Can anyone play a left and right handed bass?

[azfryguy]

I am right handed and I think if i got a lefty bass I would have so much more decterity any1 every try it?

[SurferJoe46]

Unless you were born adipose and were forced to amend your off-handed ways and play on-handed, then I don't think you can rewire your brain to take it on very well.

There are people who are ambidextrous and they can usually get away with it - but if you're not so, then it might be an interesting challenge.

There are somewhat limiting age factors too - that phrase that says you can't teach an old dog new tricks might come into play here if you're beyond a certain age.

I studied this very thing in flatworms in college and it was interesting - but we had to get the flatworm to eat his left-handed buddy flatworm to 'learn' to go lefty.

Left-handedness in flatworms is very rare.

I am NOT advocating cannibalism though.

[Bassdirty]

I can,...just not very well.

Its strange though,,Because I'm actually left handed, but I play right handed guitar and drums.
I can play drums either way actually.

As far as the dexterity thing..I think its just whichever way you practice , you will get better at.

[phillipkregg]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Left-handedness in flatworms is very rare.

Flatworms have hands?

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by phillipkregg

Flatworms have hands?

Kinda - not physically - but they had a propensity to turn left verses turn right.

We bred then for a few weeks (productive little buggers) and then we tested them to see which way they went when lightly shocked.

All those that went left we took away from the others.

We tested further and weeded out a couple that would swing either way (AC-DC?) and then we ground up the lefties and fed them to the righties.

Results? The righties became lefties.

Come to think of it - I know a few off-handed drummers who could use some help too.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by Bassdirty

I can,...just not very well.

Its strange though,,Because I'm actually left handed, but I play right handed guitar and drums.
I can play drums either way actually.

As far as the dexterity thing..I think its just whichever way you practice , you will get better at.

I'll go you one better:

I have had lots of experience walking and never get that confused but I still cannot tell my right foot from my left and so I don't dance.

Too confusing.

Nor do I play basketball which I feel is just contact ballet. I'm prolly the only guy in high school who got my feet tangled in the hoop.

Since I couldn't dance I decided to play in the band - ergo: bass playing took me off the dance floor. It was much safer for all on the dance floor too.

[newbassdude]

Hello!

I am ambidextrous, as well, I play bass ambidextrously. .

I kind of had a thread going from like ~8 months ago, heres the link for reference:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...20#post8869320


If you really want to play both left handed and right handed, it just takes alot of practice. When you first start, your offhand will tire very quickly from strumming the strings. Don't force it if your hand begins to hurt. just put it down, and come back later. you'll find you will be able to play longer and longer, as well as faster.



anyway, good luck should you choose to do it

[Baron Von Vik]

Not at the same time.


_

[SnakeKappele]

I am right handed and when I started playing drums, some 30 years ago, I decided to use my right hand for the snare and left hand for the hi-hat/ride (left handed for the drums). I thought it would be best to use my most dexterous hand for the snare. It turns out I developed my left hand to be just as dexterous or more as my right. To this day, I play left handed and right footed. Basically, anyway you decide to do it - you will adapt to it.

[azfryguy]

does it help overall though like do you think ur a better drummer because of it

[SnakeKappele]

Well, it's hard to say since I don't know how I'd play if I had gone right handed.

It certainly didn't hurt me.