What the heck kind of advice is that?

mrdey · #1 01-28-2009, 12:35 PM

So today I walk into my local music store looking for a bass to purchase. I tell the guy I used to be a drummer and he say's I'll have no trouble playing bass because I've got rhythm. Anyway I tell him I'm left-handed and noticed he had no lefties in stock. So he hands me a right and says you should learn on the right handed bass because my strength is in my left hand...so I'm thinking to myself this guy just wants to sell me a guitar...and lessons.
I reluctantly sat down and attempted to play this guitar as he suggested....but it just did not feel comfortable. Being an absolute beginner at bass, I'm not sure if this advice is in my best interest... Is anyone out there familiar with this situation...what do you folks think? Does this advice make any sense?

Disappear · #2 01-28-2009, 12:39 PM

Wow, he must be a guitard.

I say go to another store with left handed basses. I mean, playing is all about comfort and I say drive the extra mile for the lefty.

DudeistMonk · #3 01-28-2009, 12:41 PM

He wanted to sell you a bass...

There are lefties that play right, or that reverse the strings on a right and play it left but from what I understand most prefer a lefty bass played lefty.

chicago_mike · #4 01-28-2009, 12:42 PM

Bill Dickens is a lefty. But yeah...he was trying to make a sale.

bongomania · #5 01-28-2009, 12:42 PM

Playing is all about comfort, but he has a point. I'm a righty, yet my dominant hand is relegated to a rhythmic plucking action, while my weaker and more uncoordinated left is given the task of vigorously stretching and running accurately up and down a mathematical puzzle.

I've been tempted to get a LH bass.

kosmicwizard · #6 01-28-2009, 12:44 PM

I am a lefty and tried to learn to fret with my left hand (i.e. play right) and it was uncomfortable, so I did it my own way ... Don't listen to other people, do what feels right to you! Welcome to the low end world. Cheers.

Thundar · #7 01-28-2009, 12:46 PM

Im a lefty, and when I began playing guitar (before I switched to bass) I always wanted a left handed guitar because it did feel more comfortable..I ended up learning to play right handed though, and now a left handed guitar or bass feels totally weird to me...Im glad I learned to play right handed though...dont have to search out left handed instruments.
Incidentally, I play drums too...but I do play them left handed....LOL

Silas Martinez · #8 01-28-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Playing is all about comfort, but he has a point. I'm a righty, yet my dominant hand is relegated to a rhythmic plucking action, while my weaker and more uncoordinated left is given the task of vigorously stretching and running accurately up and down a mathematical puzzle.

I've been tempted to get a LH bass.

I agree with Bongo..

That being said, it is entirely likely he was simply trying to make a sale (particularly if he pushed after you tried a righty), but do bear in mind it is a lot easier to find right handed instruments, you'd have a greater selection, etc.

Ultimately, though, you have to play what feels comfortable to you.

fretlessman71 · #9 01-28-2009, 12:48 PM

I'll say he wasn't wrong, but he wasn't wrong for the wrong reasons... does that make any sense?

If there's any hope of you getting used to playing a righty, I say do it. For the exact same reason that you'd have to drive an extra mile (or twenty?) to find a lefty. When you walk into a store, there will either be 99% instruments you CAN play, or 99% instruments you CAN'T. Not to mention old cool vintage basses. There are rightys that play lefty, and lefties that play righty. It can be done, and it's worth considering if that might not be the best road to take. Just my $0.02.

JTE · #10 01-28-2009, 12:48 PM

See, we mostly only know about the left-handed bassists and guitarists who play left-handed. Probably assume that if they play right-handed, they must be right-handed. I agree with the sales guy, excpet for the reason why.

Learn right-handed becasue it's all new. You won't feel comfortable with a lot of stuff as you learn. And playing right-handed means you can pick up any bass and play it. You won't be subkect to the 10-20% sur-charge for being left-handed, and you'll have a lot of choice in both new and used basses.

Guitar player magazine did an article decades ago about left-handed players. And there are several well known and excellent players who play right-handed while being natural lefties. One is Glen Campbell who said learing righty was the best thing he ever did- it allowed him to grab the nearest ax and play along with someone so he learned a lot from other players. Plus he could afford better instruments when he was starting.

jte

kb9wyz · #11 01-28-2009, 12:53 PM

Hello. I am a right handed person who plays lefty out of necessity. I have a problem with my left arm that keeps me from using it to fret with. The solution was to play lefty. Here is a summary of that experience.

1. Lefty basses are a kind of pain in the butt to find, and usually cost more ($50-$100)

2. The awkwardness will go away in time and it will become second nature to play "backwards."

3. Your strong hand technique will progress much faster than your weak hand. So you will be able to fret more effectively than you will be able to pick. This takes more practice to get over, but you will be able to progress quickly as a player when your picking hand catches up.

4. Advanced picking technique (i.e. popping & slapping, finger style, and using 3 or 4 fingers) is harder to learn because of the lack of coordination in your off hand.

5. Just operating with the bass backward is a little queer. I found that I tend to favor my strong side in a lot of ways. This isn't a really big deal.

What do I recommend? I think that the difficulties of playing "backwards" for me were acceptable. I feel totally comfortable playing lefty, even though I am right handed. The greatest irritation I have is the availability of lefty gear. That one really buggers me. There are a lot of great basses out there that just aren't made lefty. Until you get into the higher price points, that is.

I think (totally opinion, of course) that you would be better off learning to play righty. Just keep in mind that it will take a little more work to get your picking hand coordinated.

BigOldHarry · #12 01-28-2009, 01:11 PM

My opinion: If you are JUST starting on stringed instruments, you will struggle left OR right. Given that *every* left handed player I have known or talked to complains that they can't find a decent selection of instruments, I would strongly urge you to try to play right-handed. This salesman may have simply been trying to get a commission, but he also may have been trying to do you a solid. I have to say, I would have told you just about the same thing were I in his shoes...

BiigM · #13 01-28-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Playing is all about comfort, but he has a point. I'm a righty, yet my dominant hand is relegated to a rhythmic plucking action, while my weaker and more uncoordinated left is given the task of vigorously stretching and running accurately up and down a mathematical puzzle.

I've been tempted to get a LH bass.

On the other hand the right hand needs to deal with all dynamics. As my old cello teacher said: The left hand is the worker, the right hand is the artist.

fretlessspence · #14 01-28-2009, 01:58 PM

+1 to all of these pro right answers. I have sold guitars to left handed persons before and these are all great reasons. I didn't offer similar advice to the buyer "just to make a sale". I did it because it is good advise. Playing and starting on a new instrument is awkward regardless of which is your dominant hand. It may be slightly easier to play a lefty now, but in the long run I think you will regret it. My 2 cents.

DocBop · #15 01-28-2009, 02:20 PM

Try to go and buy a left-handed piano, violin, or almost all instruments are made one way. People left and right handed play them. Been a lot of threads on this topic here and many lefties like myself who play righty. Lefty you will always run into issues with finding gear or paying more for it and materials always being for righties. It's just a mental thing if you wanted to play KB you wouldn't even think about how to approach it. And yes many feel that left hand dominant on right handed instrument is an advantage.

As others pointed out as a new player you won't know a difference if you play righty, it's all new to you.

BigOldHarry · #16 01-28-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

Try to go and buy a left-handed piano, violin, or almost all instruments are made one way. People left and right handed play them. Been a lot of threads on this topic here and many lefties like myself who play righty. Lefty you will always run into issues with finding gear or paying more for it and materials always being for righties. It's just a mental thing if you wanted to play KB you wouldn't even think about how to approach it. And yes many feel that left hand dominant on right handed instrument is an advantage.

As others pointed out as a new player you won't know a difference if you play righty, it's all new to you.

+1 LOL! Left handed piano... Hadn't thought of that. Nice!

von buck · #17 01-28-2009, 02:37 PM

Yes, you can learn ether way. I'm a left handed play, play that way, but when i started accostic bass, learnt right handed. Right now i can play ether way, but perfer playing left. I have more stamina, dexterity and can play by ear easier.
Thgere is more to it than just which hand is dominant, or has more strength. Tere is also a matter of brain chemistry.
Left handedness itself is a result of a rewiring of the brain. The brain functions that control our artisitc tendencies is opposite in left handed people.
What we play, is directly related to singles sent from the brain to the hands. Improvising, learning tunes by ear even reading goes through the brain first.
Like i stated earlier. yes you can learn ether way, but going against your bnatural tendancies will only hinder you in the long wrong.
Andy

von buck · #18 01-28-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

+1 LOL! Left handed piano... Hadn't thought of that. Nice!

http://www.lefthandedpiano.co.uk/

It wouldn't be the first time

Andy

Basshappi · #19 01-28-2009, 02:43 PM

http://www.lefthandedpiano.co.uk/ - a novelity to be sure, you can also buy left handed orchestral instruments.

As a right handed person that must play lefthanded I will provisionally agree with the posters who recommend you play right handed and for all the reasons they suggest.

However, some people are more left dominant than others and will not be able to adapt to playing right handed. I would recommend that you make a real effort to play right handed and after you get past the beginner stage, if you are still having real dificulties, experiment with a lefthanded instrument, it may be what you need.

Either way, welcome to the wonderful world of bass, good luck and have fun!

Cheers!

DudeistMonk · #20 01-28-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

http://www.lefthandedpiano.co.uk/

Now they can replace us with their right hands too!

aaahaaaahgghggg!