Southpaw pluckers: naive question

Subject: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:36 AM

Here's the thing:
While watching The Blues Band recently I couldn't help notice that Gary Fletcher played bass guitars left handed, and strung for a leftie, but when he sang and switched to 6-string, he picked up a right-handed strung guitar Dave Kelly had been using, and played it upside down like Libba Cotten/Jimi Hendrix.
To someone like me, to whom all instrumental playing is a mystery, this seems strange. Obviously, with all the instruments they bring on stage he could have had his own left-hand strung guitar. I'm guessing he learned to play 6-string upside down before he could afford a lefty but when he learned bass he learned the "proper" way on a lefthand strung instrument.
Is it more difficult to switch back having learned the "upside down" way than to play different ways on different instruments? Do any of you play, say, banjo or mandolin one way and guitar another, rather than have them all strung lefthanded?
RtS (I'm sure Bob "53" would like to collate any replies!)
(I can play my kazoo & washboard either way up, they sound just as bad)

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:59 AM

First of all Roger, let's nail this myth that Jimi Hendrix played a right handed guitar strung for a right handed player. He played a right handed Stratocaster, but the strings were strung for a left handed player, ie when Hendrix played, the treble E string was the nearest string to the floor.

Libba Cotten, OTOH did indeed play a right handed guitar strung for a right handed player, and played it "upside down", as you say.

Murray

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 10:08 AM

Thanks for clearing that up, Murray, I'm not well up on the modern fellers (you know: 1960 and after!).
RtS (barking up the wrong tree, as usual, and probably barking out of tune!)

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 12:07 PM

... or just barking!

(I am utterly rubbish at playing the wrong way round, and only slightly better the right way!)

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 12:20 PM

Bill Staines plays left-handed, too. I believe he puts his strings on in opposite order.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:46 PM

Had a guy come to my club for a while who was a left handed accordian player.Took the straps off and fitted them the other way round so the keybord was on his left hand,but upside down.Played it well as well.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: 53
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 01:50 PM

i don't play lefthanded and I don't think that I could ever learn.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: fretless
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 02:35 PM

Same as 53...a left-handed player playing right-heanded. I've tried it the other way and couldn't do it. Don't know what would have happended if I'd learned left-handed playing from the beginning, though.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: jimmyt
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 02:55 PM

Funny about instruments. I played trumpet for years, right handed of course, and I am a southpaw. Switched to French horn, and it was left handed, again, no biggy. For Stringed instruments, however, I am pure lefthanded, playing guitar and banjo (albiet not worth a damn) restrung. I also had to get a left handed acoustic bass which is a pain in the butt. I can pick up a right handed guitar and play a few chords upside down, but it sure isn't very eficient!

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Willie-O
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 03:22 PM

Well, if you teach yourself to play an instrument that is either a designed leftie, or is strung backwards, you will never be able to casually try out someone else's guitar, will you? Or trade instruments on stage like the guy you mention.   One lefthander I spoke to expressed regret that that he learned on a backwards-strung guitar, for that very reason.

Not being able to try out the guitars I can't afford would be a huge loss to me.

W-O

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 04:26 PM

I wouldn't think learning to play it strung the other way would be that different from learning to play a new instrument, and people do that all the time. If you played along with a bunch of people with their instruments strung the other way the natural thing would be to experiment with playing their instruments.

I've always fancied having a go at a left hand strung mandolin, once I realised that GDAE backwards is EADG, the same as the bass strings on a standard tuning guitar, which would mean I could use all the guitar chords I know, and it'd be interesting to hear what they sounded like back to front. But I've never played with a mandolin player with a mandolin strung left handed.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: GUEST,Walking Eagle
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 05:36 PM

It's not so much the right hand chording, it's being able to keep the rhythm and doing the fancy pick work that we lefties must do. Anyone can eventually lear to play 'left handed' chords with your right hand, but the picking and rhythm would be a bear to learn.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 06:47 PM

I'd have thought the natural thing would be to use the normal fretting hand and picking hand (which would be opposite, according to whether you were left handed or right handed), but to do the chording back to front on a guitar set up for someone of opposite handedness. Like Libby Cotton in fact.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: gwonya
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 05:08 PM

I pick left handed with a guitar strung right, left handed with
dulcimers strung left, lefty banjo with my 5-string strung right (5th
string problematic!) ,and left handed mandolin with my mandolin
strung left (would be happy to let you giver a try McGrath!).
I also play drums right but have a dominant left side which I believe
is apparent when I play my hammered dulcimer ( a Dusty Strings model
luckily with base strings on the left). Would give my right arm
to be ambidextrous. Still have been unable to meet a down side up
picker for to compare notes with. Get in touch if you're out
there eh! - and keep pickin!!

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 05:21 PM

Anytime I'm in Toronto I might take you up on that, gwonya. But don't hold your breath, it's a longish way.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From:
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 08:52 PM

How about Left Handed fiddlers out there.... I'm bowing left (my dominant hand) on a right-handed strung fiddle so it looks very awarkward reaching over the top. Been playing only two years in this manner. I guess its working.
I understand you can't simple re-string the thing but have to have it rebuilt from inside out because of the sound board...

Anyone else ever try it this way? How do you get your elbow down?
Can't find a "teacher" here in Conneticut as they all want to turn me around to right handed (not an option) so they can help with technique and all are classical violin trained so want me to start over to play violin first....

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: gwonya
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 10:06 AM

I've been hoping to learn some fiddle Lynda and will probably bow
left on a right handed instrument. I emailed Ashley MacIssac
awhile back to ask for his perspective/advice. (He plays left with
strings strung "downside up".) Ashley suggested I do the same.
Much as I respect his playing, I'm still open to suggestions - it's
a big decision as, God knows, I'd be starting from scratch.
Would really appreciate any input anyone may have on this.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 11:09 AM

It's a ways back to the top of the thread by now, but I just gotta ask Murray (about Jimmi Hendrix), when I'm playing the guitar the normal way -- right handed and strung right -- isn't the treble E down toward the floor and the bass E closest to my face?
Anyway, I'm a leftie who plays the guitar right-handed, and maybe that's why I'n not any better than I am. Seemed to me, when I learned, that either my talented left hand would be playing those tricky rhythms or it would be playing those tricky chords -- and it was a toss up.
I can play a straight rhythm fast, when I practice, but still not much good at a jig.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: BanjoRay
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 08:12 PM

A really good fiddler in our Old Time session in Sheffield, England, plays right handed fiddle southpaw style, also guitar and mandolin. Largely self taught, but a joy to listen to. Plays Cajun and Bluegrass also - very well. If you have any doubts, it is doable.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: DADGBE
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 11:59 PM

I'm pure left handed in everything I do but when I started to take guitar lessons (sometime before the great flood) my father insisted that I learn the "proper" ie. right handed way. Ultimately, I've come to the conclusion that "right handed" is really best for a left handed person. It gives the left hand all the hard squeezing.

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: southpawfiddle
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 11:01 PM

Banjo Ray--- You are in Sheffield England?? I must have had relatives there eno's ago. I found in a very old book called "The complete English Traveler" printed in 1776 that my granddad had in his possesion, tucked in the pages three separte items- first a "play bill" from the theatre Sheffield dated 1780 with the list of players anouncing the play, and then a printed "List of the Horses" from Crookmor near Sheffield from 1778 and finally a printed aritlce about a hanging of a Mr Spencer Broughton who died honorable during the hanging. He was hung for holding up the mail.   Don't know how many of them were left handed or even who amoung the names we might have been related to but they all are tied to Sheffield a long time ago.
My grandad was left handed but fiddled right handed and I am now using his fiddle he brought from England at the turn of the century after finding it in my Da's. stuff when he passed away this summer. Had it all repaired and its great!

Subject: RE: Southpaw pluckers: naive question
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 03:42 AM

Mmmm, I thought I had replied to your post Barbara. One of these missing messages, I guess ....

Yes the strings are as you say, treble E nearest the floor when playing right handed, but also when playing left-handed, as long as the strings are changed accordingly.

It is worth mentioning as well that you can't just change the strings round on an acoustic guitar and expect it to play perfectly in tune, as the saddle compensation will be the wrong way round.

Murray