View Full Version : Switching from left to right
Singh
10-01-2006, 06:37 PM
I've been playing guitar left handed for more then 2 years. Ive been playing bass left handed for about 5-6 months. I've been thinking that i should switch to right handed because now i hate shopping online for left handed instruments. My local music stores do not carry left handed guitars or basses. Its VERY frustrating to find a left handed bass that i like because some models that sound good are very hard to find or overpriced.
Did anyone switch from left handed to right handed? Any tips? I am prepared to start from the basics. How long would it take for me to transition from left to right?
Pluperfect_Arson
10-01-2006, 06:54 PM
That will probably be one of the most awkward transitions anyone could possibly make.
I knew this girl that had a left-handed bass, and I was over at her house one night, so I decided to try it. Boy, that was a horrible decision seeing as my hands were more than confused. My right hand was terrible when it came to fretting, but I slowly progressed into it.
There's no tips that can help you, you're basically going to lose years of playing and have to earn them all back with practice.
blizzard
10-01-2006, 10:29 PM
You can do it if you really want, but don't expect it to be something that will happen quickly. You will need to put in a lot of effort and time to reach the standard you are now.
White_Summer
10-01-2006, 10:42 PM
maybe you should look for a leftporium or something, haha i unno man its gonna take alot of work and dedication
Polyamarous
10-02-2006, 02:29 PM
Good luck man, you'll need it.
mikethecoug
10-02-2006, 03:24 PM
My mate was left handed and started out on a right handed bass.. no idea why but he did alright since he started off with it.
Untitled
10-02-2006, 03:27 PM
My mate was left handed and started out on a right handed bass.. no idea why but he did alright since he started off with it.
He may of been one of these lefties who do everything with there right hand, but write, i know loads of them, either that or he plays righty for economical reasons.
I always wanted to play left handed, it looks hardcore that way, ah well.
If you been playing for a while, i seriously seguest you stick with what you know.
Itll take so long to adjust fully i would reckon.
museic
10-02-2006, 04:41 PM
i would stick with the way you play.. its going to be an awkward step back if you switch... left handed basses are less common but their is still a pretty good range and often the extra price isnt too bad
luckily im one of thsoe lefties that played a right handed bass from day 1 !
Best part of having a left handed bass:
Retard comes up.
"omg can i try ur guitar? i can play smok on teh water lol"
Uhh... no... sorry... I'm sure you're great.. but it's lefty.
No douchebags attempting to "play" your instrument = ftw.
YDload
10-02-2006, 05:19 PM
Best part of having a left handed bass:
Retard comes up.
"omg can i try ur guitar? i can play smok on teh water lol"
Uhh... no... sorry... I'm sure you're great.. but it's lefty.
No douchebags attempting to "play" your instrument = ftw.
Yes, exactly. Don't foresake your left-handedness for something cheaper. It probably means you'll only be as good as every other dork who is just starting out, even though you've had way more experience. Do not lose progress!
josh3184
10-02-2006, 10:25 PM
Ye, the only thing you'll keep is any music theory. And even then you'll probs find yourself playing the wrong scale shapes because of how you are now looking at the neck!
S'up 2 you in the end, but make sure that its something achievable first, i.e. see if you can borrow a really bad right handed bass and practice on it. that way, if you decide to not bother, then you can just revert back without having shelled out loads.
If you cant find good lefty basses, check out warwicks on ebay, there's generally a few goin there that are lefty.
And don't forget, if you go righty then you can't do a back-to-back-but-guitars-both-pointing-to-audience-thingy.
Which looks the secks
mullet0909
10-02-2006, 10:44 PM
you could pull a jimi hendrix and inverse the strings on a righty so u can play left handed on a right handed bass.
lemoley
10-03-2006, 11:59 AM
TS: im left handed and therefore in the same position as you but trust me, its not worth loosing everything you have learnt over the x amount of years you have been playing just so you can buy things easier.
skingle
10-03-2006, 12:04 PM
i would stick with the way you play.. its going to be an awkward step back if you switch... left handed basses are less common but their is still a pretty good range and often the extra price isnt too bad
luckily im one of thsoe lefties that played a right handed bass from day 1 !
Same here. Best decision I ever made? Quite possibly.
Pluperfect_Arson
10-03-2006, 06:38 PM
TS: im left handed and therefore in the same position as you but trust me, its not worth loosing everything you have learnt over the x amount of years you have been playing just so you can buy things easier.
And, with that said, your purchases are definitely not going easier just because they only have so many basses for lefties in production. You have a wider selection by staying with right handed basses.
On the other hand, your purchases could be easier just because there aren't as many to choose from; therefore, you have less GAS. :p
Radiobass81
10-03-2006, 07:34 PM
Don't switch.
Just wait for new gear. I'm guessing you probably don't even have money for the gear you're complaining about anyway, so what's the problem?
Singh
10-03-2006, 07:57 PM
Don't switch.
Just wait for new gear. I'm guessing you probably don't even have money for the gear you're complaining about anyway, so what's the problem?
I've been saving up for the past 2 1/2 months like crazy. I got 750 for a new bass and 400 for f/x and maybe an amp.
lemoley
10-04-2006, 01:29 PM
And, with that said, your purchases are definitely not going easier just because they only have so many basses for lefties in production. You have a wider selection by staying with right handed basses.
On the other hand, your purchases could be easier just because there aren't as many to choose from; therefore, you have less GAS. :p
so your saying being able to choose from any bass you want in your price range is not easy?
:confused:
Radiobass81
10-04-2006, 03:40 PM
I've been saving up for the past 2 1/2 months like crazy. I got 750 for a new bass and 400 for f/x and maybe an amp.
Win some, loose some :-/.
But still, don't do the switch. Try asking the local shops to bring some left-handed models.
But still, don't do the switch.
Find a licensed dealer of a bass company you like (their website should have a search on it or a list of dealers, if not they should) and order your basses in.
Switching you gain a lot more options yes. But you usually lose a hell of a lot of skill (and learn a lot slower starting on a righty). As for people who say it doesn't matter what way you start playing, or that it makes more sense to have the dominant hand on the fretboard, I think that is total bullshit personally.
I'd rather stay lefty and keep my skill, and have no one else play my basses.
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