Acoustic
     Acoustic-Electric
     Bass
     Electric
     Latin
     Travel

     Cases
     Casio
     Hartke
     RMS
     Stands
     Thrones & Benches
     Yamaha

     Bags & Cases
     Blank Tape
     CD Decks
     Rack Cases
     Mixers/Amplifiers
     Turntables

     Full Range Speakers
     Headphones
     Multimeter
     PA Systems

     Autoharps
     Banjos
     Chordharps
     Dulcimers
     Mandolins
     Ukuleles

 Home > Learning Center > Left-handed Guitars

Only seven to ten percent of the population is left-handed, and unfortunately only two to three percent of guitars made are left-handed. This leaves left-handed people with three options: buy a left-handed guitar, play a right handed guitar upside down, or learn to play right handed. A left handed person will have the best success playing an instrument that is designed for them.

Left-handed people can be interesting characters. Because the right hemisphere of their brains is dominant they enjoy a more creative, less linear mode of thinking. There are a large number of great minds, scientists and artists that are left handed including Barack Obama, Tom Cruise, Bill Clinton, Jimi Hendrix, and Dick Dale. What’s more is that left handed males are slightly more common than left handed females.

For those left-handed players considering using a right-handed guitar there are a couple things to keep in mind. If the guitar is going to be played with the right hand on the frets and the left hand strumming (left handed), then the guitar will need to be restrung in reverse. On an electric guitar the knobs will get in the way of strumming when played upside down. If the lefty chooses to just try and play right handed (with the left hand on the frets and the right hand strumming) they need to realize that learning more complicated chords can be difficult.

For a left-handed guitarist to be successful it’s essential that they pick a method and stick with it. A left-handed instrument will ensure the greatest success in learning. However many guitarists in the past such as Jimi Hendrix and Otis Rush used upside down guitars because left-handed guitars did not come around until the 1980’s.

A left-handed player will play with the guitar head pointing to the right and the body of the guitar resting on their left leg. A left-handed guitar will be the mirror image of a right handed guitar. The strings will be opposite of a right-handed guitar, with the low E on the top of the neck and the high E on the bottom. If the guitar has a cutaway it will be directly under the high E string. Also with a left-handed electric the knobs will be on the opposite side so they don’t get in the way of strumming.

Left-handed guitars can be difficult to find, and the musician can expect to pay almost double for them. Fender Stratocasters are the most common left handed models. Many manufacturers will accept custom orders for left-handed models, for a price. There are also left-handed bass guitars as seen used by famous lefty Paul McCartney.

The availability of left-handed guitars has made it easy for new guitarists to learn without overcoming the typical obstacles once dealt with. Keep in mind however, that regardless of handedness learning to play an instrument can be challenging and will take lots of practice. It’s important for lefties to not get caught up too much on the fact that they are left-handed and to just focus and training their fingers and in time they will become just as proficient as any player!

Click here to view cart