Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:23 PM

Elizabeth Cotton was left-handed and played a guitar strung the right-handed way, I believe - with some very interesting results.

Have many left-handed guitarists tried playing their right-handed fruiends' guitars. I've tried it with left-handed guitars (being right-handed), and it's a real bugger - but there aren't as many guitars around strung left-handed so the chance doesn't come up so often.

I've been dying to get hold of a mandolin strung left-handed style, ever since someone on another thread pointed out something that had never occurred to me - the tuning EADG on a mandolin is the same as the lower strings on a guitar, but back to front

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: JenEllen
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:17 PM

Yup..I'm a leftie along the same lines as Jeri. And for the bow/rifle I shoot left-handed but right-eyed. Drove my surgery instructor in college crazy because I use the scalpel left-handed, but tie sutures with my right.

The kicker was last summer when I broke my left wrist. I had to live right-handed for a few weeks and nearly went round the bend because of it. All the little things you become accustomed to seem nothing but clumsy.

~Jen

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:16 PM

Yeah, but what hand do I use when I'm alone and...opps...forget it.

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:07 PM

"Cuddy-wifter"? I like that.
Yep, I'm left-handed and proud of it.

You will notice that left-handers are a majority among the people who provide technical help around here.
If you've watched the Help Forum lately, you might think that majority is one hundred percent.
Of course, if I'm left-handed, one would think that JoeClones™ would also be...

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:55 PM

Also, we ought to consider Secret Decoder Scissors.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:47 PM

OK Sarah, I'll go along with that.

Jon

(Nearly falling off his chair laughing at the idea - I've not quite learned how to LMAO yet - it stays put)

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:37 PM

Now, Jon, don't we need a token righty? Or a mascot? Matt-the-Mascot of the the Secret Clique...I like it.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:35 PM

Matt, did we say that a right hander could post to OUR seceret clique?

You are nothing but a SCUMBAG!!!

Jon

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:33 PM

My first grade teacher sent me home in tears the first day of school, insisting I write with my right hand. My mother was in the principal's office in war-paint the next morning. End of problem. It really relies on the parents and their understanding that it's perfectly normal and NOT something to be "overcome."

On the other hand (oops, sorry...), it's much easier for me to teach a right-handed child how to tie his shoes. I don't have to get behind them, 'cause I tie shoes left-handed.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:31 PM

Not me!

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:28 PM

Jeri, I do use scissors right handed and a pretty much the same as you when it comes to being able to use both hands equally well and have no problems with the tools you mentioned before. I do however find I can get finer control with my left hand than with my right, e.g. writing.

I would suspect that left handers tend to be more ambidextrous than right handers because they have had to learn to do many things "the wrong way round". My concern is more one that many people may have been thought to be clumsy, etc. for reasons that people, especially teachers should be aware of such as the usage of a right handed tool with the left hand.

Jon

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:24 PM

I do things requiring accuracy (writing, playing darts, snooker, moving chess pieces) left handed.

Anything requiring brute force and ignorance (eg playing guitar Freddie style) I do right handed.

Shooting (rifles or archery) I do left handed, but right eyed.

Scratching my right elbow I do left handed.

Finding my backside takes both hands.

LFF

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:21 PM

I am also left-handed, but play guitar "right-handed." I agree that it actually makes more sense early on, since the left hand has to do more complex stuff than the right, in the early stages of learning to play; at least if you're doing folk stuff.

My wife is also left handed and plays fiddle right handed.

We have one right handed child and one more or less ambidextrous one.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:18 PM

Jon, my mom realized I was having problems with scissors and went looking for a pair of left-handed ones. By the time she found them, I'd learned how to use them right-handed. I don't ever think it'll make me famous, but I can use either leftie or rightie scissors with either hand...

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Llanfair
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:15 PM

I think we've had this discussion before!! I write left-handed, but do everything else right-handed.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: GUEST,The bloke in the corner
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:13 PM

As a cuddy-wifter (Geordie slang for being left handed) I've got a left handed guitar, octave mandola, bouzouki and banjo, the last two of which I changed myself. It's a real problem if you came to music late in life (at 42 in my case) when it's just not on to learn to play right handed. There's much less choice with left handed instruments, and when I bought my octave mandola the nice man at the Music Room altered it for me. BUT - thank God for the harmonica, being left-mouthed is no problem, and I'm definitely ambidextrous when it comes to the Bodhran. Perhaps I'm in a clique all of my own...

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:09 PM

Technically, I'm ambidextrous, but I've always thought of myself as left handed. I write and eat leftie, but play instruments and throw things rightie. I use tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and hammers with both.

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:05 PM

Scissors... It wasn't until I was about 30 (1990) that I found out why I struggled so much with scissors. I just hope that people, especially teachers, are more aware of the problems left handed people can have with everyday objects that are (usually) designed for right handers.

Jon

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:56 PM

I don't understand: aren't most instruments inherently left-handed? At least most stringed instruments -- the most dexterity is required of the left hand. Therefore and hence, think of how naturally advantaged we are!

I guess I get to be in the secret clique (oh boy! oh boy!), where the fun part is watching right-handed people try to use my scissors.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: MARINER
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:13 PM

Both myself and my wife are left handed, our 4 children are right handed, but our grandson is left handed. I'm told that two lefties create a right handed child. I'm learning the 5 string right handed ,not easy. In Ireland left handed people are called CIOTOGS,(emphasis on the O) Mariner

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:58 PM

McGrath of Harlow, what instrument do you play with your left foot?

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:55 PM

What about left-footers?

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Gary T
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:55 PM

I'm lefty and I play left-handed guitar.

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: MMario
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:54 PM

leftie also. I don't think I sing any differently then right handers...

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:44 PM

Oh! Oh! Me Me!! I'm left handed! Does this mean I get to be part of a secret clique?

(I do not play my instrument differently as a result. Playing an accordion is like patting your head rubbing your belly and dancing a jig all at the same time. It doesn't matter which hand you pat with and which hand you rub with.)

Carol

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:43 PM

I think that similar subjects have cropped up here before but I am a left hander who plays right handed.

Jon

Subject: RE: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Nynia
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:43 PM

Hey count me in Peter, at least I write left-handed. For some reason I play guitar and sports like golf right-handed. Just like to be different I guess.


Nynia


:-)

-)

)

Subject: Secret Clique:How Many LeftHanded MCers?
From: Peter T.
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:37 PM

Speaking of evil secret cliques: How many Mudcatters are left handed? I am for one. (I am of course trying to relate beauty, genius, and difficulty with handling standard scissors together....). Anyone play their musical instrument differently as a result?

yours, Peter T.