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Lefties why didn't you start playing a righty?

#361
Visirale said:
no cars with the stick on the left hand side, etc. etc.
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Mine all do :D

It leaves my stronger hand on the wheel when I shift, great for those torque-steer/rear-breakaway moments.

On topic though, one of my mates is a lefty, and he started playing guitar that way. A couple of weeks later, his instructor made him flip the guitar, which just confused things so he quit. I think its more important that you play whichever way is more comfortable and focus on the music.
 
#362
RWP said:
If I pick up my bass and try to play left handed it sounds like I never touched one before in my life. Anytime I want to remember what it's like to be a n00B, that is all I have to do. :) Kind'a humbling really.
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I know what you mean, everytime i have a lesson with someone and want to hit them for not letting me get even half of what i wanted to show them done, i just pop it the wrong way round and try fretting something with a bit of feeling, then i realise it is quite a difficult thing to do if you haven't been at it a while.

And yea, i totally get what you mean about playing with the wrong hand, like why do the intricate stuff with the left, but if you think about it (started off on guitar here) you hold a pick in a similar way to holding a pencil and i would say my right hand has to work to a higher degree of accuracy than my left when i play, my left has a lot to do too obviosly, but a lot of the dynamics and feeling come from the way you attack (or don't) the strings and your personal style with the right (for righty players). Suppose it works both ways, but anyhoo i had thought this myself a few times anyway.
 
#365
RWP said:
What I find interesting is for me, a right handed person, why do I use my left hand to do the complicated part of playing bass? If you think about it the fretboard part of playing requires much more ability. :confused:
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I've thought about this too, but I think it makes sense the way it is. The right hand is the one controlling the rhythm, so even though the left hand is doing the more intricate stuff, the right (picking) hand is driving/motivating everything.
 
#369
My reasons for sticking exclusively to left-handed basses:

  • It felt more natural to play left-handed
  • I was able to easily find a decent bass to learn on
  • The available selection isn't that bad at all
  • It has made my right hand more agile, flexible, and strong
  • It lets me solo back-to-back with my brother onstage :D
  • Being lefty is more than a statement... it can be a reason to be proud
  • Left-handedness is an under-appreciated way of life!

[/rant] :smug:

Oh, and BTW....

[shameless plug] Join the Lefty Union! It doesn't matter what you play - all that matters is that you're a lefty! We're at 101 members and counting! [/shameless plug] :ninja:
 
#370
Reason: there were no lefty basses in the shop I bought my first bass at. The salesman said he could order a left-handed bass and have it in about two weeks. I said, "ahh, that's OK, I'll take this Fender MusicMaster home with me now." That was in 1972. No regrets here. :D
 
#376
People who think left handed folks can just "choose" which way they play are totally missing the point of what it means to be left handed.

Some left handed people can do things right handed, but that doesn't mean they can choose what those things are. As a left handed person, I can honestly vouch that trying to do some things right handed is almost physically impossible -even though I happen to play bass right handed.
 
#377
I've only been here since May, but I know I've seen this before. All this. lpdeluxe nailed it: lefties know why, many righties don't. I've never heard of a right handed person learning bass, or trumpet for that matter, left handed because they didn't know it mattered. I gave some lessons to a lefthanded friend and used the "it's all the same when you start" theory and made him play righthanded. Better in the long run,right? He gave it up quickly and started again soon after with someone who let him play lefthanded. In the interest of full disclosure,I write lefthanded, play bass & guitar right.
 

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