Acoustic Guitar: Choosing to Learn Left-Handed or Right-Handed

Subject: To learn: left handed or right handed?

I stumbled across your website while trying to decide whether or not to learn to play the guitar right handed, or left handed. I am left handed, however have had many people tell me to just learn right handed, for the obvious reasons of costs, and being able to pick up anyone's guitar and playing it, instead of always needing a left handed guitar around. I wonder however, if learning right handed will prove more troublesome than left handed?

I thank you for your response,
Patrick

Mickey:

Greetings Patrick,

Sorry I haven't been able to get back with you sooner....I've been buried under in DVD Production...with Wisdom of the Wood.

Now, in answer to your questions:
I'm a lefty too. I took the trouble to learn to play right-handed from the start. In fact, since the guitar I was using was strung for right-handers, and considering that I was 15-16 at the time, I just didn't know better. So, I didn't even attempt to play the guitar left-handed. Yes, it was a struggle...probably much more than the average right-handed student. Notwithstanding, I was determined to learn...so, I didn't let up until I accomplished the task at hand. Today, I haven't any regrets in learning to play right-handed. There are many advantages...and, one of the most important, is that I'm teaching other right-handers through video media. Not sure if a right-hander would want to interpret a backwards perspective of us left-handers.

In your case, my suggestion would be to first try playing right-handed for a few days. If it just seems too odd, even after practicing solidly for a few days, then, go to learning left-handed. The main reason I'm suggesting that you at least try to learn to play right-handed, is that you seem already inclined to do so...and, you seem to appreciate the fact that a right-handed guitar is far more readily available.

Hope this helps, Mickey