Left or Right Handed on Guitar?

Question

Okay so I am right handed naturally in EVERYTHING, but for some reason holding a left handed guitar seems to feel better. It seems that my right hand is much stronger and capable of playing the frets. I really feel comfortable holding the guitar either way, but playing it seems that my right hand is stronger on the frets. Should I get the left handed or right handed one?

Answer 1

It has to be to your own preference. Left handers seem to have greater success playing with the neck to the right and, of course, the other way around for right handed people.

My only advice is, that if you have not yet begun to play regularly, keep the orientation in the normal, right handed alignment. Chord diagrams, tabs and any other visual aids to playing are almost exclusively written for right hand players. Lefties have to adapt, so it makes it more complicated.

I used to teach folk guitar, and fingerpicking. In my experience, it has never been a successful endeavor to "force" a leftie to play right handed. As far as hand and arm strength, it builds with continued playing, and there are many, easy exercises to help strengthen the fret playing hand.

Answer 2

Since you've said you feel comfortable holding the guitar either way, I recommend playing it the standard way. My left hand is now much stronger than my right. But it was not always that way. I broke my wrist as a kid and never expected to regain full use of my left hand. Now I'm a very good guitarist. Your left hand will get stronger with time and practice.