UBCNews - Business - Should You Play A Left-Handed Guitar? Considerations For Southpaw Musicians

Episode Date: November 25, 2025

Welcome back to the show! Today we're tackling a question that affects roughly ten percent of guitar players out there - should left-handed musicians play a left-handed guitar? I'm here with a guitar expert to break this down. So let's start with the obvious question - if you're left-handed, shouldn't you just automatically go with a left-handed guitar? Sam Ash City: Hicksville Address: 278 Duffy Ave Website: https://www.samash.com/

Welcome back to the show. Today we're tackling a question that affects roughly 10% of guitar players out there. Should left-handed musicians play a left-handed guitar? I'm here with a guitar expert to break this down. So let's start with the obvious question. If you're left-handed, shouldn't you just automatically go with a left-handed guitar? You know, that's what most people assume. But it's actually more nuanced than that.

The general rule is whichever hand you write with, whichever hand you throw a ball with, that should be your picking hand. But here's something interesting. Some argue that your dominant hand might actually be better suited for the complex fretting work on the neck. Mm-hmm. That's fascinating. So there's actually a case for lefties playing right-handed guitars? There is, but I generally recommend going with a proper left-handed guitar.

Here's why. If you try restringing a right-handed guitar to make it left-handed, you're going to run into issues with the nut and bridge. These weren't designed for that string configuration, and it can cause major tuning and intonation problems. Right, so you really need an instrument that's built specifically for left-handed players. Now, what are some of the actual advantages of playing left-handed?

Well, there are some pretty cool benefits. First off, left-handed people may have better agility and problem-solving skills, traits that can be beneficial for mastering guitar. When you combine those natural tendencies with musical training, you've got incredible potential, plus you're an excellent company, Jimmy Hendricks, Tony Iommi, Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney, all lefties who did pretty well for themselves.

Actually, I remember when I first started teaching, I had this left-handed student who was convinced he should play right-handed because his dad said so. After one lesson with a proper left-handed guitar, the difference was night and day. That's quite a lineup. Are there practical advantages in terms of learning? Absolutely. Here's something that might surprise you. It's actually easier for left-handed players to learn from right-handed teachers or video lessons. Think about it. When you're watching a right-handed instructor, it's like looking in a mirror. Right-handed students have to flip everything horizontally in their minds, but not you.

That point about mirror image learning sets up our next piece, specific gear recommendations. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. Finding the right left-handed guitar can be challenging, since they're not as readily available as right-handed models. At Sam Ash, we understand this challenge and stock a wide selection of left-handed guitars from major brands like Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez. Whether you're just starting out or looking to upgrade, you can browse our collection online or visit one of our locations to find the perfect left-handed instrument for your musical path. Visit samash.com to check out our current left-handed guitar inventory. Picking up on that mirror image learning advantage, how should beginners approach things like

chord diagrams and tablature? Great question. Chord diagrams can be confusing at first since they're designed for right-handed players. so I often recommend learning chords with tablature instead. The good news is tablature works exactly the same for both left and right-handed guitars. It's just referring to fret numbers and string names. That makes sense. Now let's talk about some specific guitar recommendations.

What should someone look for in their first left-handed guitar? I always recommend starting with at least a $300 guitar. I know that might seem like a lot, but cheap guitars are hard on the fingers and make learning more difficult. For electric guitars, the Yamaha Pacifica is a solid choice for beginners. The Squire Classic Vibe Telecaster offers great value, and if you want to step up, the Fender Player Stratocaster is popular among left-handed players. What about for different musical styles?

Definitely depends on what you want to play. For metal and hard rock, something like the Schechter Reaper is designed for those heavier sounds. If you're more into acoustic and singer-songwriter stuff, The Martin Little Martin is a great compact option that travels well and sounds fantastic. Are there any unique benefits that come specifically with being a left-handed guitarist? Oh yeah, several actually. Your guitar becomes more unique. Not everyone can just pick it up and play it, which can be nice.

There's also stage symmetry when you're playing with right-handed musicians. It creates a cool visual balance. And here's something interesting. Left-handed guitars can sometimes be found at discount. prices due to lower demand, though good deals on quality models don't last long. It's like being part of an exclusive club, but one that actually saves you money sometimes. I see, that's clever. Speaking of unique approaches, didn't some famous lefties play right-handed guitars in unconventional ways? Yes, Jimmy Hendricks is best known for playing right-handed guitars flipped upside down and

re-strung, though he did occasionally use proper left-handed models too. Elizabeth Cotton did something similar and developed her own unique finger-picking style from it. She'd play bass strings with her fingers and melody with her thumb, which became known as cotton picking. But I should mention, playing upside down can cause issues with the guitar's nut and bridge, so it's not ideal for most players. Have you ever wondered if being left-handed actually gives you a musical advantage beyond just the technical aspects? That's a great question. There's something to be said for approaching music from a different angle. Literally, left-handed guitarists often develop a unique perspective that shows up in their playing style. We touched on those problem-solving skills earlier,

and I think that really manifests in how lefties approach challenging pieces or develop their own techniques. So for everyone listening out there who's left-handed and thinking about picking up guitar, what's your final advice? Own being unique. Left-handed guitarists represent a smaller portion of players, and that uniqueness, that special perspective, can be your advantage. Get a proper left-handed guitar, take advantage of that mirror image learning benefit, and remember you're following in the footsteps of some truly legendary musicians. The guitar world needs more lefties. Excellent advice. Thanks for breaking down all these considerations for our Southpaw musicians out there. For more information on left-handed guitars and to check out available options,

visit samash.com. Until next time, keep playing.