New old guy lol
 

Hi all, I played a little bass in high school in my buddys basement about 25 years ago, kids are older and now have more time. I bought a Ibanez GSR100 EXL last night, have a borrowed amp and was messing around. I am left handed and when I played 25 years ago I played a right handed bass left handed, what I would like to know from you experts is what is the best way to learn from scratch, the basics and methods for a lefty, the bass I bought is a lefty, the only one they had in the store lol. Thanks for any help from a old new guy.

A left handed friend of mine plays guitar with his right hand. He reasoned "they don't make left handed pianos, do they?". I haven't encountered many lesson books or videos for left handed players in stores or online so can't help there. Though I'm surprised lefty was the only bass they had! In my area, salesmen tell me lefty instruments are a "special order" followed by "come back in three days".

you could return or trade it to get a righty one. Hand muscles and dexterity will increase regardless of what hand you play since you are coming to the instrument with a blank slate.

I would suggest you find a teacher familiar with teaching lefties and get lessons that way. I'd get to thinking what goals you have for learning bass: fun hobby for playing at home, being able to jam with friends on weekends, or jam with the goal of playing a gig eventually. It'll help your teacher create lesson plans based on what your goals are.

Thanks a lot, I found a left handed teacher near me and start this wednesday, I am much more comfortable playing left handed and since I bought a lefty bass already I am going to stick with it, they had other lefty guitars but only one bass and it was in my price range, I like it and it feels good, is a Ibanez so we will see how it goes, looking forward to this.. Thanks again

I am also lefthanded, but back in 1966 there were no lefthanded teachers, and fewer lefthanded basses, not to mention my single mom with 4 kids could not afford one. So the teacher I found told me if I learned to play righthanded my fast hand would be on the neck making me a better player. So thats how I learned, but the only drawback I have is I can not use a pick very well. I like the sound of fingers better anyway,so for me not much of a drawback there.
One more thing to think about is if you play righthanded, you can always sit in at a jam without hauling your ax and pick up any bass in a store to try it out.
best of luck to you
Rock On!

Thanks for the reply, I have been messing around this week before my first lesson tomorrow, I am going to stick with playing lefty, thats the only way I played back in high school even though I played a right handed bass backwards, I have a new lefty bass already and am excited about being retaught the coreect way to play.

Thanks again