My son is 10 yr old & he is a lefty. He wants to learn electric guitar, should I try to teach him to play on?

Question

regular guitar or should I get him one for lefty. What is the best brand for a lefty kid/ resonable price cuz I am not sure he will really like it for long. thanks

Answer 1

Both I and my husband are left handed, he plays electric guitar. He just uses a regular one. His reasoning is that most teachers will have a harder time teaching him on a leftie guitar. Also you have to learn it backwards that way if his teacher is right handed, which is frustrating.

Answer 2

My two cents, Clapton is a lefty playing a right handed guitar...Hendrix was a lefty playing a left handed guitar. I'm a lefty and play it right handed and can't play like either of them. However, I find playing right handed more comfortable than playing left handed. Long story short take your son to a good music store and let him plunk around on both to see if he has a preference, if he does, go with it, if he doesn't care get him a right handed guitar for the simplicity of it.

Answer 3

Get him a left hand guitar, or get him a regular guitar that's the same on both sides and reverse the strings (like an acoustic without a cutout with three tuners on each side of the top). Just get him an acoustic to play with first because they're less expensive (You can get a Sigma by Martin for under $300 and they are simply amazing, especially for the price) and there's less investment to be made (you know an electric will require an amp and cables and eventually he'd want effects pedals). You can get a left-handed Squire by Fender (also a pretty good electric for the price...it's meant for beginners) for under $250.

JUST A NOTE; I have no idea what the girl above is talking about that even a left handed person will fret with the left and strum w/ the right...a left handed person plays just the opposite of a right handed person. Unless you wanted to force him to play unnaturally.

Answer 4

I'm a lefty. Been playing regular guitar for over 45 years. Get him to play the regular way. Us lefties have an advantage, cos we have our strength & co-ordination in the left hand where it's needed for chord work and fingering. Take him to ur local music shop & get him to hold different ones, see which way he finds more comfortable. Play afew urself, see what sounds good. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Guitars as well as other string instruments are played the same if you are left or right handed. Just get him a regular guitar. Teaching him on a left handed guitar will only limit his ability to play in the future, as he will need a left handed guitar most of the time. I bet left handed guitars cost more also, so why not just get him a regular one?

Let me emphasize this a little further: if you play the Violin, you hold the bow with your right hand and the Violin with your left. If you play the Cello or the Contrabass, you hold the bow with your left and the instrument with your left. If you play the guitar, you strum or pick with your right hand and play with your left. This is a common misconception with stringed instruments: you always hold the instrument the same even if you are left handed. There are some who did otherwise, like Jimi Hendrix. This is usually because they were self taught or something else.

Answer 6

My son is a lefty too, and he has learned a little on how to play. We went to a local music shop and I explained to them that he is a lefty and they said that a regular guitar would work as well for him. I thought the whole thing would have to be restrung to accomodate a left handed player, but they said it wouldn't. It's all in how they learn to play it. He's learned a few songs on it and is really good. Check local music stores, some of them might let him try them out to see how it feels for him. Good luck!

Answer 7

Hey, id just say get him to learn on a normal guitar, just because he is left handed shouldnt really make a difference, since you barre or hold the strings with your left hand anyway and strum with the right hand. Also, if he is young and not too sure if he really wants to get a guitar, look at cheaper guitars that are sold anywhere that range from $80 up, or if you want something that lasts, my expierince with Deans, jacksons, taylors, and even some yamahas has been very good.

Answer 8

I don't know because it depends if he is also comfortable with his right hand because i myself am a lefty!I am very much comfortable with my right hand but I would like left stuff better so maybe a guitar for lefties

Answer 9

If he's a lefty why try to change him, one of the most famous guitar players was a lefty, think Beatles !!!!!

Answer 10

My son is a lefty and he plays guitar right handed very well i might add.