved my mouse to the "wrong" side of the keyboard. Smile

So, I guess some will have it easier using a right handed instrument than others.

So, what's everyone else's experiences with left handed musicianship? Smile

[EDIT: changed the topic to be more general, as the content is]

soldeinvierno

You can add John Petrucci from Dream Theater

Kaneda

Dezrok

My friends left handed and plays the guitar. If that counts. Razz

Kaneda

4ndY

the bass player from slipkont is also left handed

standready

I am left handed. I play guitars made for left handed. Never heard of them being more expensive just a little more difficult to find.
Had a frind of mine (right handed) who has an endorsement contract with a guitar manufacturer gave me a fantastic 12 string ascoustic which I restrung.

Sickness

I am lefthanded for everything less than play the guitar... Rolling Eyes

Monkeydog

Ringo Starr is left handed, I'm pretty sure...

I didn't know Bob Dylan was...you learn something every day. o:

HDirtwater

It's funny, left handed musicians (in my experience) tend to be better technically, especially for stringed instruments. More dexterity is required in the left hand for, say, the violin or guitar than in the right, so left handers seem to have an advantage. Maybe that's why I'm so @#$ good... Rolling Eyes

I would never want to try a "left-handed" instrument since I feel as though playing a normal one gives me more technique.

mattchun

I guess Kurt Cobain is the most famous left handed musician - who is the vocal of NIRVANA.

benwillis

Just found this old thread and wanted to bring it back up. I am a left handed guitar player and I play a right handed guitar upside down the same way Albert King played. If you want more info on this style of playing please visit my blog and web site below. Ben

snowboardalliance

I'm left handed and I play the guitar right handed. I learned that way because how often will I come across another left-handed guitar? This way I can play what is pretty much "standard", though I wonder if it would have been easier to play left handed...

benwillis

What I meant to say was that I play a regular right handed guitar (not restrung) left handed so I can play anyone's right handed guitar eventhough I'm left handed. Thanks for the reply, Ben