Left Handed Electric Guitars: What Makes Them Different

By Sarah Shipley

Is always no problem for left-handed people to play guitar because most guitar models are made for those who are right-handed. For this reason, left-handed electric guitars have been becoming more common over the recent years. This is great for anyone who is left-handed, because it allows them to play their favorite instrument more easily. There are some few key differences between the two types besides the fact that they are meant to be played from different sides.

As the name implies, left handed electric guitars are used differently than their right handed counterparts. In such guitars, the strings are attached in the opposite direction, and the thick strings are on the top, with the thin ones near the bottom. The chords and picking styles of this guitar moves from lower notes to higher ones.

Further, it is important to ensure that the nut slots are properly fixed in such a way as to accommodate the reversed order of strings and reduce the possibility of wear and tear. Knobs on left handed electric guitars should be arranged so that they do not affect your drumming, preferably on the lower right hand side of your guitar. The pick guard should be placed below the strings when held in the right direction, in order to keep the guitar body protected while it is being played as well. Cutaways in such guitars should be placed on the lower side so as not to interfere with the musical experience. Also, if a particular model has two cutaways, then the larger one should be on the lower side of the guitar as opposed to the higher end.

Further, the method of holding such guitars is different from the regular ones. Left handed electric guitars are held in such a way that the body of the guitar is in the front and to the right of the musician while its neck reaches out to the left of the musician. The left hand is used to press the strings on the neck while the right hand is used to strum the strings so that a note is produced. This enables a person with a strong left hand to easily play the instrument without having to take the extra trouble of learning to operate one with his or her right hand.

Because left-handed electric guitars can be so different for right-handed variations, it will take even and experience guitar player some time to adjust. If you been playing with a right-handed guitar for some time and are left-handed, and you decide to pick up a left-handed model, that is going to take you a while to get used to. However, after you have practiced with it it will be more comfortable for you use. - 32370

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