The Left Way
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I want to learn to play the guitar. But I play left-handed. Any comments about a “lefty” learning to play guitar.
Do you play left-handed? Your pictures show you playing left-handed. Does any of your books have instructions for playing left-handed. And I prefer rock/electric. Should I buy the guide book pertaining to rock first?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hello and thanks for writing!
I play left handed, that’s how I learned from the start.
I’m assuming you have a left handed guitar. Left handed guitars are not upside down or backward as far as the strings go, so you can learn from any book. Going for books that are “learn left handed” are mostly gimmicks, The guitar is still the same and the directions are going to be the same as long as you keep in mind the only thing to remember is that when a book says to use the right hand (or strumming hand) that’s your left hand and vice versa.
Left handed books can actually be harmful, especially if they draw out the chord charts backwards. They are easy enough to learn and when you see them in other books or online they’re always going to be made in the same direction (thickest string on the left, thinnest on the right).
By the bye, if you’re going to get one of my books and you’re more interested in the electric guitar, I’d go with the Rock Guitar book. Both books teach the fundamentals but the rock guitar book really focuses on the electric and on the touch required to play one well.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to email me anytime with more questions. I look forward to hearing how things are going with you.
Peace
roger polk
January 21st, 2012 @ 4:10 pm
I know this post Im responding to is old (concerning playing the left way)
I have been around music and musicians most of my 50 yrs (ya I was a drummer). Thats what they call people that hang around with musicians. I have the ability to create songs and would pick up a right handed guitar put it with the headstock to the right and it didnt take but I fooled around with it anyway. I believe in retrospect I did learn more than the smoke on the water riff. Things such as pull offs, slides, bends, whole/half steps, strumming etc. I was shown C,A,G,E,D at 25 yrs old when i got a RtHanded guitar and strung it backwards, with the Big E on top (remember intonation was still backwards). with the advent of online song lyric/chord downloads I picked up playing right away. Ive purchased a couple Lefty guitars since that time and I do have to reverse the chord chart in my head or on paper. There are resources out there for lefties you just have to look. Scaletool.com for example shows left/right hand scale. Its a bit more work and probably more rewarding to be able to play and now I learn from youtube lesson videos that show what string/fret etc and its easier. Keep your dobbers up lefies we come from good stock, Hendrix, Mc Cartney, Hodges .