Left hand vs right handed guitar — which one will better suit my needs? This is a question that often plagues beginner guitarists. The answer, however, is not as cut and dry as you might think. Both left-handed and right-handed guitars have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making a purchase.
Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between left-handed and right-handed guitars and see which one will better suit your specific needs.
The Importance Of Right and Left Hands When Playing Guitar
Even though acoustic and electric guitars can be purchased in both right-handed and left-handed versions, beginner guitarists seldom consider this option. When playing the guitar, the job of a dominant hand is not as clear-cut as it is when playing many other instruments, such as drums.
This is mostly because both hands are burdened with equivalent responsibilities. However, because “expression” is communicated via the picking hand, it is customarily held in the dominant hand when playing the guitar.
Left-Hand vs Right-Handed Guitar: Which Better Suits Your Need?
Fretting Hand
The hand that is placed on the back of the neck is known as the fretting hand (by the frets). The hand that is used to build chords or pluck notes from a scale is the one that is responsible for applying pressure to the strings. Due to the chords and scales that are involved, the application of the fretting hand could appear to be more difficult at first.
Pros Of Fretting Hands:
- Strumming chords
- Iterate through extensive note sequences.
- Makes large stretches
- Easily navigates between individual notes and chords.
The Plucking Hand
The hand that plucks the strings is the one that has to have a firm hold on the guitar pick. It is responsible for playing the chords and plucking the strings in order to play the notes that make up a scale or guitar phrase/lick. Your playing will enhance the effects of subtlety, and the rhythm will be improved.
If you are more comfortable playing with your right hand, the right-handed guitar may be a better fit for you than the left-handed version. Learners who are ambidextrous or left-handed are the ones who will need to give some thought to this matter. Get a left-handed guitar if you’re more comfortable playing with your left hand.
Pros Of Plucking Hand:
- Notes will be plucked fast and precisely.
- Targets with diligence and precision
- Maintains the preciseness of the time.
Why Is Choosing Left Or Right Hand Important?
Most beginners struggle quite a bit to get all the chords together, master scales and note sequences, and execute other techniques. Beginners also spend quite a bit of time trying to figure out how to do these methods.
The approach (soft or firm) of your strumming or picking hand determines how dynamically you are able to play the guitar. As you go through the levels, you’ll become familiar with a variety of methods, including palm muting, pinch harmonics, and harp harmonics, among others.
It doesn’t matter if you play guitar right-handed or left-handed as long as you practice frequently and love the adventure you’re on. Purchasing a guitar that has the “correct” design will guarantee that you won’t accidentally make things more difficult for yourself or later come to regret the choice you made.
Can Lefties Play Right-Handed Guitars And Vice Versa?
Can left-handed people play right-handed guitars? The answer is yes, lefties can play right-handed guitars. Can right-handed people play left-handed guitars? The answer is also yes, righties can play left-handed guitars. The reason why lefties and righties can both play the same type of guitar is that the left hand and the right hand are not as important when playing the guitar.
When it comes to the left hand, it is only used for fretting the strings. The left-hand does not do any strumming, so the handedness of the guitar does not matter when it comes to the left hand. When it comes to the right hand, the right hand is used for both strumming and picking.
Picking is when you use a pick to play the strings. Strumming is when you use your fingers or a thumb pick to play the strings. Handedness does not matter when it comes to either strumming or picking.
So, if handedness does not matter when playing the guitar, why are there left-handed and right-handed guitars? The reason why there are left-handed and right-handed guitars is because some people feel more comfortable playing a left-handed guitar or a right-handed guitar.
Conclusion
So, left hand vs right-handed guitar, which better suits your need? It really comes down to personal preference. Whether you’re left or right-handed, you can learn to play the guitar. Just be sure to try out both options before making your decision!
