Small (age 7) Left Handed player questions

[BarfanyShart]

I'm a lefty but when I started playing guitar and bass around 10 or 11, I learned righty. Might be too late in your case, but I'm really glad that I didn't' have to spend the last 50 yrs looking for lefty basses. I do everything else lefty (throw, write, etc).

Yes, I am lefty and am also happy that I was forced to learn music right-handed, and am forcing my left handed children to do the same. What if you want to pick up DB or cello later in life, or Irish Bazouki, or Iraqi Oud? It's great that lefthanded guitars exist, but lots of stuff with strings has never been accessible in a lefty format. I view musical instruments like can openers: they exist in the world independent of me, and when I come across one, I have to engage with it on its own terms.

 

[LowActionHero]

Squier does make lefties but they might be hard to track down.

Never seen an Ibanez that wasn't above average to awesome for the price, and that price seems reasonable for that bass, and it's new.
You could get most of your money out of it if it didn't work out.

 

[red_rhino]

You are aware that Ibanez makes high end models way above the GIO and mikro series, right?

Absolutely. My reply was tailored to focus more on the worthiness of Ibanez’s beginner level instruments, as that was a key point in the OP’s questions, rather than diverging into how good their premium offerings are (as tempting as that was).

 

[Jazzdogg]

I was small for my age when I started playing double bass, so I stood on a box to play because my height was more of an issue than the 41" scale length.

Several decades later I found myself teaching 50 different middle school students how to play electric bass. Even the smallest students could play an electric bass with a 34" scale length provided they learned appropriate technique.

 

[And I]

As a lefty who plays righty -- if he's already well into playing lefty, then let it be. It will significantly lessen the options for instruments, but the Ibanez Mikro is a great choice. Trying to switch hands at this point would probably ruin a lot of the fun for him.

 

[MCS4]

Unless he is dead set on an "standard" electric bass, a Kala U-Bass or similar uke-style bass (which are readily available in lefty) could be a good choice. They're small, inexpensive, and have very low string tension, but they still use standard bass tuning and thus will suit theory/learning purposes. They're also great for discreet practicing at home. As a bonus, this type of bass can potentially stay useful long-term (I love to play mine at home, and could use it in the right recording or possibly gigging situation), as opposed to many other "first bass" options that might be discarded quickly after he picks up another bass later.

 

[bigjames]

Both my daughters did great with a Squire Bronco bass when they were small...I am not sure if they make LH, but I would assume they would?

 

[CPB2019]

I second, third, fourth or whatever the Ibanez Mikro.

My son started at 8 and was a very small 8 year old. This was just when he started for a frame of reference re size (he’s right handed).


He now plays a 30” scale at 12 years old.

 

[Flamingo21]

@bigjames Nice photo!

 

[Lost In Time]

There's a left handed Ibanez Mikro at Invalid Link Removed, which is apparently a German retailer. I don't know if they deliver to the UK, or even if they are a legitimate business, but they sell on Amazon UK.

 

[Flamingo21]

And before we completely forget, @AlisonRuth

1.) Welcome to TalkBass!

2.) Thanks for being a supportive mother, and reaching out to this supportive community for advice.

My €0.02 on the left-right matter: I'm a lefty who chose to play righty. Not to have more choice in instruments, but because that's what felt natural to me. So I say let him do what feels natural to him.

 

[matty1039]

Like @Flamingo21 said, your son might consider playing righty also. I'm generally a lefty but playing right handed felt natural to me. It made more sense for my hand with better dexterity to be on the fret board.

I don't think you could go wrong either way with, like most others have said, and Ibanez Mikro. Just me sure to take it somewhere and have it properly set up. (String height and intonation and all that.)

 

[Ric5]

My son has been desperate to learn guitar since he was tiny. By 5 we were bored of the pestering and got him a uke, thinking he was too small to manage guitar still. By 7 he wanted to play guitar, but what he REALLY wants to play most is bass guitar. He plays left handed, and although 7 1/2, is small for his age and more the size of someone at least a year younger. Are there any left handed bass guitars small enough for him?! We’ve just got him started on guitar lessons rather than ukulele and he’s got a half size guitar. After 3 lessons the teacher has said that if bass is what he really wants to do we should go for it and get a bass. He’s got a great ear, is learning piano too, seems to have the fine motor skills (I teach piano and I’m impressed how well he can pick it up compared to other kids his age where the motor skills are a big issue) and certainly has the desire. So whilst bass might not be as ‘fun’ for kids as guitar, I think he’ll stick it. I just don’t know if we can find something in a manageable size until he’s grown some more. As a trumpet/piano player, I’ve got no idea what options might be (or not) for adjusting a RH bass (guitar wise he’s currently got a classical guitar we’ve re strung the other way but I think that’s only really an option on the nylon string guitars). I’ve found a couple of mini/micro basses but only RH ones. He’s reluctant to swap to playing right handed (wants to be like Paul McCartney!) and left handed set up seems to work best for him. Any advice or suggestions?

 

[rufus.K]

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_shorty_lh_bk_std_series.htm

Harley Benton is the king of inexpensive. I just played a 99 dollar pbass (harley benton) at The Viper Room in Hollywood all night... theyre generally amazing instruments for the price, and available in Europe.

 

[BlueTalon]

That was awesome!

Anyone who didn't already see that video, take a few minutes and do it now.

 

[Ric5]

That was awesome!

Anyone who didn't already see that video, take a few minutes and do it now.

she has a youtube channel



at that age didn't know what a bass guitar was!

 

[Thegreatzambini]

I’ll add a +1 for Ibanez as a great beginner instrument. My wife has a full-size GSR200 and I’m always astounded at how well it plays and how great it sounds. It easily holds its own alongside more expensive instruments. I think the Mikro is an excellent entry point for someone your son’s age and size, and if he progresses and moves up to larger instruments, you won’t have overspent.

You are aware that they make lines above the GIO and mikro series, right? pretty sure this dude here is not playing an entry-level instrument

View attachment 4832119

Absolutely. My reply was tailored to focus more on the worthiness of Ibanez’s beginner level instruments, as that was a key point in the OP’s questions, rather than diverging into how good their premium offerings are (as tempting as that was).

yeah afterwards I looked at my post and realized it was late at night and I was tired and reading things the wrong way or looking too much into something. Cheers dude

 

[AG42]

I have three short-scale basses, a RH Mikro 5-string and two J&D mini jazz basses from DV247 in the UK. Sadly the J&Ds don't come in LH otherwise I'd recommend them - if you can find a LH Mikro I'd highly recommend it like everyone else here has, they're solidly built and easy to play for us (slightly) more grown up players.

One to have a look at, Gear4Music do a LH 3/4 P-bass which may suit - I've played a RH one before and I liked it, but it's more roughly finished than the Mikros so as a platform for doing work on down the line it may work or just as a temporary thing too...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[AG42]

Just re-read your original post...if he's wanting to be like Paul McCartney, you could have a look at Thomann for the Harley Benton BeatBass, which is a 30 inch scale and is quite a light bass. It comes in RH but the bridge can be tinkered with easily to make it left-handed. And sometimes they come up as B-stock - saves a bit of money, but generally means they're still a great instrument.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_beatbass.htm

I'm more than happy to help out on questions, or setting it up if you're in the south of England somewhere.

 

[two fingers]

Yes, I am lefty and am also happy that I was forced to learn music right-handed, and am forcing my left handed children to do the same. What if you want to pick up DB or cello later in life, or Irish Bazouki, or Iraqi Oud? It's great that lefthanded guitars exist, but lots of stuff with strings has never been accessible in a lefty format. I view musical instruments like can openers: they exist in the world independent of me, and when I come across one, I have to engage with it on its own terms.

Exactly this. There aren't left-handed pianos or computer keyboards. I'm left-handed and play right-handed. I'm SOOOOO glad I went that route. I can't imagine trying to find instruments I like that are left-handed.

A year from now he won't even think about which hand plucks amd which hand frets. It'll be second nature just like you. Get him a Jackson Minion. They are actually pretty well made. I have one for my girls. I actually play it from time to time and really dig it.