# Left-Handed Guitar: Everything Lefties Need to Know > A complete guide for left-handed guitarists - should you play lefty or righty? Left-handed guitars, chord mirrors, and tips for southpaw players. Source: https://guitarwiz.app/articles/left-handed-guitar Being left-handed in a right-handed guitar world creates a decision that right-handed players never face: should you play left-handed or right-handed? And if you choose lefty, where do you find guitars, how do you read chord diagrams, and why does every guitar shop have exactly two left-handed guitars? Here's the complete guide for southpaw players. ## The Big Decision: Left or Right? ### Option 1: Play Left-Handed Play with the fretting hand on the right and picking hand on the left - the mirror image of a right-handed player. **Advantages:** - Feels natural from day one - Your dominant hand controls strumming/picking (arguably the more expressive hand) - No mental translation needed for physical movements **Disadvantages:** - Fewer guitar choices (10-20% of models are available as lefties) - Often more expensive (left-handed models cost more) - Chord diagrams, lessons, and YouTube tutorials are mirrored - Can't easily pick up a friend's right-handed guitar ### Option 2: Play Right-Handed Play on a standard right-handed guitar, using your dominant left hand for fretting. **Advantages:** - Unlimited guitar selection - All learning resources work as-is - Can play any guitar anywhere - Your dominant hand does the complex fretwork (chord shapes, scales, lead playing) **Disadvantages:** - May feel unnatural initially (though all beginners feel unnatural) - Your non-dominant hand handles strumming/picking ### The Recommendation **There's no wrong answer**, but here's the reasoning: If you're a **complete beginner** who has never played guitar, consider trying right-handed first. Both hands start from zero regardless, so there's no "dominant hand advantage" in the early stages. Many famous guitarists who are naturally left-handed play right-handed: Mark Knopfler, Noel Gallagher, Paul Simon, and Gary Moore. If you've **tried right-handed and it feels deeply wrong** - not just unfamiliar, but fundamentally incompatible - play left-handed. Trust your instinct. Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Kurt Cobain played lefty and did okay. ## Left-Handed Guitar Options ### 1. Buy a Purpose-Built Left-Handed Guitar Major brands make left-handed versions of popular models: - **Fender/Squier:** Stratocaster, Telecaster - **Epiphone:** Les Paul, SG - **Yamaha:** FG800 (acoustic) - **Taylor:** Limited left-handed acoustics Online retailers have better left-handed selection than most local shops. ### 2. Restring a Right-Handed Guitar Take a right-handed guitar, flip it over, and restring it with the strings in reverse order. This is what Hendrix did. **Issues:** - The nut slots are sized for specific string gauges - they need to be re-cut - The saddle (acoustic) may need adjustment for intonation - Cutaways are on the wrong side (for electric, you lose upper fret access) - Controls and knobs are in awkward positions ### 3. Play a Right-Handed Guitar Upside Down Play it flipped without restringing - the low strings are closest to the floor. Very unusual and limits your technique, but some players (notably Albert King) made it work. ## Reading Chord Diagrams as a Lefty Standard chord diagrams show the guitar from a right-handed perspective. Left-handed players need to mirror them: **Right-handed C chord diagram:** ``` 1 2 3 4 5 (frets) e|---|----| B|-1-|----| G|---|----| D|---|-2--| A|---|--3-| E|---|----| ``` **Left-handed (mirrored):** Flip the diagram horizontally. The high E string is now on the left, low E on the right. **Tip:** Many online resources offer left-handed chord diagrams. Search for "left-handed chord charts" for correctly oriented references. ## Tips for Left-Handed Players ### 1. Find a Left-Handed Teacher If taking lessons, a left-handed teacher (or one experienced with lefty students) can demonstrate properly without you needing to mentally mirror everything. ### 2. Mirror YouTube Videos Some video players allow you to flip the video horizontally. This turns a right-handed tutorial into a left-handed one. ### 3. Build a Lefty Community Online forums and social media groups for left-handed guitarists are supportive communities that share resources, chord charts, and gear recommendations. ### 4. Don't Let Anyone Tell You You're Wrong Some teachers insist left-handed students play right-handed. If right-handed playing genuinely doesn't work for you, find a teacher who respects your choice. ## Common Mistakes **1. Forcing right-handed play when it doesn't feel right.** Give it an honest try (2-3 weeks), but if it's fundamentally uncomfortable, switch to lefty. **2. Buying the cheapest left-handed guitar.** The limited lefty selection includes some great instruments. Spend $150-250 for a quality starter. **3. Not flipping chord diagrams.** Playing from right-handed diagrams without mirroring leads to incorrect chord shapes. ## Try This in Guitar Wiz Guitar Wiz's **Chord Library** provides clear chord diagrams that you can reference whether you play left or right-handed - use them to verify your mirrored finger positions. The **Tuner** and **Metronome** work identically regardless of which hand you play with. [Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6740015002?pt=643962&ct=article-lefty&mt=8) · [Explore the Chord Library →](/guitar-chords) ## FAQ ### Should left-handed people play guitar left-handed? Both options work. Try right-handed first - if it feels fundamentally wrong after 2-3 weeks, switch. Many famous lefties play right-handed successfully. ### Are left-handed guitars more expensive? Often slightly, due to lower production quantities. However, major brands like Fender, Epiphone, and Yamaha offer left-handed models at reasonable prices. ### Can I just flip a right-handed guitar? You can, but the nut needs adjustment, cutaway access is reversed, and controls may be awkward. A purpose-built left-handed guitar is preferable. ### People Also Ask **What percentage of guitarists are left-handed?** About 10% of the population is left-handed, and roughly the same percentage of guitarists play left-handed. **Did Jimi Hendrix play left-handed?** Yes. He played a right-handed Stratocaster flipped over and restrung for left-handed playing. **Are left-handed guitars hard to find?** Less selection than right-handed, but all major brands offer left-handed models. Online retailers have the best selection.