Why do lefty's find it so appealing.....

BassistSVT · #1 11-30-2007, 04:53 PM

Why is it that so many leftys play upside down? I find it annoying to look at a bassist with not only his bass but his strings upside down. I myself am a lefty so I know how hard it is to find a nice lefty bass for a good price but even I managed on a 14 year old's budget. (It's not the nicest one in the world but I'm also saving up for a lefty Fender Jazz so it's not like they're not out there.) Even if you cant find an actual lefty bass, my music shop that I go to has leftys who play both guitar and bass going in asking to have their guitars restrung. What's so appealing about playing upside down?

EADG mx · #2 11-30-2007, 04:57 PM

Its not

but lefty basses are really hard to come by and some people figure that's the closest they're going to get short of buying a real lefty

then I guess they just get used to it.

Personally I play lefty (strung properly) but I am forced to play basses upside down sometimes, when borrowing a bass, joining a jam, trying out basses in a store etc

TrevorOfDoom · #3 11-30-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassistSVT

Even if you cant find an actual lefty bass, my music shop that I go to has leftys who play both guitar and bass going in asking to have their guitars restrung.

not a lefty, but i've had this conversation. because you can always find a righty guitar or bass. always. always always always. end of subject. necessity is the mother of invention.

jeff schmidt · #4 11-30-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassistSVT

I find it annoying to look at a bassist with not only his bass but his strings upside down.

user101 · #5 12-01-2007, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff schmidt

you said it

bobba66 · #6 12-01-2007, 05:23 AM

Live and let live. The way that works for you is the "right" way.

LHbassist · #7 12-02-2007, 02:26 AM

Hi....to the original poster, and anyone else that'd like to know..I've been playing bass for over 40 years now, 35 of those the 'correct way' with the lower pitch strings up. When I started, I was 15 years old, living in Queens, N.Y. and didn't know the first thing about basses, just that I couldn't hold one right handed. I had to hold and play it upside down, left handed. I didn't have my own bass, I borrowed someone elses cheap Japanese bass, then got my own lefty Kent hideously ugly violin bass, strung it 'E' on the bottom- or 'upside down'. I played a '62 or '63 candy apple red p-bass at someones house at a jam, and fell in love. I couldn't afford one, dreamed of a lefty like it. I bought a brand new left handed Fender maple necked P-bass in 1973 with case- ($321.00). I bought it to learn all over again, how to play with the strings in the 'correct' orientation. It wasn't easy. Now, all this time later, I have a '62 reissue c.a.r. precision. Love it. Point is, not too many of us when we start out had the instruments we needed. The other observation is right on, there are always going to be right handed basses to play. There's slim pickin's regarding basses for us, but I cherish the basses I have, and am always on the hunt for interesting leftys. I highly recommend to any bassist out there thinking of buying a bass, and you're lefty...don't even think twice, buy a left handed bass, and string it left handed, lower pitch up. Why? My technique, and ability improved almost immediately, and was able to play my upright in thumb position. The great masters figured the orientation of the strings out hundreds of years ago. This is not to say some of my favorite leftys like Gerald Johnson, and Jimmy Haslip do anything incorrect. They showed how well they can play 'upside down'. There's a guy on youtube I saw recently playing 'upside down' that's doing some amazing bass playing. To each his/her own.

**Pacman** · #8 12-02-2007, 08:09 AM

You've caught on, they do it just to annoy you.

Bassin' · #9 12-02-2007, 08:18 AM

... and because it annoys you, they've won.

Nitto · #10 12-09-2007, 10:49 PM

Jimi hendrix did it, haslip does it.. i don't. I like the E at the top, which doesn't take anything from the fact that these guys are outstanding musicians!

LHbassist · #11 12-11-2007, 04:16 AM

Just a note here, Jimi played a right handed Fender Strat, but strung it left handed. Low 'E' on top. Dick Dale plays a left handed strat strung righty. Albert King, Otis Rush both played righty guitars upside down, low 'e' string down. Kieth Horne, Jimmy Haslip, and the overlooked (to some) great Gerald Johnson play left handed basses, strung righty. Gerald used left handed Fender Precision basses with right handed necks. I think Waymon Tisdale (Hope I spelled that right) plays lefty basses strung righty as well. Pretty confusing...but I've always been interested in how lefty bassists and guitarists learn and evolve.

Matthijs · #12 12-11-2007, 05:33 AM

What I can't understand is why lefties want to play the instrument the other way round. Myself I'm close to a 100% lefthanded and I play the instrument (EB and UB) 'right'handed. I can't see a difference in the level of motorskills needed for the right or the left hand on a bass. Nobody sees a piano as a right- or lefthanded instrument, why is this different for a bass?

Mr. Black · #13 12-11-2007, 05:45 AM

Played many basses upside down. Not anymore though....

Now I own actual lefty basses.

Quote:

What I can't understand is why lefties want to play the instrument the other way round. Myself I'm close to a 100% lefthanded and I play the instrument (EB and UB) 'right'handed. I can't see a difference in the level of motorskills needed for the right or the left hand on a bass. Nobody sees a piano as a right- or lefthanded instrument, why is this different for a bass?

Because I want to, dude.....

BurbsToo · #14 12-12-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff schmidt

Haha. I thought of you 1st when I read this.
Heard you on the radio in north hampton yesterday.

Personally I always thought it was cool when leftys play basses upside down, but man, I my brain wont even let me try to guess how that feels to have to reach up to get high notes. So weird. Did Jimi play his strings upside down?

HaVIC5 · #15 12-12-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Did Jimi play his strings upside down?

Na, his strings were strung correctly, its just his guitar was upside down.

Quote:

Nobody sees a piano as a right- or lefthanded instrument, why is this different for a bass?

I've actually seen some modern electric keyboards come with a "left-handed" option, where the left hand plays in the high register, and the keys sound in reverse order. Middle C becomes what would normally be an E. Total mindf*** if you ask me.

lobey · #16 12-12-2007, 09:53 AM

Can of worms, can of worms!

D.A.R.K. · #17 12-12-2007, 09:59 AM

i sometimes get to play my lefty buddy's basses upside down/righty.
i really like the way it changes my approach, i've even thought of
getting a lefty to play this way.
annoyed?

BurbsToo · #18 12-12-2007, 10:35 AM

Hmmmm that's an idea. Buying a lefty bass to play as a righty. Sounds cool. I wonder if lefty basses are cheaper than righty basses...

timw · #19 12-12-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurbsToo

Hmmmm that's an idea. Buying a lefty bass to play as a righty. Sounds cool. I wonder if lefty basses are cheaper than righty basses...

in my experience, they've been the same cost or slightly more expensive by a couple hundred dollars for a lefty depending on the manufacturer.

Also, I feel like I am in a very small minority here. I am left handed, but feel uncomfortable playing left-handed. I actually learned to play right handed and have been playing right handed for 13 years now. Are there any other lefties that play right handed here?

mrokern · #20 12-12-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurbsToo

I wonder if lefty basses are cheaper than righty basses...