Left Handed Playing Right Handed?

[Jergason]

I am naturally left handed, but I learned to play guitar right handed. I was wondering if this could affect my playing, making it harder or easier or anything like that. What are your opinions on this?

[Metal Dan]

I know a friend of mine back in high school that did the same exact thing and he didn't seem to have any problems at all with it.

[Slaindude]

i truly don't think so, i know some guitarist that are left-handed and they play right-handed and they play pretty well. In fact, if you wanna know if it will affect your playing, just ask yourself if you felt confortable when you first pick your guitar as a right-handed ? do you feel you take a lot of time learning basic things? do you have a lot of problem with coordination (and i mean a lot) ? If you answered no to all those questions, you may have no problem at all playing as right-handed guitarist. Or just go to a guitar store, and try a guitar but play left-handed. Do not expect to play as well cause you'll have some difficulty to get used to it, but concentrate on the feel. If you feel tied up, then maybe you should play right-handed, but that's just an opinion.

[Santuzzo]

Hi,

I'm left-handed as well ....
I think it doesn't really matter musically whether you play right or left, it might affect your technical development, though, i.e. one hand might need a little more practice than the other .... My problem is still that I can't pick very fast with my right hand. But that's only a pure technical issue.
I am still kinda having some sort of dillema about playing right handed ...
If you want to read about it, check out this thread I started :

http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3522

Peace
Lars

[Koala]

WHat they said. I know many amazing instrumentalists in your same situation. Dont worry n rock on!

[wild_child]

everyone seems to be forgetting something... you play guitar with both hands ;)

co-ordination doesnt rely on your 'best hand,' it relies on both :p

i think the main reason left handers find playing right handed hard when theyre starting out, is cause playing is difficult when youre starting out

anyway, in a nutshell, its all psychosomatic IMO :)


oh, btw.. i am a lefty who plays right :D