Beginning Lefty

jimi_t

My little sister is thinking about taking up guitar - she's left handed.
Is it a good idea to make her play like a right handed player (as she can use the existing guitars in the house) or will her dexterity etc... be crippled by the fact she's using her weak hand? What are the long term effects of this? Any leftys here who play right-handed?

Creamy Goodness

yes i'm a lefty but play right handed.

i didn't really know there were left handed guitars around when i started (i started messing around on my brothers right handed guitar) after a couple of months messing it was just natural to use the right hand.

the benefits i see from learning right hand are
1. right handed models are generally less expensive.
2. majority of other players are right handed so if you go to someone's house it's more likely they'll have a right handed guitar.

jimi_t

Well that's good to hear - her main concern is that she wouldn't be able to play any old one if she learnt on a left, and it saves restringing or buying a new guitar for her to learn on. Is there any real disadvantges that you've noticed?

-=al=-

let her do what is most comfortable, there is ALOT more left handers nowadays

let her hold it, and whichever way she finds natural regardless of anything else, let her do that,

ideally it would be better to be a righty, but no matter what i have to say do whats most comfortable

i done it and i never looked back, im right handed, but i play left, best decision i made...

If i Did play right handed, i would always wonder if id be better if i was a leftie

but its her call i can just give advice

Creamy Goodness

i think al mentioned a very good point...

don't force her into any one way of playing, comfort is the key.

Paladin

If you are left handed, play left handed is my advice (assuming you are comfortable that way). Playing the wrong way you are only introducing an unnecessary hurdle to something that offers so much fun and satisfaction.
As for price increase...Thomann has made guitars cheaper to buy anyway

Or crazy as this sounds you could string a right handed guitar backwards (someone famous did this...;) )