Help: Left handed Guitarists

Subject: Left handed Guitarists
From: GUEST,Minstrel
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 02:15 PM

Once again I turn to Mudcaters for help. I play? and am struggling to master Irish traditional guitar using "Paul De Graes' book" The chords are not the problem but the tab is, as the book is written for right handed players I cant read upside down as good as I ought Any ideas or does anyone have the same problem

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 03:16 PM

Well, maybe it's a laborious sort of solution, but you could try getting some blank tab sheets (draw one and photocopy maybe), and write in the notes yourself, the appropriate way round for you.

It'd probably help you get the patterns into your head in the process as well. (Like writing out a song as a help towards learning it - you're storing the information in a different part of your brain.)

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 03:17 PM

Read the book the right way up, but play in front of a large mirror - assuming you are holding the guitar a la Paul McCartney, and not George Harrison. Keep watching the mirror. This will also improve your posture as you won't be crouched over the body of the guitar.

Or you could just give up and learn to play the penny whistle - that's what I did!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Llanfair
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 05:28 PM

Are you VERY left handed? Do you HAVE to form the chords with your right hand? I play right handed, even though I am "sinister", but Jim, my husband, plays his bass upside down. To play his 6 string, he developed his own tuning and chord system, which works very well. Plenty of options there!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 07:31 PM

One of the best left=handed guitarists I know plays his guitar upside down.....don't know how long it took him to master though.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 07:36 PM

Elizabeth Cotton was left handed, and played a right-handed guitar with good effect. That's not immediately relevant, but it's interesting to know.

I've picked up the occasional left-hand strung guitar, and it's an odd sensation trying to do stuff backwards, but could be fun.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Gary T
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 10:52 PM

My first thought was like Liz's suggestion, use a mirror. However, I believe the place for the mirror is UNDER the book. Then when you read out of the mirror, the left-to-right progression of the TAB is unchanged, but it automatically makes it "upside down" for you.

After you've tried this (but before you're totally dependent on it), you might want to try "training" your brain to make the mirror-image flip internally and automatically, given the potential difficulty of carrying and setting up a mirror away from home.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Grab
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:16 AM

As for the blank tab sheets, they're difficult to get hold of. By far the easiest way is to get your favourite drawing package (Visio, etc), draw some lines across, and print that out however many times you want. Cheap and easy.

Grab.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 01:17 PM

Obscure piece of knowledge that I learned only today.

You cannot play polo left-handed.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: GUEST,Minstrel
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 03:34 PM

As for playing the tin whistle. I play Pipes harp, mandolin, blarge sing play bodhran and play guitar. I just thought I'd play a different guitar style maybe that's my mistake, anyway I'll persevere. Thanks anyway people. the band name by the way is "FRIGGA" and its all Irish and good dance music. Contact address is [e-mail] byeeeeeeee

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 04:13 PM

Shambles, you can but you tend to brain your horse a lot......

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 04:18 PM

No its agaist the rules. Honest.

Playing the guitar at the same time, probably is too...

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Gary T
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 05:23 PM

Two polo players coming for the ball from opposite directions can hope to suffer nothing more than getting their mallets smacked--unless one of them is left-handed, in which case you can pretty well count on a head-on collision on horseback. One such incident would be enough to incite a firm rule against playing left-handed.

Playing guitar while doing this would be okay, as the neck sticks out on the "safe" side.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: GUEST,Astorkhan
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 06:31 PM

I happen to be a leftie a la E Cotten, not having reversed the string on my instrument. I manage very well that way, using several tunings including standard.

I played with other guitarists (normal ones) and there is indeed a potential problem with neck fencing in sessions or on stage.

Happy to know that "we" are more than I thought...as I never met another leftie playing like I do...

Salut,

JL

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 06:42 PM

That made me think.

Would it be possible to play polo, by riding the pony backwards?

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: bob jr
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:02 PM

if you play left handed with your instrument strung for leftie i dont see why tab would be a problem at all ...you just get used to it and transpose it in your mind bob jr the southpaw

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:20 PM

Did that polo rule also apply in respect of jousting?

And do you get left-footed and right-footed ponies?

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Gary T
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:21 PM

Shambles, it may be possible, but if you look like me there would probably be an infraction called for unsportsmanlike distraction of the other team. The sight of two horse's posteriors approaching would ruin everyone's concentration on the game.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: bob jr
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:45 PM

gary t and mcgrath

the site of two horses posteriors is already ruining this thread ...........

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 08:51 AM

Ruining this thread? How dare they!? Point them out to us and we'll clobber the bums.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 10:44 PM

A faster way would be to make a transparency of the tabs, then put the transparence in a copy machine upside down and print a copy.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Mooh
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 08:17 AM

Minstrel.

There is an instruction book published for lefties. I have seen it recently in the Elderly catalogue (which I can't at this moment locate). But if you go to their website, it may be listed, or at least you can acquire their catalogue, it's free. Good luck!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 09:21 AM

A whole pile've lefties here http://www.dealfolkclub.co.uk/PhotoAlbum.php
Scroll right down to large b/w photo

[or has the foty been printed in reverse?]

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: eddie1
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 11:05 AM

Of course it's not printed in reverse, stupid boy. If you look closely at the poster on the back wall, you'll see it's for the famous bulC kloF yadirF. Well-known for introducing Mirror Morris where you don't dance, you just reflect on it!

Eddie

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 11:12 AM

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Help: Left handed Guitarists
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 10:51 AM

Hey!

That foto link I posted's been doctored!