Teaching a lefty? - Page 2

thumbzilla · #21 07-08-2006, 05:01 AM

I am a lefty and play lefty. People say that it is an advantage reversing because the dominant hand is on the fretboard. I say BS!! If this is so, then howcome all rightys don't switch to lefty? If it will feel natural someday, and the quality of the music and the power of the dominant hand shines thru, howcome the right-handed world doesn't automatically and enthusiastically start all new musicians fretting with the right hand?

Howcome the instrument evolved to feel natural to a righty? Is it because the arrogant right-handed world never looked beyond its arrogant nose and really thought about the music? Howcome the piano keys are arranged the way they are? Right hand dominant! Anyone know where to get a lefty piano? I could go on and on...

I say teach the young woman correctly. That means teach her as a lefty and don't give me this Stuff about "upside-down" and playing other people's basses and selling used basses faster and being able to noodle in music stores easier and all the other garbage that has been used to rationalize compromising her future. It is just as correct for her as your instrument and playing is for you.

And all you leftys who endorse this travesty of "switching over" should be ashamed! There, I've vented and my flame suit is on...

slybass3000 · #22 07-08-2006, 06:50 AM

I'm talking about my own experience here,and,it's different for everybody

. I'm a mixture of right and left in sports and daily things. The first time I saw someone playing guitar I picked it up and started playing lefty because it was natural to play it like that and I was wondering why the strings were not at the same place as the other person lol. If I would have been FORCE to switch,I sincerly believe that I wouldn't have the carrer I have RIGHT now LOL

We cannot decide for her but if she's a beginner it's may be not to late to switch if it is more confortable on the "other side"!

SB

PS If I would play violin I would play it righty but Double bass lefty. So, may be violin IS made to be played right-handed LOL. (I know i'm f*% up)

**Freddels** · #23 07-08-2006, 07:31 AM

I would not advocate a FORCE switch but I believe the original post stated that the girl was a lefty and was already learning to play righty. That's fine. One of my very good friends is a great guitar player and he's a lefty and plays righty. I used to think that it would be an advantage to have your dominant hand on the fb but once you get comfortable with the instrument I don't think it really matters. I'm a righty but if I try to switch around the instrument I can't play anything
b/c it doesn't feel comfortable that way.

It's just a plain fact that the world is right-centric and that it's easier to get things that are made for right handed people.

As far as her hands not keeping up well I think we all went through that phase (or still are in it). Let her play it the way she feels comfortable and right now it appears that playing righty is the way she feels comfortable.

theshadow2001 · #24 07-08-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbzilla

Anyone know where to get a lefty piano?

www.lefthandedpiano.co.uk

What lefty thread would be complete without this link

Jim Carr · #25 07-08-2006, 12:30 PM

I suppose I should just throw this gasoline on the fire and then
run.

My friend who has taught piano for 5 years (a total of over 200
students), and who is herself a fine pianist told me today that her left-
handed students have better right hand technique, and that her right-
handed students have better left-hand technique!

Could it be that we each advocate a position based on what we are
doing in our own playing? After all, since it has gotten us each to
where we are now as bassists, it therefore must be the right way, no?

I wonder how it would feel if we had all learned to play the reverse of
how we now each play? Might it not seem perfectly correct?

My piano teacher friend says the dominant hand has so many habits
and little injuries that it is harder to train.

thumbzilla · #26 07-08-2006, 12:44 PM

Yeah and it prolly costs 50% more!

Jim Carr · #27 07-08-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbzilla

Yeah and it prolly costs 50% more!

LOL

I should suggest that to her!

theshadow2001 · #28 07-11-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

I suppose I should just throw this gasoline on the fire and then
run.

My friend who has taught piano for 5 years (a total of over 200
students), and who is herself a fine pianist told me today that her left-
handed students have better right hand technique, and that her right-
handed students have better left-hand technique!

Could it be that we each advocate a position based on what we are
doing in our own playing? After all, since it has gotten us each to
where we are now as bassists, it therefore must be the right way, no?

I wonder how it would feel if we had all learned to play the reverse of
how we now each play? Might it not seem perfectly correct?

My piano teacher friend says the dominant hand has so many habits
and little injuries that it is harder to train.

This is a very valid point and one that I have not seen mentioned before in left handed debates (i've read and participated in quite a few) Piano's are a fairly common instrument to mention in these type of threads. But no one mentions the ability of one hand compared to the other. Your friends observations would fall in line with how people for the most part play bass and other guitar type instruments with the non dominant hand better at the more intricate work. This seems to be a counter intuitive statement but with the vast majority of musicians playing like this it's got to have some merit

teedub · #29 07-11-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim99

How does a beginner know what feels right?

It's like handing a child/beginner a hockey stick or baseball bat. They'll hold it whichever way feels natural to them. Fortunately for us, there are instruments available for playing either way. I taught myself the way that felt comfortable to me, and it worked out great. Would you teach your child to throw with their right hand, just because there are more catching mitts available for righties?

Jiro · #30 07-11-2006, 07:45 PM

So if i was a righty should i learn on a lefty bass?!

cosmicevan · #31 07-11-2006, 07:50 PM

interestingly enough (or maybe not) that's probably why i'm kind of ambidextrous. i do most things lefty, but not everything...my father is left-handed and my mother is right-handed. my mom claims that i'm only lefty because my father put everything in my left hand just like him. so there may be something to a beginner not knowing what feels right. when i was little, i used to write with both hands, but stuck with left because it was neater on the eyes...they both felt natural to me.

canopener · #32 07-11-2006, 10:02 PM

I'm left handed and play left handed. I learned some very basic guitar technique long before I started playing bass. I learned righty. While I would feel more comfortable "playing" a guitar right handed, I do feel more comfortable playing bass left handed.

The key is to let her go how she wants to. Maybe the "learning curve" is slower because she doesn't want to play righty.

Ask 100 different people on TB, you'll get 100 different answers. Just sit down with her and see what she wants to do.