banjogal12 - Posted - 01/03/2012:  06:19:18

If you are a left handed picker...what sort of problems have you run into playing the banjo?  While I write right handed, I find the banjo feels more comfortable for me left handed.  Would like to know issues that other lefties have run into.

daytripper - Posted - 01/03/2012:  06:38:00

1. 
   less of a selection of instruments


2. 
   you can't play other people's instruments & they can't play yours

that's all I found

P7183 - Posted - 01/03/2012:  19:35:04

I agree.  There is a little less selection of thumb picks too, but that's no big deal.  I don't think it affects the learning process, if you have an instructor you have a mirror image looking at their fretboard.  LH instruments are a little rare, but I've still managed to acquire more than I need.....good luck and enjoy the journey!  

mike gregory - Posted - 01/03/2012:  20:09:59

If you're left handed, and have NOT YET BEGUN to play the banjo, you can remove the 5th string peg, do this simple modification, and play any right-handed banjo, "upside down".

Then you can try out any other right-handed banjo, and when you want to sell your banjo,  you can put it back the way it was, instantly and for free.

Remove peg	Wood Plug	Mark where it goes.	Add a brad
Block mounts on aluminum bar.	Guitar peg in wood block	Slide beneath the J's	5th String to tailpeg

Helix - Posted - 01/03/2012:  20:26:41

I think long ago, some of us, and Mike included were originally 'other-handed' and it isn't until a cool challenge comes along that people sort throught the wreckage of what happened when the change was made during childhood. So if you want to play that way, you are allowed to do so. Others may suggest you change your brain, your brain is already to go. Just play.

mike gregory - Posted - 01/04/2012:  03:23:49

I've always been right handed. A local guy, eithr Mr. Rospenda or Mr. LoCicero (if I remember his name right) played a right-handed banjo upside down, and had sipmly removed the 5th string peg, and put it at the tailpiece, so as not to have to jump OVER it when playing.

My cheap-and-easliy-reversible modification was based on his. And the fact that it IS reversible keeps an upside-down polayer from having to order a custom neck.

But, once you've already learned to play on a genuinely left-handed neck, this modification won't do you much good.

And, of course, tabs telling you to hit which string with which finger, will be "upside down" with my modification in place.

I'm just trying to be helpful to left-handed beginners.

dickinnorwich - Posted - 01/04/2012:  06:43:50

Pat:
Speaking as someone who developed neurological problems with my right (picking) hand over 30 years ago and had to start over by teaching myself how to play left-handed, I'd like to offer the following thoughts.
Mixed dominance is fairly common occurrence. Fortunately, I've got it and was able to exploit it to adapt to my banjo playing problem. You obviously have it, too.
Mixed dominance is a brain-wiring function and is primarily determined by which one of your two eyes is dominant. This is pretty easy to test. With both eyes open, with your arm extended, point toward an object about 10'-15' away. Then close one eye, open it and then close the other eye. One of your two eyes will be dead on the object and the other will be several inches off. Obviously, your dominant eye will be the one you pointed dead-on the object. Whichever eye it is, it usually means you favor that side although you may perform tasks, like writing, swinging a bat or shooting a gun with the other hand.
As many have already told you, the 5 string banjo is primarily a right-handed instrument. However, if you're comfortable playing left-handed...because of a dominance factor, then by all means go for it. There are many more left-handed necks available now than when I started 30+ years ago and that's the good news. The bad news is that you can expect to be excruciatingly frustrated when you go to a festival, a store or other venue and you can't play the vast majority of the instruments on display.
When I build an instrument that I want someone else to test, I have to build it with a right-handed neck. You probably won't have this problem but playing left-handed, you will definitely limit your choices of instruments available to you.
I remember talking to Bill Evans about this a number of years ago. He is "naturally" left-handed but taught himself how to play right-handed and we all know how well that worked out for him. I would say that if you understand the consequences of the choice, either way, go with what is comfortable for you.

Edited by - dickinnorwich on 01/04/2012 06:44:29

1935tb-11 - Posted - 01/04/2012:  17:36:14

i started out on a right handed banjo, playing it upside down left handed and played around
the 5th string peg for years. finally about 11 years ago i had a tunneled 5th string neck made
and it was like joy joy joy . no more peg in the way. i can play any right handed banjo by learning
this way.. it has some drawbacks but for the most part i make it work pretty good.




terry m

BanjoBach - Posted - 01/04/2012:  23:22:39

Hi 12, I'm a lefty and most of what has already been stated I agree with. There are definately less banjos to play, but how many do you need! There are a few banjo suppliers / builders who have no problem in providing a lefty option. You could make your own if the fancy took you. I'm in the process of building my third banjo. This one has twin tunnels for the 5th string and will be completed with a zero fret, which will allow for a string swap over to change it from one hand to the other. Life just like banjos is what you make of it!


Banjobach

dickinnorwich - Posted - 01/05/2012:  06:09:35

Terry:
What you're describing is pure Elizabeth Cotton. She was a southpaw who inverted a guitar and a banjo and taught herself how to play upside down.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cotten

sam fugate - Posted - 01/05/2012:  14:49:30

I'm left handed . But. I taught myself to play right handed.

Bob Miller - Posted - 01/05/2012:  15:15:23

If your left handed, PLAY left handed!

Bob Miller

"If this ain't bluegrass, grits ain't groceries"

sam fugate - Posted - 01/05/2012:  17:57:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bob Miller

If your left handed, PLAY left handed!

Bob Miller

"If this ain't bluegrass, grits ain't groceries"

---

 Didn't mean to offend you, it is what it is. LOL

1935tb-11 - Posted - 01/05/2012:  18:29:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by dickinnorwich



Terry: What you're describing is pure Elizabeth Cotton. She was a southpaw who inverted a guitar and a banjo and taught herself how to play upside down. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cotten

---

 yeah dick,, i learned that scratch lick on the guitar years ago by watching old footage of her playing.. it was a similar style that my father played also.  later on i got into classical guitar before i was hooked on the banjo. so i was familiar with a style of  3 finger picking so it really helped when i took up the banjo.

terry m 

Bob Miller - Posted - 01/05/2012:  18:34:42

No offense taken Sam.  I happen to know someone that is left handed and also plays right handed.  He won't even pick up my left handed banjo.  I think he's afraid of how it will feel.  He says he plays right handed so he can play other instruments although I don't think that happens all that often.  His timing is a little ragged and I often wonder if that would be the case if he had started out playing left handed. Kinda makes me wonder if when when someone says they are left handed but play right handed..... maybe a second opinion is in order.....<grin>....... These things are hard enough to play without hamstringing yourself..

Bob Miller

"If this ain't bluegrass, grits ain't groceries"

sam fugate - Posted - 01/06/2012:  15:22:11

I knew you were kidding Bob, When I was a youngster being a lefty was somewhat of a predicament. No baseball gloves no golf clubs, and especially no stringed instruments. I learned to play guitar right handed early on and it has carried on to the banjo. I don't have any problem with timing and right hand rolls and finger movement is not a problem. I have tried a lefty it was a little cumbersome but with practice I could get it.
You know the old saying, Left handed people are in their right mind

banjogal12 - Posted - 01/20/2012:  06:17:05

Thanks so much for all the feedback. It appears I have a challenge to meet...oh well I never have been one to back off just because the gettin got tough. I am a tough old gal. LOL I am taking my first live lesson on Tuesday with Jim "Duck" Adkins and am really looking forward to it. I'll have to keep you posted how well I climb this hill. LOL

minstrelmike - Posted - 01/20/2012:  08:26:36

You play banjo with both hands.

Period.

They both require training.

Penel - Posted - 01/20/2012:  08:55:52

My husband plays banjo left handed. He doesn't seem to not be able to find left handed banjos or left handed banjo accessories.

He's whined about learning from teachers playing right handed but I remind him that I practice my fiddle regularly watching myself in a mirror to check my bowing and to practice being able to keep an eye on a teacher's bowing while at workshops.

If we needed our teachers to be the same handedness as ourselves we'd be sitting next to them at workshops instead of across from them. Playing left handed in a right handed world is an advantage in that respect. 

Banjo Bud - Posted - 01/20/2012:  11:09:08

At 49 years old and a lefty, i grew up with 2 olders brothers who are right handed so I was taught to throw a ball, catch and bat as a right hander due to right handed hand-me-downs. I even play golf righthanded as that was how i was taught. Now to my and others wonder I can do all thoes things right and left handed fairly well. Although i can only write left handed.

Moving on to playing the Banjo, As a beginner I thought why not start out playing right handed as it is the first one I ever picked up and dont know anyother way (at the moment). I feel I'm progressing fairly well, got my rolls down pretty good and working on my cords now with pretty good success as well. It's all that I know so thats how I'm gonna continue!

For many years I playrd the saxaphone, clarinet and flute. There were no left or right handed woodwinds so you played what you were given. All thoes instriments required hours of practice and dexterity in both hands and fingers to play then with confidence. So why not incorporate that commitment into playing the banjo.

I feel that perfection only comes with hours of practice regardless of how you hold your instrument.

So do your best and commit to practicing daily, slowly but surely you will become comfortable with your instrument and notice improvments almost on a daily basis.

Good lucy and dont give up, just keep on picking.
God bless, Bud

bd - Posted - 01/20/2012:  11:29:50

I'm ambidextrous so I don't have a dog in this fight I guess,but....

From playing both guitar and banjo it seems to me that as you reach a reasonable level of skill the real work is done by the hand that frets,i.e., for most people the left hand.  So wouldn't lefties have an advantage?

Edited by - bd on 01/20/2012 11:30:40

Corwyn - Posted - 01/20/2012:  12:14:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bob Miller

If your left handed, PLAY left handed!

---

If only you had been there to tell Bela Fleck that.  Imagine how good he would be...