What’s the Best Left-Handed Guitar for Me? |
|
Do you have the sneaking suspicion that you might be a left-handed guitarist? If it simply feels natural to hit the strings with your left hand and grip the neck with your right, then your suspicion is probably right. The question is: Do you need to get yourself a left-handed guitar or is there another way to do it? In this Buyer’s Guide, we help you find the answer! And, while we’ll be talking about the guitar, most of what we cover also applies to left-handed basses. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us! 1. Is There a Left-Handed Version of Every Guitar?Unfortunately not. But it is the case that the same kind of guitars and basses that are made for right-handed players are often available as left-handed versions. So, you can find left-handed versions of the most well-known guitar shapes like ST-models and single-cut models but you won’t necessarily find a left-handed (‘LH’) version of every different guitar model in every colour. Tip: If you can’t find the left-handed version of the guitar or bass that you want in our web-shop, then you can use our Product Request form to let us know what you’re looking for form and one of our specialists will be glad to see if they can find it for you.
2. Am I a Left-Handed Guitarist?If you write with your left-hand, it’s highly likely that you’re also a left-handed guitarist or bassist. But it’s still something you just need to try - even experienced player Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) writes with his left hand but is a right-handed guitarist. If it feels more natural to hold the neck of the guitar in your right hand and hit the strings with your let, then you can be pretty sure that you’re a left-handed guitarist. It might also be a good idea to take a few guitar lessons since the teacher will be able to help you make the right choice.
3. Can I Just Flip a Right-Handed Guitar to Play it Left-Handed?In theory, this is possible. Jimi Hendrix himself was a left-handed guitarist who famously flipped his right-handed guitar. But just reversing the order of the strings doesn’t finish the job. Some adjustments will always need to be made to the nut, bridge and maybe the saddles so that the strings stay in place and sound in tune. This can even mean replacing some of the parts of the guitar or bass, and if this is something you wouldn’t dare to do yourself, then you would need to take it to a good guitar builder or luthier. If that sounds like a lot of fuss, then just getting a left-handed guitar is maybe a better idea. If you are up for modifying a right-handed guitar then make sure you don’t choose one with a single cutaway – this means that part of one shoulder of the guitar has been cut out (you can see an example of a ‘single-cut’ guitar in the first image of this guide). The cutaway is designed to give the player easier access to highest frets, and if it’s on the wrong side of the guitar, then you won’t be able to make use of it or get very far up the fretboard. There are also left-handed guitarists, like Dick Dale, who play right-handed guitars without bothering to reverse the strings. The advantage of doing this is that you can play any right-handed model in the world. The disadvantage is that you’re likely to face some limitations when it comes to chord shapes and technique.
4. What Kind of Left-Handed Guitar Should I Start With?Whether you play left or right-handed, it makes sense to start with a guitar or bass that you want to pick up and play. If you think your guitar sounds awesome, then you’re likely to play it more. If you love the warm sound of a classical guitar, then maybe go for a classical/Spanish guitar. If you still want an acoustic model, but want a bright sound, then a steel-string acoustic guitar might suit you better. If you want to play acoustic gigs, maybe as part of a band, then go for an electro-acoustic guitar. For a warm but electric jazz-style sound, take a look at some semi-acoustic guitars. And to finish, there is, of course, the electric guitar. While people generally think that you should start playing the guitar with an acoustic model, this is not actually true. If you love the sound of an electric guitar and that’s what you want to play, then it’s much more likely to be the perfect starter guitar for you. Left-Handed Electric-Guitars
5. What Else Do I Need to Look Out for as a Left-Handed Guitarist?In terms of accessories, most of the gear is the same as with right-handed guitars. So most plectrums can be used by any guitarists, whether left or right-handed. But with more expensive plectrums, make sure that the textured side or grip matches that of the index finger of your playing hand as well as the way you play. If you’re trying to pack a left-handed guitar in a case that’s actually designed for a right-handed guitar, then if possible, it’s best to just put it in strings-down. If this doesn’t feel right or just isn’t possible, then you’re better off getting a universal case. With gig bags this isn’t so much of a problem. Just as with right-handed guitars, the thickest string of a left-handed guitar is at the top when you hold it to play. When looking at chord diagrams, remember that you need to flip them in your head and play the mirror-image of the chord. While this is a skill worth learning, you could also just seek out some special chord diagrams that have been made for left-handed players. Guitar Amplifiers
Links & More InformationProduct Categories Left-Handed Electric-Guitars Blogs & Buyer’s Guides Electric Guitar Buyer's Guide
|
