How to Learn to Play the Left-Handed Electric Guitar

Left-handed guitarists are unique but they can thrive in the music industry and become as successful as their right-handed counterparts.

Learning to play the left-handed electric guitar is similar to learning as a righty, but it does pose some interesting challengers for a budding musician. Though there are left-handed guitar teachers, they are few and far-between, and some right-handed teachers are reluctant to take on left-handed students. Still, whether you have a teacher or not, overcoming the challenges of being a left-handed musician is quite easy, and the biggest problem you'll face after learning a few basic things will be the fact that many cool guitars have to be special ordered for lefties.

Things You'll Need

• Fretboard chart (optional)
• Small gum-free stickers (optional)
• Book of scales or Internet resource
• Chord book with finger positions and beginning theory

Instructions

1. Memorize the notes on your guitars fretboard. There are a variety of different ways to do this, and you might have to try a few approaches before one method sticks. Purchasing or downloading a chart that you can look at while playing can help you learn the notes, though some have a hard time with this approach. Another common method is to simply attach gum-free stickers that have been marked with the appropriate notes beneath the strings on the fretboard, as many find it much easier to learn while looking at their instrument.

2. Learn to read music and tablature. While music reading is the same for left-handed musicians as it is righties, tablature is not the same, and it will appear reversed to you. Still, with just a bit of practice, you will read the notes and finger positions with incredible ease.

3. Learn to play your scales. Scales are an important part of music and they will help you with note memorization. The most commonly used and important scales for new guitarists are the major scale, minor scale, major pentatonic scale, minor pentatonic scale and the blues scale. Learning these common scales will help you to recognize common note combinations and patterns while increasing finger strength, flexibility and independence. Scale patterns are widely available on the Internet and there are countless books dedicated to teaching guitar scales to players of all ages and skill levels.

4. Purchase a chord book for beginning guitarists that shows the finger positions of chords in tablature or musical notation and basic chord theory. Learn the basic chords and begin practicing changing between chords. Practice slowly, making sure you are playing each chord correctly. Learning basic chord theory will teach how chords work, and it will give you the fundamental knowledge needed to advance your skills, particularly if you are interested in songwriting.

5. 

   Practice makes perfect.

   Practice at least one hour per day. While it may be an age-old statement, regular practice is the only thing that will allow you to understand and gain the skills needed to become a better guitarist. Muscle memory is also an important factor in guitar playing, so the more you play, within reason, the better your hands will learn and remember what to do.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are a little embarrassed at the thought of somebody hearing you play poorly while you are learning, consider purchasing a small amplifier or processor that will allow you to listen on headphones while you practice.

References

• Guitar Basics: Essential Chords, Scales, Rhythms and Theory ; Bruce Buckingham; 1998
• Teaching Classroom Guitar; Steven Zdenek Eckels; 2009

Resources

• Gootar: Guitar Scale Generator and Finder
• GuitarChordsMagic: Basic Guitar Chords