Left or Right (for all you Axe players)
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
iirc there was a guy called jimi something who did ok playing left.
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iirc there was a guy called jimi something who did ok playing left.
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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No, guitar hero! :) ok - this won't survive, which is probably a good thing but sometimes ya just can't resist, ya know...
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iirc there was a guy called jimi something who did ok playing left.
So did this guy [^]
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity. http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] My Site
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
I believe violin may be taught right-handed so that everybody in an orchestra a) Match up so they look nice and b) Don't hit each other I don't play the guitar (or any instrument for that matter) but even though I'm right handed I find it a little easier to "play" a guitar the wrong way around, but I suppose it's just something you'd get used to whichever way you chose to go.
My current favourite phrase: I've seen better!
-SK Genius
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So did this guy [^]
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity. http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] My Site
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_Maxxx_ wrote:
angst
What's rock-and-roll without a little angst? (Hey, that's kinda zen, isn't it?)
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No, they make everyone play violin right handed which isn't the same thing. Southpaw, definitely. It's a matter of reflex development.
Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]
Trollslayer wrote:
It's a matter of reflex development.
But where I'm coming from is that I don't see the difference between the reflexes of your strumming/picking hand and your fretting hand (terminology not my strong suit) - so he'll just be developing different reflexes (if, indeed, that is the right word) in different hands... I mean - he plays the piano the same as (who can play the piano) so why not the guitar?
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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I believe violin may be taught right-handed so that everybody in an orchestra a) Match up so they look nice and b) Don't hit each other I don't play the guitar (or any instrument for that matter) but even though I'm right handed I find it a little easier to "play" a guitar the wrong way around, but I suppose it's just something you'd get used to whichever way you chose to go.
My current favourite phrase: I've seen better!
-SK Genius
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_Maxxx_ wrote:
angst
What's rock-and-roll without a little angst? (Hey, that's kinda zen, isn't it?)
Disco.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
Given that left handed guitars exist there is probably a good reason why. You should be able to get a reasonable left handed electric fairly easilly. I wouldnt restring a right handed one, you will have problems because the grooves in the the nut match the string width; the top e will be loose and the bottom e too high off the fret board. If its a strat syle you will get tonality issues with the bridge pickup and the tremelo bar might get in the way (however this didnt bother Hendrix). Unless your son wants to learn everything upside down, in which case just play a right handed guitar left handed without restringing! :)
"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation." Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville
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I am a lefty. I have 15 guitars. Most of them are imported from the US, and I've NEVER bought a 'bargain' guitar. I've seen many guitars I wish I could play, and forever see a new model that I'd buy, if it came as a lefty. If he is comfortable trying to play right handed, encourage it. If he insists it is 'wrong', then he'll never be able to play that way, so you will have to live with it.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
15 guitars and you never bought a bargain.... Do you actually need 15 guitars as a musician or are you starting a museum?
"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation." Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville
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Yeah - but that's bass and bassists rate only slightly higher than drummers...
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
_Maxxx_ wrote:
bassists
He wasn't always.
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
Oh, right left -- ask Dick Dale. :-D
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15 guitars and you never bought a bargain.... Do you actually need 15 guitars as a musician or are you starting a museum?
"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation." Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville
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Given that left handed guitars exist there is probably a good reason why. You should be able to get a reasonable left handed electric fairly easilly. I wouldnt restring a right handed one, you will have problems because the grooves in the the nut match the string width; the top e will be loose and the bottom e too high off the fret board. If its a strat syle you will get tonality issues with the bridge pickup and the tremelo bar might get in the way (however this didnt bother Hendrix). Unless your son wants to learn everything upside down, in which case just play a right handed guitar left handed without restringing! :)
"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation." Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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It can seldon be reversed because the profile isnt the same on both sides, as for replaced, yes, but its not a trivial job. If you want a good playing guitar it needs setting up carefully.
"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation." Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville
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Well, the boy (7 yrs old) has decided he wants to start to play the guitar (specifically Dad's 'good' guitar, of course, but that's another battle) Anyhoo - he's left handed. I'm right handed and have previously re-strung an 'el-cheapo' acoustic for him to bash about left handedly. Then I spoke to some violin teachers (unrelated) who told me that everyone plays a violin 'right handed' (i.e. bow in right hand) and it occurred to me that the dexterity of each guitar hand is different, but can be equally complex. So - is it better to get him a left handed guitar (with all the additional expense, and angst - and future inability to just grab a guitar and join in) or to just give him my right-hander and teach him that way? Thoughts, as ever, welcome. Long chains of puns based on stringed instruments almost a certainty, but any 'real' information would be greatly appreciated before he goes through the summer holidays learning Stairway To Heaven the wrong way around :)
___________________________________________ .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
My son, though not left handed, shows preference for his left hand when hitting a baseball and some other activities. He plays guitar right handed. When he was first starting lessons, his guitar teacher commented that he was ahead of the game with his fretwork (left hand) but needed work on his strumming (right hand). He seems to have caught up now and is doing fine. I say let him try right handed. He may find he has a slight advantage on the fretboard.
