Q. Okay so I would like to learn guitar. My musical friends have told me that it's better to learn right handed, however I am naturally left handed and playing it with my left hand feels more natural. So my question is how hard would it be to teach myself right handed playing or is it even worth it?
A. You will be doing yourself a BIG favor if you learn right handed. There shouldn't even be any discussion except that guitar is so often "self-taught" and lefties assume they need a left hand guitar. It's a natural assumption, there are so many things that *are* right hand oriented....but musical instruments are in a different category. Ever see a left handed piano?
With any instrument, both hands are used equally. Your off-hand...left or right...is going to feel awkward until you train it. This is normal. Think of all the right handed players who struggle to teach their clumsy left hands to finger chords. You'll actually be at an advantage there!
There are several DISADVANTAGES to learning LEFTY:
1. The selection of left hand guitars is very limited. Go to musiciansfriend.com and do a search. They carry 781 acoustic guitars in all price ranges. Only 40 of those are left handed, and only six of those are under $300. It *is* possible to string guitars backward, but there are other adjustments like replacing the top nut and reversing the bridge/intonation. Most guitar shops won't have any in stock, so you have to order without trying it...always a bad idea.
2. Virtually all the instructional material and tab is written for right hand (standard) The sheet music you buy will have standard chord diagrams...exactly backwards from the way a lefty plays. It's hard enough learning to play, who needs that?
3. You won't be able to play other people's guitars. You go to a party, people are passing a guitar around.......good luck.
You could attribute all these disadvantages to another example of being a lefty in a right hand world....and that would be true if it really made a difference which way you learned. The fact is that you can learn either way. A lot, if not most lefties do learn the standard way with no problem. I'm in a band right now with two lefties...one plays left hand bass, the other plays right hand guitar. I've played with the guitar player for years and only recently found out he's left handed. The ones who play left handed stick out....but I believe that the vast majority just play standard guitars and nobody notices.
I urge you to at least give standard guitar a fair try. Keep in mind that *everybody* feels clumsy at first.
hi, I want to sing and play chords on the piano at the same time.?
Q. You know like just play chords (not song), but use my voice to sing the song out. How do you usually do that with left hand concentrates on what and right hand concentrates on what?
A. Learn to read chords from a fake book, or from the chord symbols written above the staff in popular sheet music. You don't need to be able to read notes, just be able to read the chord symbols. This is a really great, easy way to get started on the piano.
If you are looking for a book to help you, check out "How to Speed Read Piano Chord Symbols". You can preview the book over at http://www.patternpiano.com/
If you are looking for a free online resource, check out http://www.list-of-chords.com/ -- this site has lots of free diagrams for how to read from a fake book or play chords from the chord symbols written above the staff in popular sheet music.
right or left handed guitar!?
Q. I'm left handed but im wondering weather it would be easier for me to play a left handed guitar or to play a right handed one... If i use a right handed one will it be easierbecause my left hand is strong?
A. Being left handed is no more of an issue with guitar than it is with piano or any other instrument. Both of your hands are eventually going to do equally complex work. Whether you're left or right handed, your weaker hand will need a little extra attention. If you get a standard (what some people call right-handed) guitar, you'll probably have an easier time forming chords than a right handed beginner. Your right hand will feel a little clumsy as you learn to strum. This is normal and shouldn't be taken as an indication that you need a left-hand guitar.
There are a lot of good reasons not to learn on a left handed guitar. All the chord diagrams, tab, and instructional material will be backwards. Left handed guitars are only available in limited models and usually have to be ordered. While that may not be a concern to a beginner, when you're ready to upgrade, you'll want to try before buying. Although left handed guitars are somewhat available, if you ever decide to learn another stringed instrument, you'll have a much harder time finding a left handed one.
Most left handed players simply learn on a regular guitar. You just don't notice them as much as the ones who play left handed. I have a friend who I've been playing with for 30 years. He's one of the best guitarists I know, and I only recently realized he's left handed.
Bottom line is that you should learn on a regular guitar, and don't give your left handedness another thought.
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Title : Should I play guitar left handed or right handed?
Description : Q. Okay so I would like to learn guitar. My musical friends have told me that it's better to learn right handed, however I am naturall...