dgreen20 - Posted - 10/22/2009:  04:06:07

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My 8 year old grandson has expressed an interest in learning either the banjo or guitar (I vote banjo). He is left handed but does certain things such as Guitar Hero right handed. I've always thought that natural leftys would be better off with a left handed instrument but I do have an extra right handed guitar and banjo that I can give him.

I would appreciate any comments. As well, is it more difficult for a banjo instructor to teach a lefty?

Thanks

Dan

oldplayer - Posted - 10/22/2009:  04:49:23

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Right or left handed is not an issue when starting up. My son is decidedly
left handed in every other aspect of his life, and because he had access to
all of my right-handed instruments, he learned to play that way. Now he is
a monster guitar player.

slowdeath - Posted - 10/22/2009:  05:02:06

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I"m a natural lefty that plays righty. It's not a major deal either way, but i would say go righty just for simplicity's sake. Much easier to find equipment etc.

Regards,

Matt

www.myspace.com/slowdeathandloneliness

GeeDubya - Posted - 10/22/2009:  05:04:10

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Hey Dan
I am a lefty. I would think, at 8 years old, your grandson could adapt to either. There is good and bad in being a lefty. The good being rarely, if ever, do other people play your instruments...that IMHO is a huge positive.

One thing that does peeve me is when I go into music shops that clearly don't cater for left handers...nothing to look at, nothing to play. I had never played a left handed 5string banjo before my Goodtime arrived by courier!

I did, however, encourage my own son to play right hand (he could have gone either way). He is now a very good bass player and the bonus is neither he or his mates ever play my instruments.
If an instructor is struggling with a lefty, he needs to go home and watch himself in a mirror.

Good luck
cheers
Gavin

"music makes life better"

ekistl - Posted - 10/22/2009:  06:13:26

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Two of my sons are left handed (currently ages 8 & 10). A year and a half ago, they expressed interest in playing, and we went with "righty" instruments. They are both making great progress and do not seem hindered in any way.

I talked about it with them, explaining that, although we could explore left-handed instruments, they are relatively rare, and they wouldn't be able to pick up an instrument to play at a friend's house or a music store. (Or any of the many guitars and other instruments I have sitting around the house).

Even though the decision was largely based on convenience (instrument availability), they are doing very well with it.

-eric

Life was hard for the pioneers, but every now and again, someone would get out the fiddle and make it all worse.

swirlypillow - Posted - 10/22/2009:  06:31:15

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I played left handed bass guitar from the time I was 13 until now, and I'm 27. When I picked up the banjo earlier this year, I specifically bought a righty for the following reasons:

1.) Right handed instruments, including banjo, are more plentiful and are typically less expensive. If you go into a chain store like Sam Ash or Guitar Center, you aren't going to find any left handed banjos. Hell, you aren't even going to find many right handed ones, but at least there will be a few to play around on. Sometimes they even have upper end Deerings, which you can usually haggle on because the salesmen at these stores don't know shiz about banjos.

2.) Deciding to play a new instrument right handed let me start with a clean slate so to speak. I took the opportunity to review the mistakes in my bass playing (fretting hand positions, picking hand steadiness, etc.) and tried to avoid repeating them as I was developing my muscle memory while learning banjo.

3.) I wanted to be able to share the joy of banjo with my friends, who are all right handed. Learning right handed banjo opened up the opportunity for my friends to pick it up, mess with it, and not feel weird about it because it's left handed (like they do with my basses, hahaha!)

4.) It's fun! It was extremely difficult at first because it felt unnatural to hold a right handed instrument, but after a month or so I couldn't imagine playing a left handed banjo. I can even pick up a righty guitar or bass and mess around with it now. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment to know that, even though it was tough at first, I can do whatever I set out to do. Plus, it always amazes people when I funk out on lefty bass, then put it down and grab a righty banjo and start rolling....ha!

The KIDD - Posted - 10/22/2009:  07:27:46

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Since 94,Ive had appox. 9 LH students that played righty.Only one insisted playin LH. He was mid 50's though. It was difficult at first to teach this lefty. I found myself having to illustrate movements LH ed for BOTH him and ME. I would have to disagree about it mattering which way is chosen for this instrument since the muscle memory forming has the hands tasking two VERY different functions. You hear about late beginners/ early intermediates all the time having to go back and undo bad habits, re train movements some even having to completely start over.(to which ya really cant... totally).Yeah, IMO, since he already shows RH abilities, go with it.
John

http://www.myspace.com/johnkuhnbluegrass

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/22/2009:  08:02:19

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Hi Dan

I am no expert but I would say let him try both and see what he feels comfortable with. Check with your local banjo teacher to see if he/she has any left handed students who will let you try out a left handed instrument. Nothing is ever gained by forcing an instrument on a child. The may play along for a few years and then give up. A willing student is more likely to stick with it.

Regards Tam

Picking a Fender FB 58 and PROUD to describe myself as a Student of the Murphy Method

justryin2play - Posted - 10/22/2009:  08:14:48

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I'd go with playing RH.

I'm LH and started playing RH almost 2 years ago at the age of 41.

Kids shouldn't have any trouble at all, It didn't hinder me any as I can tell.

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Edited by - justryin2play on 10/22/2009 08:15:49

Tommy5 - Posted - 10/22/2009:  20:23:18

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I too am a natural lefty and play guitar and banjo righty, i did at one time play guitar lefty, but the thing warped since it was a right handed one just restrung lefty,i taught myself to play righty with little difficulty. The most amazing story about this is a guy who won a medal at the Olympics in pistol shooting, he lost his right hand in ww11, learned to shoot lefty and came back and won a gold medal shooting lefty, anything is possible.

dgreen20 - Posted - 10/23/2009:  04:11:15

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Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I think I will start him out right handed and if it is a problems we can address it at that time.

Randall - Posted - 10/23/2009:  04:35:54

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Right handed only!! Left handed banjos are 2 in a 1000!!! He will want to play other folks banjos as he grows older. Right now he don't know the difference.

Randall

Wyatt Banjos - Creating the sounds of yesteryear, today!

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/23/2009:  05:58:48

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Both hands have to do something so what makes the difference whether one hand is picking or fretting?

I'm left handed and play a rightie banjo and have had no problems in learning -- at least no problems concerning being lefthanded (G).

In fact, being left handed I think helped me because it's much easier for me to do slides, hammers, pulls, chokes and such with the left hand. The right hand just rolls along and doesn't have to do all the macinations that the left hand does.

Let's Pick!
Texas Banjo

minstrelmike - Posted - 10/23/2009:  07:35:45

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You use both hands to play the banjo.
I encourage folks to go right-handed because there are a lot more options for instruments.

Some people think that the dominant hand somehow does better (either chording or picking it is hard to say) but _everything_ feels awkward in both hands when you start.

At jams, he'll be able to borrow other people's banjos.

Mike Moxcey
http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/index.html

stormoveroklahoma - Posted - 10/23/2009:  08:49:38

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In a poll I did here at the hangout more than half the musicians here responded that they are lefty or ambidextrous. I personally think its the way our brains work. The right side or creative side connects more through the left hand and Math and logic connect more through the right hand. Left/Right Brain.

Playing a musical instrument is a blending of left and right hand.

I think he would better off playing a right handed banjo. His left hand will excel which is what is supposed to happen.

Being a lefty will be to his advantage as a musician and choosing an instrument with a small neck ( banjo, fiddle or mandolin) will help him as well.


Just my opinion.

Storm

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Edited by - stormoveroklahoma on 10/23/2009 08:50:23

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 10/23/2009:  11:03:45

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I agree with the majority here who advocate trying right-handed playing. Leftys are--what?--15% of the population? But how many left-handed banjo players do you see? That shows that there are hundreds of leftys playing right-handed with complete success.

stelling man - Posted - 10/23/2009:  16:16:13

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Dan, I think you will find a lot of Lefty's on the BHO who play right handed, myself Included,like Sherry said, both hands have to do something, It does'nt matter If It Is picking or chording..

STELLING MAN

Helix - Posted - 10/23/2009:  17:48:16

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I can't BELIEVE it. Stelling Man and I have something in common besides bluegrass.

I am a lefty whose friends only had one guitar, and said, huh uh. So I learned mandolin righty, then guitar, then banjo, then slide 12-string open G with drop C, then I lost the first joint of my left thumb and thought I would never play again, then I got my longneck fixed, then I started playing again with prejudice, then I started makin' banjos, I'm WAY too young for this.

Playing right-handed meant I could always play other instruments. When I lost my left thumb, I took a year off, and opened up the other side of my brain with my right hand, so when I could play again, I played better, toot?

A big crowd of ugly ducklings just flew in as a flock of swans. Why would someone already in the top 15% want to stay lefty when ambidextrous is even rarer? It helped me integrate the hallways upstairs.

I build leftys, two so far.

http://www.helixbanjos.com
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1four5 - Posted - 10/23/2009:  17:55:30

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Just another totally lefty, that plays righty, checking in.

Dean

Helix - Posted - 10/23/2009:  18:03:27

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You too? Hey man, I got a Jackrabbit over here.

To answer, I found it not difficult to teach lefty guitar, I found it difficult for him to start on electric guitar. He was never to learn intonation which is a one way street.

Also I had a student who played basketball, soccer, Saturday with me, Sunday church, they burnt the kid out, he also was too young.

I prefer a good 12 year old that gets it.

Now here's the love: who else plays music around you guys, huh? Lefty or Righty, what role models are close by? You. Please don't give him the instruments, introduce him to them, wipe the dust off, tune them up, let him hold them, teach him. Let him earn them. He's been VERY good this year.

http://www.helixbanjos.com
(_)===='===::}

backtothefuture - Posted - 10/23/2009:  18:56:41

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My father thought he was doing me a favor by stringing my ukulele (when I was 8) lefty. When I was 13, I got a guitar and strung it lefty. I got a Beatles book with chords. I said....the is NUTS....I'm playing righty. I play banjo righty, too.

How about an accordion? Do you play accordion lefty? No.

How about a piano. Do you play a piano lefty? No. But FWIW....there IS a lefthanded piano that is manufactured in England.

To people play clarinet, oboe, flute, saxophone lefty? No.

When I went to college studying Music Education to become a teacher....one of my professors pointed out all of the above to me.

Now from the standpoint of a Music teacher, I can tell you that the ONLY reason I would ever suggest a student to play any instrument lefty (backwards)....would be if the people had a physical disability that would be better served playing lefty.



.

Dennis

Matthew Wyatt - Posted - 11/02/2009:  09:51:35

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I am a naturally left handed and wanted to play banjo, and wanted to learn left handed. BOY AM I GLAD I DIDN'T!!! I learned to play right handed, and over this weekend visited my uncle and was able to play all of his banjos and see what sound i liked the best.

I vote right handed, both hands are just as important, and I feel I have an advantage in chords, because I use my natural hand.

Matt
Songs of Yesterday, Played my Way

daytripper - Posted - 11/02/2009:  14:32:57

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I'm lefty & play lefty, so there. But then, my reasons for learning figured heavily in this.

I fancied learning the 'jo as something to do - I was bored of surfing the internet & watching TV, so wanted something else to do over winter. My thinking was that no-one I know has any interest in banjo music so I won't go to any jam sessions, and if I play something more natural to me I'll me more likely to progress. And my decision was correct at the time and - I think - still is. I love playing at home, still haven't seen anyone else with a banjo (aside from my teacher) and I picked up the skills quick enough so as not to frustrate me. I hope I'll be happy with my little Goodtime for another 5 years and - if I get good enough to warrant it - I'll head to the States & seek me out a custom 'jo. Gives me something to look forward to too (of course, I'm looking already - Nechville, Stelling & Titan the current faves).

Will I regret learning lefty..? Maybe. But by the time I'm good enough to jam properly, I'll probably have bought that fancy banjo. ;)

So that's my story & my reasons...

marc

Julio B - Posted - 11/02/2009:  16:37:16

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Regardless of manual orientation, one needs to employ both hands, so what difference does it make?
~Julio

ambpicker - Posted - 11/02/2009:  17:13:19

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I wish someone from the future could travel back in time to our day and tell us what the right answer is.
I believe this is a complex and important area, with a meaning that goes beyond our world of bluegrass and banjos.
Several years ago I joined this forum and came up with my name here, based on playing right handed for years, then trying to learn to play as a lefty. The results were dramatic, almost magical, and I was very excited about what I had discovered.
I am right handed, but started playing lefty, as a side line practice technique, almost 6 years ago.
To this day, my left hand playing is feeble, but I can do some playing as a lefty.
Though right handed, it is difficult to finger notes on the fret, hold D and G chord positions, and think a song through.
That is why I typically suggest a left hand person try a left hand instrument.
But as noted, many lefties have successfully learned to play a right hand instrument.

Leslie

stanleytone - Posted - 11/12/2009:  14:41:05

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i am lefthanded and i play left handed instruments.playing right handed is just as foreign to me as you righties trying to play lefty.i never thought for once to even try to be a righty.the down side?? of course i never get to play other peoples banjos.the up side??
i never have to worry about that festival drunk wanting to play mine!

"Yeah,I play the banjo.You gotta problem with that?"

Banjo173 - Posted - 11/16/2009:  21:49:14

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I can't resist adding one more comment to this age old debate. I was 13 and destined to be a rock legend when I received my cousin's righty guitar and started weekly lessons. I lasted about 5 weeks, feeling tortured the entire time. You could die waiting for the 2nd coming of the 4 string banjo, but I wish that I had thought to reverse the guitar strings. It was over 15 years until this lefty picked up a musical instrument again (thanks in part to Guitar Hero). I have played my lefty banjo diligently every night for the past 9 months regretting that I did not start lefty from the get go. As the majority takes for granted, you need to have the power and speed of your dominant hand picking the strings. Lessons are as easy as looking in the mirror and TAB never reads "upside down" to me. The major drawback is that I am having my next banjo custom built since lefty banjo selection is limited.

p.s. You can flip the controls to lefty and even select the banjo skin on Guitar Hero to give your grandson a virtual head-to-head comparison.

kingfisher78 - Posted - 11/16/2009:  22:02:01

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quote:

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Originally posted by dgreen20

My 8 year old grandson has expressed an interest in learning either the banjo or guitar (I vote banjo). He is left handed but does certain things such as Guitar Hero right handed. I've always thought that natural leftys would be better off with a left handed instrument but I do have an extra right handed guitar and banjo that I can give him.

I would appreciate any comments. As well, is it more difficult for a banjo instructor to teach a lefty?

Thanks

Dan

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I'm a lefty.
I started playing 40 years ago as a kid. Didn't know any different.
Left/right. Well I fish so called right handed. I play cricket and golf so called right handed. I play all fretted instruments so called right handed.
Just keep in mind that lefties are far smarter and will play whatever they have at hand.

Shane.

spaz - Posted - 12/10/2009:  19:18:39

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a few weeks ago i went over to my brother-in-laws, he's righty, but his son's left-handed guitars were lying around.. i picked one up and tried playing lefty... for about 3 seconds. It was hard, so i flipped it over. After about 10 minutes i was able to play some simplistic things.. i thought that was kind of funny. I guess it was easier to finger with my fingering hand even with the strings upside-down. I remember once trying to write left-handed and the resulting writing coming out backwards. I thought that was funny so I learned to write backwards with my right as well.. I wonder if visual and non-visual learners would have different barriers when trying to switch sides..

Ol Lefty - Posted - 12/11/2009:  03:54:11

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I play righty-45 years worth. I was a decent baseball switch-hitter but usually batted right. Short foray into golf(A good walk spoiled)righty.

Until more recent years, the most frustrating thing was scissors-in grade school, I usually flunked "Cutting out." Scissors were literally painful.

For this thread, no signature needed.

banjer5 - Posted - 12/11/2009:  05:43:22

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This topic is visited often here. I really don't believe it makes any differance which is your dominate hand to MOST people. I'm a lefty but play righty and quite well I might add. FWIW The USAF has NO left handed F16 fighters but a number of left handed pilots, think about that.

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Edited by - banjer5 on 12/11/2009 05:44:48

ricke54 - Posted - 12/14/2009:  06:28:40

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Well I'm just starting to play the banjo and I'm left handed and I'm learning with a lefty. I guess it depends on goals but at 55 it seems much more natural and so what that the majority play right handed. It does bother me that you can't try out very many stringed instruments in a store that are lefty but that is just the way it is.