{"id":198124,"date":"2021-08-27T04:00:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T11:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/?p=198124"},"modified":"2022-08-03T01:00:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T08:00:16","slug":"left-handed-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/left-handed-guitar\/","title":{"rendered":"Left-Handed Guitar: Does it Make Any Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you left-handed? If so, you may wonder if you need a left-handed guitar. Or would it be better to play a normal, right-handed guitar?<\/p>\n<p>This is not even a question on most instruments. Pianists, violinists, clarinetists &#8211; they don\u2019t ask the question. They just play the instrument that exists.<\/p>\n<p>But we do have left-handed guitars. So should you play lefty or righty?<\/p>\n<p>The CGS Official Take: Play a normal, right-handed guitar, even if you\u2019re a southpaw.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7B98JUMmaVE?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Guitar is Challenging for Everyone<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that guitar is challenging for everyone. Even the most musically gifted people struggle with guitar. It\u2019s not easy.<\/p>\n<p>We need to coordinate both hands. And each hand uses completely different movements. We sit and hold a large, asymmetrical, cumbersome instrument.<\/p>\n<p>So as a lefty, a left-handed guitar will not make the road much (if any) smoother. But there are some potential benefits to buying a left-handed classical guitar.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Pros of Learning Guitar Left-Handed<\/h2>\n<p>Each hand has its own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/progress-vs-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unique challenges on the guitar<\/a>. And most people find that one hand gives them more of a challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some benefits to playing lefty:<\/p>\n<h3>Your Dominant Hand Makes the Sound<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/classical-guitar-tone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The hand over the body of the guitar plucks the strings<\/a>. This makes the sound.<\/p>\n<p>So playing with your dominant hand plucking or strumming the strings could be a boon. At least initially.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, both hands grow into their roles and become fully competent. But first starting out, a lefty may sound better. Or there may be better tone quality playing a left-handed guitar.<\/p>\n<p>This may also mean that when a lefty performs, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/stage-fright\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the nerves are less noticeable<\/a>. Since the more innately competent hand is making the sound, a strong sound may still be possible. (This idea is questionable, and may or may not be true.)<\/p>\n<h3>It May Be More Comfortable (perhaps, for a while)<\/h3>\n<p>When we interlace our fingers, most people put their non-dominant thumb on top of the dominant. And when we do the opposite, it feels wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Following this logic, we may have a predisposition to play guitar lefty or righty.<\/p>\n<p>But with time and practice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/feel-natural\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this \u201cnatural feeling\u201d changes<\/a>. Whatever we do with consistent intention will become habitual.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Pros of Learning Guitar Right-Handed (if Left-Hand Dominant)<\/h2>\n<p>And there are also many benefits to playing a right-handed, normal guitar. This is regardless of which hand is dominant.<\/p>\n<h3>It\u2019s Easier to Find a Guitar to Play<\/h3>\n<p>Left-handed guitars are available, but they are rare. This means that if you are ever somewhere without a guitar, you can\u2019t play.<\/p>\n<p>So if you play a normal guitar, guitars are always easily accessible. You\u2019ll probably pay less, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/new-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and you\u2019ll have loads more options<\/a>. Both used and new guitars abound.<\/p>\n<h3>Most Teaching Resources are Created for Righties<\/h3>\n<p>Any teaching resource available will be created for right-handed guitars. It\u2019s not prejudice &#8211; it\u2019s just the numbers. Only a tiny fraction of guitarists will opt for a left-handed instrument.<\/p>\n<p>Information is everywhere. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/teach-yourself-learn-classical-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You\u2019ll find myriad books, DVDs, courses, and online programs<\/a>. And if you study with a private teacher, he or she will likely play right-handed.<\/p>\n<p>So opting for lefty creates more work. For every resource, you\u2019ll have to mentally translate it to your own perspective. This can slow down learning. It takes valuable mental bandwidth that could be used for learning.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Pick One and Go With It<\/h2>\n<p>Most experienced guitar teachers would suggest you play a normal, right-handed guitar. Even if you\u2019re left-handed. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/make-guitar-easy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It\u2019s just easier and makes sense<\/a>.\u00a0 This is because of the reasons above.<\/p>\n<p>But regardless of which you choose, make a choice and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-practice-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get down to practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What matters more than the orientation of the guitar? What and how we play. The real benefit comes from deliberate practice. This is where the magic happens.<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019re serious about improving at guitar, The Woodshed\u00ae Classical Guitar Program may be the place for you.<\/p>\n<p>Members skip headaches and heartaches of trial-and-error learning. They spend their guitar time well. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/constant-improvement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">They see the steady improvement<\/a> that sets them up for the long term.<\/p>\n<p>When you join, you\u2019ll know exactly what and how to practice. You\u2019ll enjoy your daily guitar like never before because you\u2019ll be organized and on track. <a href=\"https:\/\/my.classicalguitarshed.com\/membership\">Click here to learn more and get started.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you left-handed? If so, you may wonder if you need a left-handed guitar. Or would it be better to play a normal, right-handed guitar? This is not even a question on most instruments. Pianists, violinists, clarinetists &#8211; they don\u2019t ask the question. They just play the instrument that exists. But we do have left-handed guitars. So should you play &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/left-handed-guitar\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":198130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,434],"tags":[58,363,392],"class_list":["post-198124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-main-content-parent","tag-bodily-use","tag-general-guitar","tag-positioning"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Should You Buy a Left-Handed Guitar? What to Know First<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Before you shop for a left-handed classical guitar, consider these factors. Lefty guitars have pros and cons. 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