Learning to Play Right-Handed as a Left-Hander

Subject: Handedness

Hello and Happy Holidays.

Great website! I've been going through your site on-and-off for almost a
year, and I'm amazed at how much information you have available and how
pleasant (and informative) all the e-mail responses are. Good job both on
the site and on how you approach your business. I've learned a lot

Thanks so much for your kind words...

Just a brief aside before I get to my question --I just read through the
"About Us" section (for the first time, actually), and I saw that Mickey was
involved for a time with metal detectors. I can't quite say that it's a
passion yet with me, but it certainly is addictive.

Yes, I worked within the industry for 10 years...as a one-man ad agency for Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors...pretty much, throughout the 1990 decade. I really enjoyed my job and yes, I also enjoyed pursuing the hobby of Metal Detecting. Of which I still enjoy to this day. I'm really more into the pursuit of Southwestern History...and, I'm also a collector of books (a bibliophile) with many titles within the Southwestern genre. Metal Detecting just seems to tie in with the pursuit of history itself. I've never had delusions of grandeur; I just find pleasure in finding a mercury dime or a buffalo head nickel. It's also great exercise.

And now to my question: What's the most difficult thing about learning an
instrument off-handed (learning to play right-handed when you're
left-handed, or vice versa)?

I believe the hurdle is taking the first step. For, it feels so unnatural at first...and eventually, if you are relentless, it becomes more and more comfortable. Ultimately, if you persevere the first few months of daily practice, playing left-handed begins to feel unnatural. Your best edge to learn to play right-handed, as a left-hander, is to not have already practiced as a left-hander. I believe the hurdle becomes too steep for those of us who've started out left-handed and want to switch to learning right-handed. I do like the way you've phrased this as "off-handed"...right-handers would never relate to this for they don't live in a converse world. Your advantage, as a left-hander, is your unique perspectives, your left-handed dexterity, your right-dependent hemispherical thought process, and the distinctiveness of being left handed. It doesn't matter that we adapt to right-handed instruments, we're still left-handers with a different skill set and angle of dexterity.

As far as a right-hander wanting to learn to play left-handed, it's just unheard of...unless a performer needs to play a part that imitates a legendary player, such as Paul McCartney or Jimi Hendrix.

Is it dexterity in the fret area, and not
being able to get your fingers where they're supposed to be when they're
supposed to be there? Or is it a problem with the strings?

It's really not a physical problem whatsoever. The first thing you might want to work on is an understanding of the mental process involved with right-hand orientation as a left-hander. And, I believe the best approach to this is to dive into playing right-handed. Just force your hands to go through the motions until they begin to autonomously play. It's a repetitive process that will effectively bring you to the right-handers' world; your main obstacle, isn't the physical process as much as reorienting the mental process.

I know it sounds like a silly question --if you're right-handed you usually
don't just start doing things left-handed-- but it seems different with
musical instruments, and a lot of lefties end up learning right-handed, so
maybe it's not as weird or as simple as it seems.

Yes, even as a minority, it's been proven many times that it can be done. Although it feels impossible when you're first starting out, repetition transcends all thresholds.

My problem seems to be just the opposite: I'm right-handed, but apparently
I'm a wannabe lefty. No instrument experience at all, and no reason I can
think of why when I mentally picture playing an instrument that I'm playing
it left-handed, but that's how it is. Even my air-guitar (and I probably
didn't even play THAT very well) was a lefty.

In your case, I would truly focus on learning to play right-handed...there are too many advantages to count. And, yes, you're still a minority in this effort...stay focused and set the goals. It will pay off in the long run.

Anyway, now I'm older and I want to learn to play an instrument. I've
decided on the mandolin --always found the sound incredibly beautiful in a
haunting sort of way, even before I knew what made the sound-- and I've
figured out which one to start out with (Johnson MA-120 --based very much on
things I read on your site). Being a practical sort, I'm sure I'll go with
a right-handed instrument (and when I do, I'll order it from you). But I
know from the FAQ section of your website that Mickey is left-handed but
learned right-handed, and I was just curious what he found to be the most
difficult thing about that whole experience. If the road's not too rocky, I
may go with what seems to be a natural inclination to the left; if life will
be better to the right, I'll go that way.

Hopefully, something here helps out...

Hope you have a great Holidays! Mickey

Thanks again for all the information on your site, and I hope all is well in
New Mexico and continues to be so.

All good things,
Ray

Subject: RE: Fwd: Handedness

Mickey,

Thanks for the prompt response, and I'll do as you suggested. I hope to
order the mandolin a little later today.

Pardon my referring to you in the third person in my original e-mail, by the
way: I thought I was writing to a general e-mail address, and I didn't
think that you'd be the one to read it or to respond (might be a California
thing, since so many businesses here have "people who do that sort of
thing"). The personal touch is much appreciated.

Thanks again for the information, and continued good luck with your
business, your music, and your search for buffalo head nickels and mercury
dimes.

Ray