Right or Left?

[Sgt. Pepper Jr.]

Well, a few months ago I got into acoustic guitar. Im right handed, and everything seems to be going pretty good. But Id LOVE to play left handed, and I was wondering if with enough practice it would be possible to play as good, if not better then with my right hand. I am willing to practice as long as it takes for my left hand to become better than right, so I was wondering what you guys think I should do?

[ahbassman]

Unless you are already ambidextrous I'm gonna say no. And it's just easier to find right handed instruments.

[pasta4lnch]

it always seemed strange to me. if you're right handed, your right hand is dominant and on guitar or bass but your left hand does most of the complicated stuff. seems it should be the other way around. . .

but as ahbassman said - it sucks finding left handed instruments. . .

you might find this funny

[Marginal Tom]

^ +1

Playing right-handed gives you a wider selection of instruments at a lower prices and more opportunities to sell or trade. I'm left-handed, although close to ambidextrous, but have always played right-handed.

[Sgt. Pepper Jr.]

Well, Im teaching myself to be ambidextrous, and holding it left feels comfortable, so I think it might work out

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

it always seemed strange to me. if you're right handed, your right hand is dominant and on guitar or bass but your left hand does most of the complicated stuff. seems it should be the other way around. . .

That's why the leader/rhythm guitarist in my band, who's a righty, plays left handed. I think it was a mistake. I think stringed instruments evolved with the dominant hand as the plucking/bowing/picking hand for better control of dynamics. I've played with several guitarists, including this one, who play "backwards," and seem to have poor dynamic control, occasionally with a "herky-jerky" sort of picking style.

I realize some left-handed folks have weaker dominance than most righties, and will naturally do many things right handed. My older daughter is like this. I'd guess those folks will have solid dynamic control playing either way.

[BassesForTheWin]

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins does this, well sorta, hes a lefty, but plays right since he thouhg it would make sence for his dominate hand to do the fretting stuff......okay im trying this.