Author Topic: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?  (Read 4057 times)

American Red

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 155
Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« on: November 17, 2012, 07:54:31 PM »
Right and left handed Guitars.

My right hand is dominate.
I am right handed.
My right hand is the most dexterous.
So why am I strumming with my right hand and doing all the hard work with my left hand?
Am I really playing a left handed guitar?
All the Guitars at the Local Music Store are set up to strum with your right hand, forcing you to make all the hard chords and do all the complicated riffs with your left hand.

Perhaps the first guitar luthier was a lefty and no one ever noticed.

Was Martin Luther (a devout lutheran) actually left handed?

I think we would be better served if we re-strung our guitars and flipped them over.
We could easily teach our right hand to do the chords/riffs and, of course, the left would be a natural at strumming..

(Hope I am not being too controversial)
Martins may have messed us all up..
Well, Martin Luther probably had little to do with it...

Do you agree?




« Last Edit: November 17, 2012, 08:00:56 PM by American Red »

not darth

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 356
  • Near the lake in Minnesota.
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2012, 01:00:07 AM »
Well, if you're playing fingerstyle, the harder work is done with the lower hand (the one near the soundhole).
YMMV.
Member #34
I'm not darth.

American Red

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 155
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2012, 01:03:21 AM »
Hmm   so if you are ambidextrous, you should order a harp?

Both hands strumming ten strings, one on each side of the harp...
Hmm..

Wonder who makes quality harps?


PureTone

  • Guest
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2012, 02:47:25 AM »
Right and left handed Guitars.

My right hand is dominate.
I am right handed.
My right hand is the most dexterous.
So why am I strumming with my right hand and doing all the hard work with my left hand?
Am I really playing a left handed guitar?
All the Guitars at the Local Music Store are set up to strum with your right hand, forcing you to make all the hard chords and do all the complicated riffs with your left hand.

Perhaps the first guitar luthier was a lefty and no one ever noticed.

Was Martin Luther (a devout lutheran) actually left handed?

I think we would be better served if we re-strung our guitars and flipped them over.
We could easily teach our right hand to do the chords/riffs and, of course, the left would be a natural at strumming..

(Hope I am not being too controversial)
Martins may have messed us all up..
Well, Martin Luther probably had little to do with it...

Do you agree?
No.

Captain Jim

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 810
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2012, 08:50:04 AM »
I am ambidextrous: I don't do things well with either hand.  ;)  Doesn't matter, as along as we're all having fun.  :)
2014 Taylor 522ce 12-fret
2012 Taylor 814ce
2006 Taylor T-5
2011 Taylor GSmini
2013 Rainsong Shorty SG-FLE
Gibson ES-335-TDC (1965)
Bose L1 Compact
Roland Cube-ST
Fishman Loudbox Mini

cigarfan

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1451
  • If He comes today ...........are you ready?
    • I Ignite!
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2012, 11:50:20 AM »
It's the left brain and the right brain working simultaneously, right? Shouldn't matter which way you string it, both hands get a workout.
Blackbird, Froggy Bottom, Gibson, Goodall, Hatcher,
Kanile'a, Kinnard, Kwasnycia, Martin, Rainsong,
Ryan, Santa Cruz, Taylor, Voyage Air, Weber

jalbert

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 283
  • I should be practicing
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2012, 11:57:35 AM »
I disagree. It's a subtle difference, IMO. The strumming/picking hand has to have a much more accurate sense of timing than the fretting hand. There is some room for error: as long as the fretting finger is where it needs to be by the time the string starts moving, everything's fine. But if the hand that starts the string moving isn't where it should be at the right time, you hear it.
James

'07 GA8-12
'19 Academy 12e-N

American Red

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 155
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2012, 01:49:50 PM »
I disagree. It's a subtle difference, IMO. The strumming/picking hand has to have a much more accurate sense of timing than the fretting hand. There is some room for error: as long as the fretting finger is where it needs to be by the time the string starts moving, everything's fine. But if the hand that starts the string moving isn't where it should be at the right time, you hear it.

Great answer to a somewhat weird attempt to be funny and amusing.

I love Pure tones answer!
Funny and amusing in its own right!

Well, if you're playing fingerstyle, the harder work is done with the lower hand (the one near the soundhole).
YMMV.

So then, that is why a rap artist doesn't hold the mike with his right hand, because it is easier and more natural to make all those friendly gestures, while waving at the audience with his right...
I guess it makes sense..  He probably changes up when he lowers his left to walk around in a circle, trying to figure out what to say next.. 

I will try to be serious for a while.. :-)

Perhaps I'm acoustically challenged, but,  I have been thinking about getting another flipping guitar (Like Jimi Hendrix) just for the experience!
« Last Edit: November 18, 2012, 08:47:26 PM by American Red »

drbob1

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 37
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2012, 04:17:54 PM »
Actually it did sound like a question that bears thinking about. I think that the movements of the right hand tend to be faster (think tremelo picking, sweep picking, finger picking) plus if you think about piano players the basic shapes are mostly played in the left with the embellishments in the right and that works on guitar too...

Edward

  • Global Moderator
  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3032
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2012, 08:05:33 PM »
"rap artist" is an oxymoron.  Sorry ...nothing worthwhile to add to this thread but just had to get that in :) :) :)

Edward

CodeBlueEMT

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1648
  • In Dog Beers, I've Only Had One
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2012, 11:23:50 PM »
 I'm left handed, but play guitar right handed. I don't consider myself ambidextrous and doubt a left handed guitar would have made me famous.  ;) If there is an answer to the question...right.  :)
Shayne

2023 Gibson Custom '57 Les Paul Goldtop
2017 Taylor T5z Pro SE "Erwin"
2014 Taylor 524ce
2013 Martin 000-28EC Sunburst
2011 Taylor 314ce
2008 Taylor SB-1 Classic
1999 Taylor XXV-DR 25th Anniversary
Hard Knocks Custom Esquire "Miss Bettie"

ctkarslake

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 432
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2012, 08:39:52 AM »
Certainly something to think about. Thanks for the food for thought Red.  Keep it up! 8)
1989 712
1992 410
1992 412
1995 410
1995 422
1996 412-M
1996 450
1997 412
1997 420-R
2007 GC3

Picker 'n Grinner

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 33
Re: Did we all buy left handed Guitars?
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2012, 06:18:30 AM »
I recently saw a Beatles tribute band.  "Paul" played lefty but switched to a right hand base for some nonBeatle numbers. I think my brain would explode.

(they were the warmup act ... I am not THAT lame)
RJM
814CE BTO
914CE
Taylor 12 Fret
Taylor Presentation 914CE
Martin 000-28
Martin HD-35
Martin D-42
Martin D-35-12
Collings D2HA