Anyone Learn Left Handed Also?

chaosMK · #1 10-19-2006, 09:45 AM

I've been toying with the idea of picking up a cheap left handed bass so I can train my hands/brains with both aspects of playing. I was inspired by a drummer friend of mine (Giann from Aghora)who told me how one of the things he worked on was getting balance between both sides of the body.

I am left handed but have always played instruments right handed.

Anyone ever try anything like this?

JanusZarate · #2 10-19-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaosMK

I've been toying with the idea of picking up a cheap left handed bass so I can train my hands/brains with both aspects of playing. I was inspired by a drummer friend of mine (Giann from Aghora)who told me how one of the things he worked on was getting balance between both sides of the body.

I am left handed but have always played instruments right handed.

Anyone ever try anything like this?

Actually, I'm thinking of learning to play right-handed in addition to left-handed (I started out left-handed because I'm a lefty, so it made more sense at the time). There are some right-handed-only basses out there that I'd love to play but currently can't, which is why I'm thinking about it.

Any advice for someone who is about to do everything "backwards", since you've already done so?

Kribbles · #3 10-20-2006, 05:46 PM

I guess this would be a good place to ask this... I am left handed and my boyfriend is going to teach me how to play bass. He said the best thing he could teach me is how to play right handed. He is also a leftie, and he plays right handed. He says since I haven't played a guitar style instrument that it wouldn't take long to learn how to play this way. Is this a good idea?

chaosMK · #4 10-22-2006, 11:49 AM

You should be fine. I started out playing right handed because my first instrument was violin, and apparently they dont make many LH ones (well, imagine the row of violins in an orchestra and one dude facing the wrong way).

One of the advantages of playing right handed is that you can hop on other people's instruments and stuff like that. There seems to be a lot less left handed instruments on the market.

Part of the reason I want to try learning left handed is to see if there is a difference in the way I approach the instrument. Maybe I'll be more natural. I tend to overthink in my playing- might be a brain hemisphere thing.

Poop-Loops · #5 10-22-2006, 12:28 PM

I write and eat with my left hand but play righty. Guitar and bass are so awkward when you start out, that I don't think it matters which side you play on. It will feel weird either way.

However, I don't think I'll ever learn to play left handed instruments. Why? It doesn't cross over, or if it does, not nearly enough to justify it. I mean, instead of learning to play left handed, I could just keep playing right handed and get better at that.

If I had a few fingers cut off from my left hand I'd switch, but not until then.

saxnbass · #6 10-22-2006, 01:13 PM

I posted a thread about this a little while ago. Search for it.

ulrich · #7 10-22-2006, 06:33 PM

I'm lefty, play righty. I played righty in fourth grade fiddle class, the guitar in my sixth grade class was right handed as well. Playing right handed just feels right to me.

The fretting hand is doing the more complex work, so I'd rather play righty, and let my left hand do the fretwork.

Do some searches; this subject has been well covered.