For Left hand Guitarrists who play right?

Question

Hi my friends:

I have an Improtant question here. I started teaching the kids at the school I work how to play the spanish guitar. I have one student who is left hand. I tried to ecourage him to start playing right hand, and, to be the first time for him I think he did a great job. This student is 9 years old and I think he is able to learn how to play right hand.

Now the problem is: My boss and I had a disagreement about my way to teach this kid. I understand his point that maybe he would be more comfortable playing left hand. I am not agree with that, because I have friends who are left hand but they play right hand.

Should I ask my student how he wants to learn? Left or right hand? The problem is the school doesn't has any left hand guitars. I think to put the strings bakwords will help the kid, but we will face other problems with the instrument.

I would like an advice from those who are left hand and learned to play right hand. I don't want to frustrate this kid.

Answer 1

Most left-handers play the right handed guitar. I've encountered the same problem with the violin. I've had many left handed students over the years and parents often ask if the child should have a left-handed violin. My feeling is that left - handers actually have it easier because the left hand does all the hardest work: the fingering. I do however, have one adult student who insisted upon having a left - hand violin where the strings and chin rest are switched. She even met another teacher who refused to teach her this way. It has proved to be a challenge for me. I have had to use white out on fingering charts and rewrite them. I teach her
by standing across from her so she can mirror me. Other times, I use a violin that I've set up left-handed, but I feel like a beginner all over again when I try to switch hands.
I would ask the child if they feel comfortable playing right handed guitar. Most left -handers are amazing in the ways they are able to face the challenges of a right handed world and most become fairly ambidextrous. If you are teaching students in a group, it will be very difficult for the student to follow since you will not be able to give him as much one on one attention as he'd need to learn left-handed guitar. If however, you are teaching him privately, it would not be as difficult to teach left-handed guitar.

Answer 2

Altho I am not left handed and play right handed I think that you can let him learn right handed and when he gets proficient enough he can make the decision of what feels most comfortable to him. Right now you are teaching the basics and that is most important at the moment. Keep up the good work!

Answer 3

My ex boyfriend used to play the guitar so beautiful and he was left handed the thing is that he just turned the other way for example if you see it like this ---o0 now you turn it like this 0o--- do you get me well they play with the strings upside down also is kind of confusing but try it is worth it.