Should my left-handed girlfriend learn how to play guitar on a lefty guitar or should she use righty?

Question

ASHLEY IS AMBIDEXTERIOUS, BUT PROMINENTLY LEFT-HANDED. SHE WANTS TO GET A LEFT HANDED GUITAR, BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HER TO FORCE HERSELF TO LEARN RIGHT HANDED SINCE SHE IS ABLE TO USE BOTH HANDS. WILL MUSIC SHEETS HAVE TO READ DIFFERENTLY TO ACCOMODATE LEFT HANDED? WILL SHE BE ABLE TO BUY SHEET MUSIC FOR LEFT HANDED IF SO? WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS EVER STARTED PLAYING LEFT HANDED THAT NEVER LEARNED RIGHT HANDED. MY NAME IS NATHAN. I APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK!

Answer 1

Go to the store together let her get a feel of both left and right handed guitars and whichever feels more comfortable for her to use is what you should go for.

Answer 2

G'day Nathan. As a leftie chick who JUST bought her first guitar today (a right-handed one) I can say that there really is no difference. What I mean is, I'm a lot like your GF in that I can use both hands and when it comes to the guitar it feels natural either way. So perhaps let her feel her way around the guitar and if she really feels more comfortable with a lefty then go for it, but also let her see if she might feel comfortable with a right-handed one as well. I know when I first picked it up my instinct was to hold it like a lefty, but after a while I just got used to how most people play. If she does decide on a lefty she will have to learn how to read the sheet music and then translate it to the guitar, as well she'll probably have to learn all the chords a different way. Again if she's comfortable to do that, go for it, but I myself think I would find it difficult enough to learn how to play without having to learn a completely differet way than most people do.

Answer 3

G'day Nathan,
Before you go out and buy a guitar work out which style is best for you. Just because you are left-handed, doesn't mean you will naturally play the guitar left-handed as well.
Play with a left-handed guitar and a right-handed guitar. One of them will generally feel better and be easier to play.
Find a good tutor who has experience in teaching left-handed and right-handed players. If they are any good, they will have both types of guitars available for you to have a few lessons on each before going any further. The tutor will be able to pick up which is best for you. Then you can go off and do whatever you like - comfortably!
Left-handed guitars are easily found today in most music shops and generally cost no more than standard guitars.
The sheet music itself is no different except if you use tablature with the small chord grids on them. They will be set only for right-handers. There are books available with left-handed chords and scales aswell as total instruction books for left-handed learners.

Answer 4

I'm left handed as well and play guitar right handed too. I'm perfectly happy playing the way I've been playing for the last 16 years. In fact, I'm glad I learned right handed because most guitars are built for right handed players, it's made acquiring guitars that I want a lot easier. It probably would be quite impressive if you learned both, but that's up to you and whether or not you think you'll receive some kind of benefit from playing both left and right handed.

Answer 5

Since your girfriend is predominently left handed then I would suggest that she buy a lefty guitar and learn to play it that way. If she tries to play righty she might get discouraged with the instrument and give up playing. There are tons of lefty guitars available these days at the same price as right handed guitars. Reading tablature might give her a bit of a problem but I'm sure she can overcome that easier than trying to play right handed.

Answer 6

if she wants to go with left handed let her
since that is her prominent hand she will do much better with a left handed guitar
sheet music reads exactly the same since a left handed guitar has all the same notes as a righty guitar

Answer 7

I don't play guitar, so I don't think there's much difference in guitars, except that it would be strung backwards...she would be able to read music just fine - that won't change.

Besides, she'll probably have an easier time learning to play "regularly" - your right hand picks the strings, and your left forms the chords and notes, as a lefty, she's at an advantage there. She'll also have an easier time finding a teacher to teach her to play "regularly" vs. lefty.

Answer 8

if she's ambidexterious, then it shouldn't really matter. No she won't need different music sheets. It all reads the same left and right, she'll just be looking at the chords differently left-handed.

I'm left-handed but i play right-handed. I personally find it easier and less confusing.

Answer 9

Your sinister girlfriend should do whatever is comfortable for her. If she seems cofortable using a right handed guitar, she should probably do that since right handed guitars are more common. But, if she feels more comfortable doing it left handed, she should do it. Something to consider: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Paul McCartney playe left handed guitars (or bass, as in the case of McCartney).

Answer 10

I don't know honestly how hand preference effects music but I will say this...trying to force someone to learn something using their non dominate hand tends to take longer and feels far more awkward than allowing them to just do what comes naturally. I've tried to teach a left handed child how to write right handed and it's impossible.....just let them do what comes naturally.