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Lefty beginner - learn left or right?
- Thread starter Runnerman
- Start date
This is fun! I was born in the year Leo came out with the P Bass. As just gettin by parents were kind enough to fund my wanna be guitar then bass aspirations, there was just an ok we can do that. I never saw a left handed anything. ( related to nothing here) my dad switched me to a right handed batter for baseball. I think as a fingerstyle player the dominant left hand has the bigger challenge on the fretting side. Anyone can adapt to what is available as a tool to their talent.
My left handed friends who play left handed instruments don't regret it, except when it comes to instrument selection and the sharing of an instrument when trading riffs, etc...
My left handed friends who play right handed instruments have no regrets at all.
Ultimately, it's up to the comfort of the player. I feel that it's all blazing new neurological paths either way, may as well take the pragmatic approach and play right handed instruments. If it fails, try a lefty instrument. If it fails, well it wasn't in the cards, eh?
I mean, we use our right hand with manual transmissions in left hand steering cars, but would be using our left hand to do so in right hand steering..?
My left handed friends who play right handed instruments have no regrets at all.
Ultimately, it's up to the comfort of the player. I feel that it's all blazing new neurological paths either way, may as well take the pragmatic approach and play right handed instruments. If it fails, try a lefty instrument. If it fails, well it wasn't in the cards, eh?
I mean, we use our right hand with manual transmissions in left hand steering cars, but would be using our left hand to do so in right hand steering..?
Left-handed Bass Guitars | Sweetwater - I count about 35 lefties to choose from.
zZounds has some other options..
Guitar Center has about 40 matches
Honestly, the Talman or one of the Squier Classic Vibes looks like a great lefty bass to start on.
The lefty Fender Player series cost the same as the righty Player series counterparts.
About $50 more for the Schecter Stiletto Session compared to the righty version. $50 more for an Ibby SR505EL vs the SR505E,
Same with the Schecter J-5.
Along with some Stingray Specials in the higher end of the cost Spectrum.
Sure you can't walk into a store locally and play most of these, but even playing right handed instruments, out of the 3 basses I own, only one was hanging on a store wall when I bought it. GC is pretty much the only local store to me and their selection is pretty lackluster anyway. Thank goodness for the internet, or I'd be playing a soundgear or a Sterling SUB, or a Squier and I'd never have gotten my hands on my TMB505 which I love.
One had to be sent back for a replacement and was done so without hassle or extra cost to me. The other blind internet order I've had no issues with.
Is it the broadest selection? No.. but it's not a terrible selection.. plenty in that list that can get the job done and sound/feel good.
And then if he does want to broaden his selection a bit, he could put together a bass from Warmoth and come out with a top notch instrument for less than the cost of a Fender Professional II.
For $2000-$3000 he could have a Kiesel custom built if he wants headless/chambered options or a specific pickup configuration that would make a lot of us drool.
Personally I wouldn't get hung up on the "selection" argument. Go with what feels good. If he favors lefty, there are options.
I mean, sure there's consideration for resale value.. but I personally buy instruments with the thought of "I'm going to play the F@#% out of that" as opposed to "I hope to get a nice chunk of my money back later down the road when I sell it". The goal is to get a keeper. *shrug*
zZounds has some other options..
Guitar Center has about 40 matches
Honestly, the Talman or one of the Squier Classic Vibes looks like a great lefty bass to start on.
The lefty Fender Player series cost the same as the righty Player series counterparts.
About $50 more for the Schecter Stiletto Session compared to the righty version. $50 more for an Ibby SR505EL vs the SR505E,
Same with the Schecter J-5.
Along with some Stingray Specials in the higher end of the cost Spectrum.
Sure you can't walk into a store locally and play most of these, but even playing right handed instruments, out of the 3 basses I own, only one was hanging on a store wall when I bought it. GC is pretty much the only local store to me and their selection is pretty lackluster anyway. Thank goodness for the internet, or I'd be playing a soundgear or a Sterling SUB, or a Squier and I'd never have gotten my hands on my TMB505 which I love.
One had to be sent back for a replacement and was done so without hassle or extra cost to me. The other blind internet order I've had no issues with.
Is it the broadest selection? No.. but it's not a terrible selection.. plenty in that list that can get the job done and sound/feel good.
And then if he does want to broaden his selection a bit, he could put together a bass from Warmoth and come out with a top notch instrument for less than the cost of a Fender Professional II.
For $2000-$3000 he could have a Kiesel custom built if he wants headless/chambered options or a specific pickup configuration that would make a lot of us drool.
Personally I wouldn't get hung up on the "selection" argument. Go with what feels good. If he favors lefty, there are options.
I mean, sure there's consideration for resale value.. but I personally buy instruments with the thought of "I'm going to play the F@#% out of that" as opposed to "I hope to get a nice chunk of my money back later down the road when I sell it". The goal is to get a keeper. *shrug*
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I'm a leftie, but play bass right-handed. It always made more sense to me to do the fretting work with my strongest hand.
When i was just starting out, they told me that i should really make the effort to learn to play right. The problem was that even having a righthand bass hanging on me didn't feel natural, let alone play it. Well, i didn't put too much thought on it and went with what felt good to me.
Finding the bass you like can be a pain in the bottom end; you'll either find yourself lucky enough to find a left version of your favourite bass, or choose custom built instruments - unless you're the type of person who is satisfied with any instrument no matter what.
In retrospect, i don't regret following the lefty path on basses. It's the scissors that bug me!
Finding the bass you like can be a pain in the bottom end; you'll either find yourself lucky enough to find a left version of your favourite bass, or choose custom built instruments - unless you're the type of person who is satisfied with any instrument no matter what.
In retrospect, i don't regret following the lefty path on basses. It's the scissors that bug me!
I am predominantly lefthanded, i say that as I do use my right hand for writing and other tasks. When i picked up the bass in '99 i could not find a lefthanded instruments and i was forced to buy a righthanded one. The first few months were an excruciating mental and physical workout but ever since then ive been playing the bass righthanded. I tried to play a lefthanded instrument when that was available and it was like ive never played bass in my life. Weird. Depends on what brands of basses your friend would like to be able to purchase as some manufacturers and brands do not make left handed versions.
So how many righties play lefty? There has to be at least one in the world. No?
I am very right-handed, when I had to sit through boring work meeting I used to try to take notes writing with my left hand. It was very difficult and I had a head ache after the first time!!
I'd suggest the OP's friend tries both ways and choses the one that feels the best to him.
It’s convenient in that indeed there is far less availability of left handed instruments, and it caters to what seems to be the natural flow of playing. After all, when one looks at a player in the process of playing it looks for all the world like the hand pulling most of the weight is the left hand!
Which makes one wonder why in heck the entire right handed world of builders and teachers of guitar, of lute, of violin and cello and bass, did, for centuries, put the fingerboard in the left hand of all their right handed customers and students.
Were they, are they, and have they always been.... wrong?
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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I've seen it go both ways. For one, my best bandmate ever (many bands and projects with him, even today), a guitar player, one of the best rhythm players I've seen or known, is naturally left handed and has always played right handed like a total champ.
Also, I knew a guy who's right handed, but suffered an accident in his late teens and as a result (his left hand was smashed) lost mobility in the ring and pinky fingers, thus not being able to fret. Well, he learned to play guitar all over as a lefty. I met the guy in his mid '30s and HE ABSOLUTELY SHREDS (the Alex Lifeson kinda' guitarist).
So, things seems to be malleable enough. There's MANY lefties out there playing right handed incredibly, and that's what counts the most for me. If any of my children were left handed and wanted to play guitar/bass I'd make them play right handed. Not only you can get exactly the instrument you want, but also can play with anybody's guitar/bass anytime. If you're about to start it seems to take the same amount of effort to learn one way or the other. If so, why choose the hardest/most inconvenient way?
In the case of drummers it's even worse, a real pain when it comes to sharing backline with other bands.
Also, I knew a guy who's right handed, but suffered an accident in his late teens and as a result (his left hand was smashed) lost mobility in the ring and pinky fingers, thus not being able to fret. Well, he learned to play guitar all over as a lefty. I met the guy in his mid '30s and HE ABSOLUTELY SHREDS (the Alex Lifeson kinda' guitarist).
So, things seems to be malleable enough. There's MANY lefties out there playing right handed incredibly, and that's what counts the most for me. If any of my children were left handed and wanted to play guitar/bass I'd make them play right handed. Not only you can get exactly the instrument you want, but also can play with anybody's guitar/bass anytime. If you're about to start it seems to take the same amount of effort to learn one way or the other. If so, why choose the hardest/most inconvenient way?
In the case of drummers it's even worse, a real pain when it comes to sharing backline with other bands.
I agree with the general consensus here that a pure beginner will probably do well just to go ahead and learn on a righty instrument.
But as an aside. Why are left handed guitars even a thing? I don't know of any left-handed pianos, saxophones, or any other instrument for that matter (i'm SURE there are left handed versions of those things somewhere out there, but in general, they aren't widely available).
So why did left handed guitars even become a thing? The first time someone handed me a guitar, it felt so foreign that it could have been in any orientation and I wouldn't have known any better. Why not just have guitars be like most other instruments where it's just "here is the instrument. This hand goes here, this other hand goes here - now play"?
But as an aside. Why are left handed guitars even a thing? I don't know of any left-handed pianos, saxophones, or any other instrument for that matter (i'm SURE there are left handed versions of those things somewhere out there, but in general, they aren't widely available).
So why did left handed guitars even become a thing? The first time someone handed me a guitar, it felt so foreign that it could have been in any orientation and I wouldn't have known any better. Why not just have guitars be like most other instruments where it's just "here is the instrument. This hand goes here, this other hand goes here - now play"?
I am left handed. I started playing in the mid-70's. Back then, the selection of quality left-handed instruments was much more sparse than now. I was encouraged to learn conventional right-handed in order to have access to a wider selection of good quality instruments.
Now, all manufacturers make left handed instruments, so it really doesn't matter.
Now, all manufacturers make left handed instruments, so it really doesn't matter.
I'm left-handed but learned righty. I cannot play a note lefty, but I also have no memory of a preference; it's not as if right seemed easier at the time (32 years ago!). However, I've always had a sneaking suspicion that i'd have more rhythmic precision and stamina had I learned "properly". For instance, even now, if I tap out beats with my hands my left is definitely stronger still. So I'm going to play "devils" advocate, literally for OP to go with a south-paw instrument, just so I can live vicariously and have the experiment run a different way!
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Yeah I play drums too, and have always had difficulty finding lefty sticks.
Lefty and I play righty. I figure the fretting hand needs to be more intricate and for me, I'm glad my dominant hand is dealing with that.
I’m a lefty and i play righty because when i started as a kid i played righty until i quit when i discovered motorcycles. Fast forward to my early thirties and i decided to take bass up again but decided i was going to learn lefty so i got my old bass from my dad and strung it upside down. I also decided i’d try lessons so i signed up. My first lesson my teacher said i was messing up to learn lefty. He went on to explain that since I was essentially starting from scratch it wouldn’t matter how i learned, but if i learned lefty i’d pretty much have to order basses without trying them out, that i’d be lucky to ever walk into a music store and find a left handed bass. I lived in a fairly large city at the time so that weekend i went out looking at basses. I went to every shop in town and not a single left handed bass, new or used, could be found so I took my teachers advice and learned righty. Over the years since (i’m now pushing 70) any time i go in a music store i look to see if there’s any lefty basses in stock. In all those years i’ve seen maybe a ten used and one new lefty bass hanging on the wall for sale in a music store.
