Guitarists - Help needed

[mindsquatter]

I'm hopefully going to be learning guitar soon - within the next couple of weeks - and I'm hoping one of the guitarists on the site (I know you're out there) can answer a question.

I'm being given an acoustic guitar by a family member who now plays electric. The only problem is it's right handed and I'm not! Aside from my natural handedness, my HMS limits my right handed playing - little if any strength in my ring and little fingers on left hand - or I'd give it a go.

Anyhoo, I've been trying to find someone who will reverse the strings on the guitar for me, but I've been told that it will alter the tone of the notes ... something about the slant on the bridge I knew the knot would have to be altered so the strings sit right, but I'd never heard anything about the bridge.

Is this a really big problem, or are the shops just trying to angle a sale of a left handed guitar?
Michelle

[firefairy]

My hubby is a left handed lead electric and acoustic guitarist who plays a righ handed guitar. He isnt back form work till half five but he is a pretty good authority on stuff like this so i will ask when he gets back.

[Sez]

My dad is lefthanded with a righthanded guitar. The tone is slightly different to my acoustic, but not so much than a non-guitarist that you play to will notice . It's fairly easy to reverse the strings yourself just watch you don't snap any (as I did the first time I tried - guitar string at speed across your arm is not pleasant!)

[mindsquatter]

I knew the knot would have to be altered

I meant nut - at this point it becomes plainly obvious I'm an utter novice!

It's fairly easy to reverse the strings yourself just watch you don't snap any

You know, it's the last bit of that sentence that worries me . To be honest, I think I'd rather get it done professionally first time, just to be sure it's right! One guitar shop I was in wouldn't restring it for insurance reasons ( ), and that got me worried about doing it myself

Michelle

[firefairy]

Hi Mking30

he got back and this is his advice

The nut needs replaicing completey cause once u take it off its usually ruined, he has done this before himself. The bridge will need completly turning round but this should only be the part where the string rests directly. The slope should be the opposite to right handed, then u should be able to put the stings on after that. he says if u r nervous get it done professionally inclusing the restring. Where are u if u r in the UK a williams store should do this 4 u. We dont know how much it will cost though - hope this helps - if ur ne where near us he could do it 4 u? Oh and he wants to know whether it is steel or nylon string cause all this only applies to nylon, steel u may have a problem.

firefairy

[mindsquatter]

Thanks for the info firefairy. I've found one shop that will do it for about £15 - that includes all new strings - but that doesn't sound much for all the work it sounds like it will need - so I'm going to ring a proper repair guy on Tuesday, and see what he says.

I got the guitar on Friday, and it's really nice. Admittedly, it has no D string, the G is wildly out of tune, and it's strung the wrong way, but curiosity still got the better of me, and I've been 'playing' it all weekend. Can't wait till it's all set up properly though - fingers crossed that's Firday coming

Michelle

[Retro]

I'm interested in how this works out too, my son is left handed and want's to learn to play guitar (it's genetic, my Dad was a guitarist ). We're still contemplating what to do. He wants to learn electric so we're thinking about just getting him a leftie guitar but it's a big outlay if he tries it and changes his mind!

Lindsey

[mindsquatter]

Well, I got the quote off the repair guy - he reckons about £30, but that's for the nut as well as all new strings and labour. I know it's still a really good price, but I did just want a guitar to see if I could do it - as a student £30 is quite a big outlay for something I might not use, especially if I can get a similar job done for half that. Hmm, more contemplation on that one, I think.

I will keep you all updated - either way, it's getting restrung on Friday - I just had to go out and buy a gig bag to take it into town in .

Michelle

[firefairy]

Hi Retro

My husband got told like it or lump it when he was 7 (left handed given a right handed guitar). Many years later he still plays a righthanded guitar very well even if i do say so myself. He feels that he lost nothing in the change of playing hand and if ur son is below teenage years he has a good chance of learnng with no probs.

PS u can pick up an acoustic for about £30 and then move onto electric, in fact he says its better to learn on a nylon acoustic then move to an electric.

thats just his opinion but thought id let u know

firefairy

[Retro]

Hi Firefairy,

I have let him have a wee shot of my Dad's guitar and he tried it both ways round (right handed strat) and preferred it left handed. I'm very conscious of most things being made right handed and I'm trying to avoid forcing him to do things right handed because it tends to be uncomfortable and unnatural to him.

Thanks for the input.

Lindsey

PS. Yes I do own a right handed strat but am not ready to let Mark use it because it was my Dad's and Mark's still a carefree 11 year old.

[mindsquatter]

Ok, time for another really daft, beginner question !

I only have a guitar and a gig bag - that's it. What would you suggest as a kind of 'beginners pack' type thing? I've thought of plectrums and some music books (any suggestions on specifics?), but is there anything else you would recommend as a must? Probably should add, my guitar won't take a strap, apparently.

Thanks
Michelle

[Retro]

A tuner thingymewotsit.

[firefairy]

Other than a tunerthingymwosit - a plectrum holder u can stick to ur guitar (if udont mind doin that) im always loosin them n its much easier to keep track. Yet again dan isnt here so i will have to wait 4 further input but he has a cool scales book in the shape of a guitar neck he uses to teach with. It has all the scales ur gonna want on the guitar neck do no difficult tab or music. What kind of music u after playin im sure hel be able to give some more advise based on that - you also never said whether it was nylon or steel string and you've peaked his interest now

Sorry Retro didnt mean to sound harsh on the whole left handed thing but hubbys parents couldnt afford anything else at the time so thats what happened (it was the early 80's). We were just thinkin if it was hard to afford then thats ur best solusion)
Also 11yr old + strat of sentimental value oh god no

[nonyanomemory]

I know nothing but this link may help guitar.about.com/od/leftyguitar

nonyax

[mindsquatter]

Ah, a tunerthingymwosit - definite must. As I said, when I got the guitar, the G was wildly out of tune, and I can get it darn close, just not quite right.
Picture the scene - me sat on the floor, guitar in hand
1. plays G note on A string (no D string, remember)
2. plays open G string
3. "Nah, too low"
4. twiddles tuning peg
5. repeat 1+2
6. "Nah, too high"
repeat until urge to thwack guitar off floor is almost too strong to resist!

As it stands, the guitar is 3 steel strings (well, technically 2, but I'm sure D was steel too) 3 nylon. I love the resonance the steel gives on the low notes, but I'm not sure if all nylon would be easier for my fingers . I suppose I can get it done one way, then change them if it doesn't work.

I'm not sure if scale books differ left to right handed - I know tab books do, so I'm going to pick up a lefty one of those. As for style of music - if recent experience is anything to go by, Disney! I found an old book we had for the keyboard, and can now play "A spoonful of sugar" "Bare Necessities" and "chim chimeree" . But in all seriousness, I have no idea - I think I'm going to try a couple of different styles and see what I like.

Nonya - thanks for the link. I'd seen some of the guitar.about pages, but I didn't realise they had a lefty link page. That's me set for an afternoon surfing!

Michelle