Sick of being lefty

I'm left handed, but I play bass right handed. Always have, so I can't really comment on switching.

 

Me too.

 

How in the world do you do this? My friend was left handed, and I've tried to play his bass numerous times. I'd never be able to actually get used to it, let alone good at it.

 

Steve Lawson is left handed.

 

I'm 100% lefty, play righthanded basses, flipped righty basses with inverted strings like Jim Haslip, lefty basses normal, and never found a problem finding a bass that I could not play or had a great tone I enjoy.

if your going for the "I need a MIA 1976 Fender Jazz, and there is no lefty version" stuff your S.O.L.....
well....your brain can adapt as mine did over the years to play whatever orientation you want, but if it is more "natural" to play lefty...why switch JUST to match the desires you have on your "wish" bass in your future?

buy a lefty bass to match your wants/needs it IS out there, and that's a easy way to solve the problem.

 

Me three.

 

Fender has made lefty Jazz basses every year except 1983-86.

 

I'm the opposite. I'm a true righty in everything else but in all musical things I'm lefty. Those include string instruments and drums, because where both the downbeat and backbeat resides in you is crucial. You can learn the other way but I'm firm believer in going where your natural side is.

If you're talking about just getting a righty bass, that's another thing. Most lefty guitarists/bassists could do a gig on a righty instrument flipped over, no restringing, just from having picked them up for so long. But getting frustrated and switching to playing righty? Nah. Might be a good idea for someone who was never a true lefty player, such as someone who went lefty because they did other things lefty and really are not a natural lefty player.

 

I'm a lefty and play right handed. When I was young my dad had an old acoustic guitar that I could never play because it was not left handed. I ended up playing clarinet throughout grade school and high school and somehow I feel that got my brain rewired to play right handed.

I see that with new instruments, particularly a boutique bass, a left handed model commands a higher price in most cases. In vintage though, a lot of times it knocks value off since there's a smaller crowd after them. Are you wanting new or old?

Also, do you playing upright right handed?

 

I was thirteen when I first picked up a guitar by the neck with my right hand and started plucking with my left; my music teacher immediately switched me to righty, explaining how much mosre costly lefty instruments would be. I've been a righty ever since, though lefty in all other things. Back then, the early 60s, there was no Mccartney or Hendrix to popularize--or legitimize--lefty playing. I've tried to go back, but can't.

 

That's going to be tough...10 years of experience. I don't think I'd advise that. IMHO. And I'm left handed. Left-handed string basses must be hard to come by...

Wow, there's more of us than I thought. I never even THOUGHT left handed basses were available, my mom gave me a right-handed Beltone 6 string bass guitar when I was 11, I played it right handed and never thought about it. People do mention I have (I guess) 'phenomenal' left hand technique, and I guess that's because that's my dominant hand.

They were INCREDIBLY rare when I was growing up; I think special order only. And you had to know they were available, which I didn't. So I just grew up playing right handed.

Good luck with your conundrum. It's tough out there being left handed - scissors, 3 ring binders, can openers et al...

Cheers,
Cameron

 

I wonder wich bass can make you change from lefty to righty?

I'm lefty and never had this feeling...

 

If switch-hitters can train themselves to hit a 100 mph fastball under the scrutiny of 1,000s of fans and the potential loss of their job, learning to play with the other hands shouldn't be so tough.

 

I thought this was a post about ideology.

 

Play your bass like Jeff!

 

My friend is one of LA's best guitar teachers. He always teaches Righty.
1. There are many more choices of instrument
2. There may be an advantage to your "better" hand being the fretting hand.

The first time you picked up a bass, it was just as awkward - switching would be less difficult as a lot of the knowledge is already there.

 

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

 

Another one here.
Lefthanded but I play basses righty.
I started with playing violin at the age of 6 and I learned it righthanded. left hand on the neck, right hand on the bow. As a few years ago I decided coolness demands playing an electric instrument, I went for Bass for terms of even more coolness and the simple fact that I thought I would "know my way around 4 strings" . And of course the bass was righty.