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Thread: Left-Handed Players

  1. #51
    String-Bending Heretic mandocrucian's Avatar
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    Default Re: Left-Handed Players




  2. #52

    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    I love "ambidextrous"-oriented activites: drumming, harp playing, accordion playing (stradella and free bass), windsurfing, skiing, basketball (especially in the paint.. I sometimes play tennis with a two-handed forehand as well as backhand just for kicks), dance ...

    Since spending nearly all my life holding a guitar, I'm very conscious of problems of un-balance and love to do things requiring more balance ..

  3. #53

    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    When I grew up I tried playing guitar 10 different times. There was always a guitar lying around and it was always right-handed. Invariably, after a month or so of not making progress, I would quit.

    When I decided to learn mandolin, I decided to ignore the "standard" advice and convert an A-style to lefty. I'm several years in with steady progress and daily practice. Upon reflecting on the actual struggles between playing left-handed and right-handed, there are two things I noticed:

    1. My left hand has a much better sense of rhythm than my right
    2. My left hand likes to lead and my right hand likes to follow

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  5. #54
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I wonder if there are any right-handed folks who opted to play lefty. Maybe somewhere in the world, like in a mirror or another dimension?
    I should elaborate on my question. Aside from those folks who have, through accident or medical condition, had to switch handedness, are there any right-handed players who decided to switch because it felt right or for some other reason.

    The most interesting case for me outside of music is Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis player, who was born with a tendency to do things right-handed, but was advised by his uncle (his coach) to learn to play left-handed. There is a distinct advantage to left-handedness in tennis. When I used to play I always had to think very differently when playing against a lefty.
    Last edited by Jim Garber; Dec-13-2019 at 5:30pm.
    Jim

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  6. #55

    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    I’m a lefty who played fiddle the usual way for the usual reasons, but I am now exploring lefty mandolin due to multiple injuries. I’d be interested in pooling experience in a lefty forum or group. The group mentioned in the original post seems to be dormant — is that still the best place to start?

  7. #56
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I know a few lefties and they don’t have it easy. I don’t know why they are in such a minority. You would think that it would be 50% of the people on earth. Strange. Some tools are more difficult for them like scissors. . . .
    Scissors are easy. Can openers are the killers!

  8. #57
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    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    I'm a lefty and I've always played lefty. When I was a kid and wanted to learn guitar, my parents actually refused to send me to teachers who wanted to force me to play righty! I started playing mandolin 3 months ago, and when I decided to play, it never even occurred to me to play righty. I had no trouble finding lefty guitars, but I've found that lefty mandolins are rare and magical beasts. The unicorns of the instrument world.

    I found the Stagg M20 lefty model for a reasonable price easily enough (on Amazon). Down the road i'd like to upgrade, though, and the few lefty mandos i see online are pretty steep. 😭

    Playing lefty is more natural to me. I did break down and buy a lefty chord chart book, but otherwise there really aren't any other compromises that interfere with my playing or learning.

    ( this is my first post here on MC!)

  9. #58

    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    Welcome to the cafe. Check out Jerry’s lefty guitars... https://www.jerrysleftyguitars.com

    Good for your parents to not give in, at times I would like to try playing lefty but I figure I’m good enough playing righty and to switch now after all these years just doesn’t seem worthwhile.
    Last edited by bigskygirl; Jan-22-2020 at 11:01pm.
    Northfield F5M #268, AT02 #7

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  11. #59

    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    Hello...also a lefty...started with the Stagg you have. After a good setup it played ok...I was able to get an Eastman 505L from The Mandolin Store for less than a thousand and then lucked into a hardly used Collins MT Left hand. Both play great and investment not that bad. Good luck.

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  13. #60
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    Default Re: Left-Handed Players

    Hi bigskygirl, thanks for the link!

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