bonzodog Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]My brother has decided to learn guitar and I’ve agreed to teach him, as I play guitar as well.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]He is left handed but strangely plays golf, cricket etc Right handed. He has picked up both my bass and my 6 string (Right handed) and said they feel weird, so we assumed he needs left handed guitar. However at a recent shop visit he picked up a left handed and said that felt odd too. He pursued and bought the left handed guitar and he is struggling with the strumming technique. I switched him back to my Right hand and he has the same problem.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Has anyone else had this problem, and if so what tips are there to determine what side you play. Or is it just a fact I have a very weird brother!!![/color][/size][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 As someone who does some things left handed and some right handed, I'm really glad I learnt to play the guitar (and bass) right handed, because I simply have a far greater range of instruments available to me. I can definitely remember that when I first picked up the guitar it was left handed, but I realised that it was the "wrong way round" so I started learning right handed. I was completely rubbish and could barely play anything at all for about a year and then suddenly it all clicked and I was away. If your brother is finding both ways round equally difficult my advice would be to go right handed simply because it makes instrument choice so much easier. I can see little point in limiting him to a small range of available instruments (which are also usually more expensive) if there's no real advantage to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Tell him to sing the riff to "Smoke on the Water". When he does the compulsory involuntary air guitar, you will see which way his mojo points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) I agree with BigRedX. There's sod all left handed instruments out there, so may as well try to play righty first! I'm left handed for writing, but right handed for lots of other things. You need two hands to play bass, so the whole left/right handed thing doesn't make much sense anyway. You need more dexterity in your fretting hand anyway, so I don't know why more right handed people don't play lefty basses! Edited November 14, 2013 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muttley Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1384458670' post='2277063'] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]My brother has decided to learn guitar and I’ve agreed to teach him, as I play guitar as well.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]He is left handed but strangely plays golf, cricket etc Right handed. He has picked up both my bass and my 6 string (Right handed) and said they feel weird, so we assumed he needs left handed guitar. However at a recent shop visit he picked up a left handed and said that felt odd too. He pursued and bought the left handed guitar and he is struggling with the strumming technique. I switched him back to my Right hand and he has the same problem.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]Has anyone else had this problem, and if so what tips are there to determine what side you play. Or is it just a fact I have a very weird brother!!![/color][/size][/font] [/quote] I had a left-handed friend at school with exactly this issue. He could play guitar or bass either way round but was never able to develop any technique beyond very basic. It seemed like he had 2 left hands. He gave up trying in the end which was a shame because he had lots of enthusiasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]That had crossed my mind that he was never going to be able to learn. When I pick up a guitar it just feels natural to play it right so I cant get my head round how it would feel to not know. I am just going to have to get him to persevere until it clicks[/color][/size][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) Throw a ball at him, whatever hand he catches it with is his picking hand, if he doesn't catch it then maybe drums? Edited November 14, 2013 by waynepunkdude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) Nearly dropped my phone the bath that me laugh so much! Edited November 15, 2013 by iconic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Have you excluded the possibility that he may simply not have the mindset for learning guitar? Quite rare, but I came across it once or twice in my years as a tutor. Some people just don't 'get it'. No reflection on the individual BTW, and it's nothing to do with either intelligence or motivation. Not unlike people who can't 'do' certain sports. There's a popular myth that anybody can learn to play guitar. Whilst it's true for most (up to a point), there are a few people around who just can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Get him a drum kit instead. Form a band. Get gigs. Get stinking rich. ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigash Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I was the same, left handed writing, tennis etc. Right handed golf, cricket. When i first started playing i had a right handed bass but it felt natural to play it left handed. Eventually bought a left handed bass and been that way since. As has been said previously it would be a lot easier if your brother could learn right handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I'm similar to OP's brother, write left handed but did most two-handed operations (golf, cricket) right handed yet had to play raquet sports left handed. It hasn't been easy teaching myself to play right handed and I'll never be a virtuoso but I cobbled togather a useable technique, couldn't play leftie now if my life depended on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 The original guitar style instrument was invented by a left handed person. It was designed to be the way round where your most dextrose hand does all the complicated work (the fretting). So all you right handed people who play with the fretboard in your left hand are only following fashion, and you've got it wrong. Me, I'm left handed. OP - get him to play "right-handed" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigash Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1384507346' post='2277401'] I'm similar to OP's brother, write left handed but did most two-handed operations (golf, cricket) right handed yet had to play raquet sports left handed. It hasn't been easy teaching myself to play right handed and I'll never be a virtuoso but I cobbled togather a useable technique, couldn't play leftie now if my life depended on it. [/quote]Are you mt long lost twin brother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) If he has a choice it's got to be right handed surely? much broader and cheaper choice of gear for a start. I can't play a note left handed Edited November 15, 2013 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 IMO unless your plucking style is "death-grip on a plectrum" both hands need to be equally "dexterous" and therefore it shouldn't matter which war round you play. In the beginning both will be equally hard. Therefore it makes most sense to pick the way that gives the widest choice of instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Make him take this: http://en.sommer-sommer.com/braintest/ Won't necessarily solve any problems, but it'll keep him entertained for a minute or two! (I thought I was quite distinctly left-handed, but it's just told me I use both sides of my brain equally) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='bigash' timestamp='1384512725' post='2277499'] Are you mt long lost twin brother [/quote] If you could see my face you'd be forever thankful I'm not No one can set cutlery correctly for me, I use knife and fork right handed but use a spoon left handed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1384514621' post='2277529'] Make him take this: [url="http://en.sommer-sommer.com/braintest/"]http://en.sommer-sommer.com/braintest/[/url] Won't necessarily solve any problems, but it'll keep him entertained for a minute or two! (I thought I was quite distinctly left-handed, but it's just told me I use both sides of my brain equally) [/quote] I'm almost equal...but then I do some thing right...some left and my family has a history of being ambidextrous...good test! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1384470512' post='2277227'] Throw a ball at him, whatever hand he catches it with is his picking hand, if he doesn't catch it then maybe drums? [/quote] A lot of sense in that, not many people instinctively will catch with their non-lead hand, which is usually the picking hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 When you get angry , which hand do you punch things with ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1384549671' post='2278174'] When you get angry , which hand do you want to punch drummers with ? [/quote] Important consideration for the future. Edited November 15, 2013 by Maverick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowender Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 [quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1384470512' post='2277227'] Throw a ball at him, whatever hand he catches it with is his picking hand, if he doesn't catch it then maybe drums? [/quote] I think you have that backwards. Most people catch with the opposite had so that can grab the ball with the other hand to throw it back. Ever play catch? Having said that, everyone should just play right handed. There aren't left handed pianos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1384614144' post='2278767'] There aren't left handed pianos. [/quote] You sure about that? [url="http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/"]http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/[/url] or how about this... [url="http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/midi.html"]http://www.lefthande...o.com/midi.html[/url] Been around for a while too - check out the date on this article: [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/178608.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.u...i/uk/178608.stm[/url] I used to get really annoyed about comments like this. I'm a bit more chilled about it these days - just wish people would think it through and try to understand the notion of handedness a bit better is all. But then if you're right-handed the chances are you've never needed to. Tell you what; here's a wiki article that might help. I found the section headed 'Social stigma and repression of Left-handedness' quite interesting.... [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness"]http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Handedness[/url] Edited November 17, 2013 by leftybassman392 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 If you give someone who can't play a guitar... a guitar, chances are it's going to feel a bit weird to them regardless of whether they are right handed or left handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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