The Steel Guitar Forum

Whoa, dude, man, what about Jimi and Kurt?

...Actually I disagree with it being the EASIEST way, aside from accesibility in acquiring an instrument. As I child I had a ukelele kickin' around. I would slap on the uke & cowboy hat that fell halfway down my face and try to be Garth Brooks. Looking back I remember I did hold it lefty. It didn't occur to me until years later when I seriously considered taking up guitar that I was reminded of that, and realized that my natural instinct was to pick it up left-handed. I think it was a wise decision for me to get a lefty guitar and I am convinced that trying to do it the other way would have set me back. Yes, I would have eventually learned, but I'm glad I didn't do that. Additionally, people don't bother manhandling lefty instruments when they visit, or if your at a jam!

I'm brand new to your forum though I've been reading it for nearly a year. I'm chronically left handed and have wanted to play the steel for more than 30 years. Last year I had one made for me (a Pedalmaster that's featured on Mr. Thomas' website) and am in the process of learning. I've played guitar for more than 40 years and own some 15 left-handed instruments. I live in the Memphis area and could sure stand to have an instructor work me through some of the issues of learning this instrument. Also hope to pick up some tips on getting a great tone from the folks that post on this forum.

Bob Cook
Collierville, TN

I too am left handed, but play the steel right handed. I first started out playing the guitar. Since my father who I got my start from is right handed and plays his guitar that way I naturally started out that way. Never tried to change when I picked up the steel. Just seems kind of natural to pick it right handed.

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Mullen Royal Percision D-10 Red Laquar Pearl inlay 8&8
"Life is too short for bad tone".

I am also a "Lefty" and have always played "Righty." In fact, playing steel has made me ABLE to use my right hand! Before I started playing steel, I couldn't even use my right thumb independantly to operate the space bar on a typewriter, and now I can use my right hand quiet easily. And yes, Lloyd and Curley are "lefties", but I didn't know your were too, Winnie. Glad to see your are "right minded."

I am left handed and play right handed, My wife is right handed and still can't put the tolet paper on the stick properly. life was so simple with sears catalog.

Every once in a while this topic pops up and it really gets tiresome. It's great that so many left handed people play instruments right handed but why try and force feed that to everybody else? People are individuals and as such, tend to do what makes them comfortable. If you are comfortable playing righty, good for you, if I'm comfortable playing lefty, good for me. The important thing isn't whether you play steel "lefty" or "righty" but rather, that you play, period!
Years ago, we lived in a right handed world. Such is not now the case. You can walk into most any music store and see left handed guitars etc hanging on the wall alongside right handed instruments. They are made today as a matter of course. When I ordered my D-35 from Martin in 1985, they charged me 20% on top of the price to make it left-handed and I waited 3 months for it. Now, Martin as well turns out lefty instruments as a matter of course, with no surcharge.
There are also some builders who will make a left-handed steel, while others won't. That is their choice and far be it for us or anybody else to try to change them. So why try changing the person who has an interest in playing this instrument from what, to him/her is natural just because so and so plays that way?
Instead of encouraging them to change, encourage them to learn to play, whichever way they feel most comfortable doing!

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

I'm a southpaw, but I play everything right-handed. I also bat and throw right-handed, but I shoot with my left hand(off the left shoulder), and my strongest punch is my left.
Any of you guys ever try to use a butter knife left-handed??

I am left handed but play instruments right handed. When I was very young I would hold a guitar left handed but when I got serious with playing I turned it around and learned right handed. I write, eat, shoot, swing a bat or club left handed but I throw, bowl right handed. Pretty mixed up.
Jerry

Graham, I don't see anyone here saying you should do anything except have fun. If you don't like the topic, pass it on by. We're all having a good time.