Has anyone changed from righty to lefty?

[jellikit]

Due to some health issues a few years back I returned to bass playing after a long hiatus as it was recommended as an excellent form of physio-therapy. It is apparent now I will never regain full use of my left hand (I have about 80% movement in my little and ring fingers) As a result, my playing has hit a wall. I've been thinking of trying my hand (no pun intended) at playing left handed.
Would it simply be a matter of taking what I've learned and applying it backwards or would it be like having to learn all over again. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has swapped hands, for whatever reason, before I splash out on a lefty bass.
Also, I am naturally left handed but when I bought my first bass a right handed instrument felt, well, more "right" to me. Thanks for reading.

[Basshappi]

I doubt you will encounter too many people who have done that. I am right handed and play lefthanded due to a birth defect of my left hand, but I started out playing lefty, so I didn't have to relearn.

That said, I think that you can do it. You should experiment some with string position to determine if you feel more comfortable with the bass strung right handed (low strings on bottom) or lefthanded.

Though it may seem a bit awkward at first you could have your right handed bass converted to lefty by restringing it (if you decide lefty-strung-lefty is best for you) and repositioning the strap button. Many of us lefties start out this way and it will give you the opprotunity to decide if you can successfully make the transition or not before you commit to a true lefthanded instrument.

It may seem difficult at first but I encourage you to be diligent and take the time and effort. Once you have adapted, if you think you can transcend your current limitations, then you can move to a true lefthanded instrument.

Of course there are several good inexpensive lefthanded basses such as SX, Squire and Peavey that you could use and if you decide not to convert you could resell it for close to what you have in it.

Either way, I applaud your efforts and wish you the best of luck. Keep us updated on your progress.

Cheers!

[beelzelboss]

I've played my older instructors left handed guitar. The problem for me what that my right hand was really awkward fretting. That being said:

At school in our guitar class, the teacher made kids play righty, even if they were left handed. It can be done, but your going to have to practice a LOT before you are even anywhere near being able to play what you use to play.

If you are going to do it, a great way to also learn how to sight read, while rehabilitating yourself is to get a beginning bass book. I'm not saying do a page at time or something like that, but since it will usually teach a string per page at the start, you could learn to sight read while learning how to play because you are, essentially, a beginner all over again.

[Killcram187]

my guitarist played lefty for a few years when he was starting out and he is l;eft handed but after a while he bought a right handed guitar because they didnt make it in a lefty model and he said it "felt better" and since then he has been playing that way.

[dra6n]

My son was born with a birth defect on his left hand, so he only has 3 fingers on that hand. He is right handed though so I'd imagine he would have to learn left handed if he ever picked up guitar/bass..

[prd004]

Good luck!

I always tell my students when they feel like they aren't getting better and are becoming frustrated, to try and turn the bass around and play left handed, then they can really feel how much they have grown as a right hander!

I've tried this recently myself, and I could barely hold my bass, let alone play anything!!!! LOL!

But if you're dedicated you will be able to do it, and all that you've learned will help.

Best of luck