Can A Left-Handed Person Play Electric Guitar?
Can a left-handed person play electric guitar? Yes, they can. Read on to learn more.
Left-handed people can play electric guitar. In fact, there are many famous left-handed guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Kurt Cobain.
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Hi! Ian here and welcome to this article!
One of the most common questions I get asked is “Can a left-handed person play electric guitar?” The answer is a resounding yes! Lefties can play electric guitar just as well as right-handers.
There are many famous left-handed guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Paul McCartney.
So why is there such a common misconception that left-handed people can’t play electric guitar? It’s probably because the vast majority of electric guitars are designed for right-handed players. This means that the strings are strung in a way that makes it easier for right-handed people to fret the notes.
However, there are also many left-handed electric guitars available. These guitars have the strings strung in the opposite order so that left-handed people can fret the notes more easily.
If you’re a left-handed person who wants to learn to play electric guitar, I encourage you to go for it! There’s no reason why you can’t be a great guitarist, regardless of which hand you use.
Here are some tips for left-handed guitarists:
- Find a left-handed guitar. This is the most important thing, as it will make it much easier to learn to play.
- If you’re having trouble finding a left-handed guitar, you can always have a right-handed guitar restrung for left-handed play. However, this can be expensive and time-consuming.
- There are many great resources available for left-handed guitarists. There are books, websites, and even video lessons that can teach you how to play left-handed.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from other guitarists. Many guitarists are more than happy to help lefties learn to play.
Here are some famous left-handed guitarists:
- Jimi Hendrix
- Kurt Cobain
- Paul McCartney
- Tony Iommi
- Eric Clapton
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Brian May
- Dave Grohl
- John Mayer
- Jack White
- Billie Joe Armstrong
- Mike McCready
These are just a few examples of the many great left-handed guitarists. So if you’re a lefty and you’re thinking about learning to play electric guitar, go for it! You’re in good company.
Resources for left-handed guitarists:
- GuitarTricks: https://support.guitartricks.com/hc/en-us/articles/216287077-Does-Guitar-Tricks-offer-lessons-for-left-handed-players-
- Fender Play: https://play-support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003267406-Do-you-offer-lessons-for-left-handed-players-
- JustinGuitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roJ6LRhrVVc
- LeftHandedGuitarist: https://www.cmuse.org/learn-guitar-left-hand-training-lessons-online/
So, can a left-handed person play electric guitar? The answer is a resounding yes! Left-handed guitarists can play just as well as right-handed guitarists. There are many great left-handed electric guitars available, and there are also many resources available to help left-handed guitarists learn to play. If you’re a lefty and you’re thinking about learning to play electric guitar, go for it! You’re in good company.
There are two main ways for a left-handed person to play electric guitar:
They can buy a left-handed guitar. Left-handed guitars are designed for left-handed players, so the strings are reversed. This means that the low E string is on the bottom, and the high E string is on the top.
They can buy a right-handed guitar and play it upside down. This is what Jimi Hendrix did. He was a left-handed player, but he played a right-handed guitar upside down. This gave him a unique sound.
There are pros and cons to both of these methods.
Pros of buying a left-handed guitar:
- The strings are in the correct order for a left-handed player. This can make it easier to learn how to play.
- There is a wide selection of left-handed guitars available.
- Left-handed guitars are often more expensive than right-handed guitars.
Cons of buying a left-handed guitar:
- They can be more expensive than right-handed guitars.
- They may be harder to find.
Pros of buying a right-handed guitar and playing it upside down:
- They are less expensive than left-handed guitars.
- They are easier to find.
- The player can choose any guitar they like, regardless of whether it is labelled as a “left-handed” or “right-handed” guitar.
Cons of buying a right-handed guitar and playing it upside down:
- The strings are not in the correct order for a left-handed player. This can make it more difficult to learn how to play.
- The player may have to modify the guitar to make it more comfortable.
Ultimately, the best way for a left-handed person to play electric guitar is the way that feels most comfortable to them. There is no right or wrong answer.
Tips for Left-Handed Guitarists
If you are a left-handed guitarist, here are a few tips that may help you:
- Find a good teacher to help you learn the basics of playing guitar.
- Practice regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different techniques and see what works best for you.
- Don’t give up. Learning to play guitar takes time and effort, but it is a rewarding experience.
Famous Left-Handed Guitarists
Here is a list of some famous left-handed guitarists:
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix played a variety of guitars throughout his career, but he was most known for his Fender Stratocasters. He also played Gibson Flying Vs, SGs, and Les Pauls, as well as a few other guitars.
Fender Stratocaster “Black Beauty” (1968): This guitar was a gift from Eric Clapton, and it was one of Hendrix’s favourites. It was known for its rich, warm sound.
Paul McCartney
Gibson Les Paul: McCartney is a big fan of Gibson Les Paul guitars, and he has owned several over the years.
He has used them on both live and studio recordings.
Kurt Cobain
Cobain played several Fender Stratocasters, both left-handed and right-handed.
He was known to favour Stratocasters with humbucking pickups, which gave his sound a heavier edge.
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is a left-handed guitarist who has played a variety of guitars over the years. Some of the most notable left-handed guitars that he has played include:
Gibson Les Paul: Richards is perhaps best known for playing Gibson Les Paul guitars.
He has owned and played several different Les Pauls over the years, including a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Junior, and a 1968 Les Paul Custom.
These are just a few of the many famous left-handed guitarists. If you are a left-handed person who wants to learn how to play guitar, you can look to these musicians for inspiration.
FAQs
Why are left-handed guitars more expensive?
Left-handed guitars are more expensive than right-handed guitars for a few reasons. First, there is less demand for left-handed guitars, so manufacturers produce fewer of them. This means that the cost of producing left-handed guitars is spread out over fewer units, which drives up the price. Second, some left-handed guitars have special features that are not found on right-handed guitars, such as reversed headstocks or custom pickups. These features can add to the cost of the guitar.
What are some left-handed guitar accessories?
There are a few left-handed guitar accessories that can be helpful for left-handed guitarists. These include:
Left-handed picks
Left-handed capos
Left-handed strap locks
Left-handed tuners
Left-handed guitar stands
What are some left-handed guitar websites?
There are a few websites that are specifically designed for left-handed guitarists. These websites include:
Lefty Guitarist
Lefty Guitars
Lefty Guitar Store
Lefty Guitar Heaven
Lefty Guitar World
What are some left-handed guitar forums?
There are a few forums that are specifically designed for left-handed guitarists. These forums include:
Lefty Guitar Forum
Lefty Guitarists Forum
Lefty Guitarist Lounge
Lefty Guitar Chat
Lefty Guitar Talk
Conclusion
There is no reason why a left-handed person cannot play electric guitar. There are many ways for left-handed people to play guitar, and there are many famous left-handed guitarists who have inspired others to pick up the instrument.
If you are a left-handed person who wants to learn how to play electric guitar, don’t let your handedness stop you. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind if you are a left-handed person who wants to play electric guitar:
When buying a guitar, it is important to try out a few different models to find one that feels comfortable to you. This is because many different factors can affect how a guitar feels to play, such as the size of the body, the shape of the neck, and the thickness of the strings. It is important to find a guitar that is comfortable to hold and that you can easily reach all of the frets.
You may need to adjust the string height and action on your guitar to make it easier to play. The string height is the distance between the strings and the fretboard. The action is the height of the strings above the body of the guitar. If the string height is too high, it will be difficult to press down the strings and play chords. If the action is too low, the strings will buzz against the fretboard. You can adjust the string height and action by adjusting the truss rod and the bridge.
There are many left-handed guitar products available, such as left-handed picks, capos, and tuners. Left-handed picks, capos, and tuners are not as common as right-handed ones, but they are available from most music stores.
There are many resources available to help left-handed guitarists learn how to play, including books, websites, and online lessons.
With a little effort, you can learn to play electric guitar just as well as any right-handed player.
So don’t let your handedness hold you back – pick up a guitar and start playing today!