Should I switch from right-handed to left-handed with the guitar?
filed in Arts & Humanities on Jan.28, 2010
I once broken the articulation of my left pinky finger. For this reason it is somewhat hard for me to play some chords and sometimes my finger hurts after playing for a while. I’ve been practicing and I’ve been doing a good job.
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..
I broke my hand and arm in 12 places. How is that ? I practiced and became a very proficient teacher and player. I am also left-handed and figured that I should use my stronger left hand to play notes. Nver regretted it.
So if your finger hurts, it is NOT the bone that hurts but the articulation. Practice and everything will fall in place normally.
The best practice is to hold one note of the fingerboard with the index finger and using the pinky (4 or 5 fret away from the index) and practice hammer-ons using only these 2 fingers. That will add strength.
Enjoy
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
try playing with a left-handed guitar – if ur friend has one its better because then you won’t have to re string yours.. but i would try it and see which is easier (:
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
The pinky is a somewhat important finger for playing on the right fret. If you cannot play it right-handed at all, then switching to the left handed position would be good. Depending on the strength of your left hand though you may or may not get enough power in strumming. It’ll also probably feel like you’re learning chords the other way around if you play left-handed. It all depends on if you’re willing to do a bit of practice with your other hand.
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
I know several left-handed guitar players. They play three ways, some re-string the guitar to play ‘backwards’, some play a regular right-handed guitar just upside down, and some play right-handed even though they’re left-handed. (My dad was left-handed when he wrote with a pen but when he wrote on a chalkboard he used his right hand! I always thought that was strange, but it’s just the way he learned.)
Anyway, assuming you’re right handed, you could play ‘left handed’ either way, either upside down or by stringing the guitar upside down.
If you’re just starting out, you might want to stick with right-handed playing for a while. We all have trouble with our fingers at first. You have to build up strength in your left hand and that takes some time. It might be just that. I’d play for six months or so, maybe longer, and if your pinky still gives you trouble, then switch. You would rather be able to play regular right-handed, there are advantages in that.
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
The thing you want to think about while playing guitar is which hand do you feel more comfortable playing with your finger will get used to whatever the more you use it its just a matter of what you feel comfortable doing
January 28th, 2010 on 1:24 pm
Yes, and it’s possible! I switched from a righty to a lefty. I’m still getting used to everything, but I’m doing pretty good as a lefty!