The Pros And Cons Of Learning The Guitar UPSIDE DOWN
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- The Encyclopedia Of Nobody Telling You That You're Holding The Guitar Wrong For 7 Years - Vol 1
My music + social medias: linktr.ee/Benn...
Miche Fambro, a BRILLIANT upsidedowner! • Miche - As You Let Me ...
#guitar #lefty #jazz #unorthodox #upsidedown
i'm a bassist, and we in the bass community have accepted people like you long ago
agreed.
Y'all RULE!
I don't even think there would be a problem.
Some of y’all are fascinated by it and others say we’re weird.
inverted slap bass gets absolutley wild
I am also a left-handed guitarist who plays with the strings 'upside down'. I am a recreational player and I have been playing this way since I started many years ago. I own several left-handed guitars which I have restrung in the preferred 'upside down' way after changing the nut to a right-handed one. I learned to play by using mostly inverted bar chords wherever feasible. I gratefully found this video just recently and am pleased to read the comments from so many who also play as I do. My favorite guitar is my right-handed Dean Frana which allows me to reach the higher frets pretty easily. I just wanted to add my story to this forum and share my appreciation for this video as well as those talented and creative lefty musicians who have added theirs as well. Best wishes and thanks to you all!!
I'm also left-handed but I play "right-handed guitar" but to me it makes sense because for me to use my dominant hand on the fretboard.
Same, I wanted more dexterity on the frets, the less dominant hand could hold the pick. Tried a left handed guitar before I started learning and it felt so unnatural to me. To be fair I'm not as left-dominant as some.
I do the same. I tried both and playing the "Right handed" way felt more natural to me. Has the advantage of not having to track down left handed versions of guitars too.
yes, same right here. just started learning the 'normal' way and didnt have any problems.
Same
I play a middle handed piano
Hardcore lefty here and I tried learning right handed, but my brain and nervous system just couldn't jive with it. Once you become fluent with guitar, the instrument somehow becomes a part of you in that you aren't consciously thinking about every note or chord you are about to play. I just couldn't get it hardwired into me right handed after a few years of (failed) practice. If I shelled out the extra dough for a lefty guitar, I might have actually enjoyed it.
Jive??? How old are u ..
@@LostScvng I mean like 80 percent of people who play guitars and look at guitar videos are old people. My dad is a prime example lol
I think what confuses people about the whole "Jimi Hendrix style" thing is that while he didn't play the guitar upside down, he was playing a right-handed guitar (that was strung upside down) left-handed, which would then make the strings be the "correct" way. So technically the guitar was upside down, but his playing wasn't - if that makes any sense.
You've brought up the point of left-handed models being less available and sometimes even more expensive, but wouldn't taking a left-handed model and stringing it upside down solve at least the controls and cable cons? Might also be a bit more ergonomic, depending on the body shape.
Also, I'm strictly in the "it's not 'wrong' if it works for you" camp. What matters is the music that's being played, not whether you hold the guitar the right way or not.
The thing is, when you play upside down, you have to make at least 1 modification to any guitar. If you buy a right-handed guitar, you have to get a strap post put on the opposite side if you wanna play standing up. If you buy a left-handed guitar, you'll still have to get the fingerboard nut reversed or carved out more so you can put the strings the opposite way.
@@forcetheedges Actually when it comes to the guitar strap, you can wrap it around your waist like Steve Albini.
You're also likely to file at least one (I'm thinking four) notches in the nut, if not replace the nut altogether. You might need to also add some material for the larger notches so the small strings wouldn't ring in the large notches if you didn't replace the nut.
I read that Hendrix would do the re-strung thing typically, but when he was learning because of his dad being superstitious he'd flip the guitar upside down back to its original orientation and play right handed, but otherwise it'd be upside down, so he knew how to play Restrung left, restrung right (probably) reverse left, reverse right which is pretty insane
@@sekanoms yeah, you can find videos of Hendrix doing both.
Shout out to MONONEON, a mad bassist from Memphis. He plays bass inverted, including the strings being upside down. He plays with Ghost Note, Prince back in the day, as well as other projects and solo stuff. He has such a unique style, and does his own thing at every opportunity. He experiments with microtonality, Indian ragas and rhythms etc so you're never sure what he'll come up with.
Even without playing inverted he'd be a terribly unique musician, but the strings just mean he does crazy things few bassists could replicate, like the big bends (pulling instead of pushing) in your video. Seeing him slap is weird, his hands are all over the place.
He's got this manifesto that he shows at the end of each video which I find endearing. He's a really driven guy who does things his own way, check him out.
Yes! He plays guitar (inverted) in some videos too.
Damn right, that guy is a wizard!
Lmao as a bass player for 10 years, it took me a while to know what you meant about the slap, I actually had to see a video to notice that this means he is POPping the LOW strings and SLAPping the high ones lol, pure madness
The bass community already got their shit together when it comes to right handed bias years ago
I play the same bro. The struggle is real. Like you said "you're doing it wrong" and " you'll never get anywhere playing like that." But then i got in a band back in the late 90s i ruled the entire local music scene here in my neck of the woods. So to hear/see your testimony was quite refreshing. I need to start posting some vids of me shredding VH note for note. Anyway i subscribed to your channel. Rock on!!!
I also play this way and have for over twenty years.
A big realization I had a few years ago is that most people are used to hearing chords strummed from the low strings to the high strings. I used to play chords mainly strumming down (for us) but I realized if you play chords strumming up (from the low strings to the high strings), it sounds more like what people are used to hearing. It's a subtle thing but it makes a big difference. I hope that makes sense because it's kind of hard to explain.
This is a great video! I never realized there were so many people that played the same way we do.
Also, a few years ago, I bought a left handed guitar and had the guitar store re string it and set it up upside-down. It was a huge game changer for all the problems you discussed at the beginning of the video (cable placement, pick up changer and volume knob). I HIGHLY recommend doing this. But you have to have someone who knows what they are doing set it up because it will have an effect on intonation unless done properly.
That kinda means that if you want to sound "normal" you have to learn an inverted strumming pattern.
@@mal2ksc oh totally, I don't mean it to sound that way. I love the way we play and how many new options it gives us. But I'm just talking about playing covers or regular old songs, it's just something to think about. Because regardless of it is more conventional or not, I personally think that many basic chords sound better strummed from bigger strings to smaller strings. Trust me, I love playing weird, dissonant stuff with weird inversions so please don't take my comment to mean that I'm trying to sound like everyone else. The older I get, the more I'm grateful that I learned this way because it almost forces you to sound unique and makes you think of the guitar completely differently than most people. Cheers.
I am an upside down guitarist (originally right side up) and your video really resonates with me. So some things I have found:
1. Cables: use a right angle cable into the guitar and a low strung guitar like a GS, Les Paul, hell even a flying V if that's your thing.
2. Pull in Pull Out pots, you could try and get a guitar with only two pots (difficult because you want a guitar with more than two pots!), failing that, you will eventually get use to it and not pop them back in unexpectedly or accidentally turn your own volume down during your grand solo with you forearm. For the pickup switch you can cut / shave down the plastics toggle to reduce protrusion and hence danger!
3. Another thing it that upside guitar has got me on the quest for symmetric guitars... to gain full access to the upper frets. GS's or double cut Les Pauls work well and of course a flying V if that's your rock! Always looking for more ... especially acoustics. Only one I have found is the pathmaker by wechter, but trying to find one to buy ... very difficult!
Thanks for doing 'you belong to me'. I used to be able to play it when I could play right handed, never got round to work out how to play it upside down. So food for thought.
Thanks again and looking forward to more insights.
I've been playing upside down for 46 years. Love to watch you play thanks wish I had you when I was younger to learn from
Nice to see a whole bunch of other left handed people who play guitar the same as I do. I'm not that good a guitarist but only play for fun at campfires and now a lot at home due to covid. I learned the basic chords from an old hippy on Venice Beach in the summer of 1980. I live on the east coast but was out there for the summer. The hippy guy was on a bench every day with his guitar and I liked to sit and listen. Told him I wanted to learn and he said go down the street and buy a cheap little guitar which I did. So the next day I went to sit with him and I held the guitar the way it felt natural to me, with the low E at the bottom. He looked at me and said oh ok you're left handed. He had me sit across from him and that way it was very easy to follow where to put my fingers to make chords.
Fast forward ten years I tried to find a guitar teacher and when the guy saw the way I played he said you will have to play a modified restrung guitar or no teacher will take you. Since I wasn't interested in making a career of it I decided to just stick with my way as I could already play enough chords to make campfires and house parties fun. Here we are I'm almost sixty and still playing the same way. I'm still not that great, still strain to do a G, F, and C. I'd like to learn some finger style on my own but really don't know where to look to get started. Thanks for posting your video it made me feel like less of a freak. Almost every time someone sees me pick up a guitar they say "wtf" you're doing it wrong. 🤔
To answer the question about Travis picking upside down, Elizabeth Cotten played it successfully by playing alternating bass on low strings with index and middle finger, playing melody with thumb. Her song "Freight Train" is very popular in Travis picking style playing.
Elizabeth Cotton, the original:
ruclips.net/video/IUK8emiWabU/видео.html
This comment changed my life. Thank you 🙏🏾
I've been playing upside down for 20 years. Left-handed, self-taught, and didn't know any better. I mainly play riffs with inverted power chords (a perfect fourth interval) which is a convenient shape because it's 2 strings on the same fret. Power chords in general sound different because you're striking the higher note first as you strum downwards. I've found that most Ibanez guitars have a neutral body shape that works OK for holding upside down. On the other hand, Les Paul style guitars don't work at all - try putting a strap post on that little pointy part and your center of gravity is gonna be way off, the guitar neck will be pointing towards the floor (speaking from experience, unfortunately!)
I lived with a dude who played left handed. I used to sit with his guitar and play it right handed and upside down. It's actually not that much different, and it helped me see the fretboard as an x and y axis, rather than just an x.
Nice to see someone else that plays as I do ( and yes I’m quite a bit older than you 😊).Ive managed to make quite a nice career out of it this way and it’s even had its advantages so no regrets. 😊👍🏻💁🏼♀️
I’m a lefty and I’ve been playing inverted for about 17 years now. I’m glad I found your channel. I honestly don’t know and haven’t seen many people that play like I do
BENN! jesus man, i've played all my life reversed and always felt like a weirdo. found less than a handful of other artists playing like this and i always felt weird about it! it's kinda nice seeing you playing reversed as well.
I have played the same way too for about 35 years. I really got into funk after I had been playing for around 10 years but couldn’t slap. I tried restringing the bass so I had the E up top, and while it was tricky at first I managed to get pretty good at it. Give it a try
I’ve been playing this way for my entire life & have found it to be a blessing and a curse. I’ve never met someone who played like me though, and it’s nice to see there are so many people out there. There should be a Reddit or some other community to share tips, lessons, and ideas for this way of playing 🏓🦆
That’s a great idea!
Benn, this video was awesome! I've been playing upside down and backward for about 40+ years, so I can really relate to what you are saying. Regarding your mention of Miche Fambro, I was very saddened to hear that he passed away in December 2020 from liver cancer. He was truly extraordinary and an inspiration for "backward' players such as us. I can only marvel at Miche's amazing skill and virtuosity. You, sir, are also an inspiration to me. Thank you for explaining and validating our unique style of playing with your excellent commentary. I've always wondered how many of "us" are out there, so it's refreshing (and reassuring) to have come across your video. Thanks so much!
So glad to have found this video!! I started learning guitar a couple years ago, and only once i started did I realize I was playing it upside down. Having already taught myself piano, I was determined to learn guitar the "right way." I found it so frustrating and felt such shame I just put it away. Here I am two years later ready to begin again, and your video has given me the confidence to do it my way.
As a guitar teacher one of my first students was a lefty playing inverted. She also had a withered left hand and suffered from a palsy. The first question she asked me was "do you think I can do this", I said "Django Reinhardt - look him up". I told her that her unique approach and challenges would give her an individual voice and that she should NEVER give up. I absolutely was not "just teaching her for the money". I honestly relished the opportunity to do things in an unorthodox way (I strung a guitar upside down for her lesson so I could do what she was doing). It was awesome.
This summer will be year 30 for me of inverted playing. I started playing as a counselor at a summer camp. All the 'cool guys' played guitar during worship, and I wanted to play as well. Being a summer camp employee out in the boon docks, and no money or time to find a left handed guitar, I picked up a right handed one and never looked back. I get all the weird looks and hard to answer questions as well, use to it though. My wife just bought me a Martin OOO-28 for Christmas! Can't put it down.
Congrats on the Martin!
gotta admit... of all the videos you've made, Benn, this has to be one of my favorites. Interesting, thoughtful, inspirational, and unique.
I am left handed, and always wanted to play the guitar. My kids bought me a "normal" one years ago. I pick it up once in a while, and have always done so upside down, and just "mess around" but this video makes me want to take it more seriously
Really interesting! Whilst I play "normal" left-handed on my own guitars, being left handed has meant I've got pretty good at playing on other people's right-handed guitars "upside down"
This is a great video to give me some pointers on how to learn to play my right handed guitars left handed after playing right handed for a few decades. I will get a left handed guitar as well with the strings not upside down, so far trying to play lefty is a great experience to see what it feels like to start all over from the beginning on guitar in all aspects, picking, fretting, synchronization, clarity, tone, bending, strumming, even just holding the guitar in the most basic way, so much is taken for granted after just knowing it.
I've been thinking about this, and I think that I have another PRO to add to your list of pros.
Because you learned a whole different canon of muscle memory skills, a different set of licks, shapes, and chord and harmony patterns, you are yourself more. It's very unlikely that your enigmatic style will lead you to sound like someone else.
In short, your unique style and enigmatic choices are part of your greatness and uniqueness as a musician. In short, the more enigmatic we are, the less likely it is that we will go along with the flow, and be "also rans" in our musical world.
I think that part of the reason I would caution people from emulating you is not that what you're doing is wrong, or right, or better or worse. It's just that the best way to Emulate you, if you will, is to NOT emulate you. You are a unique person, and nobody should emulate you, or anybody else. Emulate YOURSELF. Find your own paths, people. Benn is awesome. Now go be awesome your own way.
I play inverted as well. My mom got me a guitar when I was 8. It was right handed and I'm a lefty. Glad to see there's others out there. One thing, with the G chord, I use my middle finger to hit the 3rd fret on the high E string. Using my thumb felt uncomfortable.
i'm a lefty too and i like your video. you go into the back history of your evolution of lefty playing. tried playing guitar years ago before but, did not get better and quit. now i'm trying again and hope i suceed this time.
Benn - I started as a drummer in my early teens. My home was where my band practiced, so amps and guitars were frequently left there. I would pick up those guitars (and bass guitars) and try to write/learn music. Being left handed, I just started playing in a way that was comfortable to me and I never stopped. Still playing upside-down and backwards 41 years later :)
My story exactly.
My dad is right handed but i'm left handed and every now and then i used to play on his guitars. Because of this i ended up playing upside down and now can't change it lol
I’ve been playing guitar most of my life and never realized that people play upside down. I’m going to have to try it tomorrow. It seems so difficult. Came to your video after watching Eric Gales play upside down
i am a lefty and oddly enough have been able to find left-handed models that suited my desires and pockets through life, starting with a super cheap Stagg’s “strat”, moving to Cort X-2 super-strat later, eventually (skipping a few models) even was able to find a decent 7-string super-strat-ish Shekter without having to rob a bank. I would say it’s a pain in the ass with each new purchase, but the experience shows that there are really ways to find what you’re looking for if you dedicate yourself to this goal.
and while i really enjoy playing my instruments without destroying the 1/4” cables and moving the knobs while recording stuff or playing a scheduled gig, it’s often not the case if hanging out with a group of fellow musicians and in randomly occurring jams of any kind, where my guitars are not available and the only option is to play someone’s. so due to this in parallel to non-inverted playing i happened to learn the inverted playing as well. basically it’s the same direction of the fretboard for both (to the right - “left-handed” way) but the strings placement are opposite for each way.
i can’t say that it was that much hard to learn the basis of inverted perception to be able to operate the fretboard with upside down strings on top of regular left-handed playing, though everything you say as pros/cons is highly relevant to my experience for me as well. but it’s kinda interesting more than anything else - it’s sotra alternative approach to my main and favourite instrument and actually positively challenging one, so I usually find myself immersed into the process during those random jams with inverted right-handed guitars.
really, i would encourage you to at least give a shot to the process of finding a more/less satisfying left-handed guitar just to have it and occasionally give yourself an experience of “conventional” performance, i’m sure you’d have a great time and inspirational experience with it, even if it wouldn’t replace your go-to inverted style eventually
anyway, it’s a great and detailed video about a very specific and niche subject, i appreciate this kind of content a lot! great job, it was a pleasure to watch, my man 🙌🏼
Benn thank you. I've never seen anyone else who plays like me.... well... us...lol. I'm 60 and have taught myself how to play inverted. Your video has given me hope to explore more chords and play lead. I've been in bands that play mostly country and classic rock.
i am right handed and i use a right handed guitar upside down. it has always just made more sense to me and feels way more comfortable
Buster Odeholm of Humanity's Last Breath is a good metal example of an upside player, he uses a drop tuning to help with power chords and tunes the 2 highest strings a half step apart creating some interesting sounds especially with the more powerful bends.
great band
I've been watching your channel for years. And I've been listening to Flashbulb for years. And I've just now realized that you are Flashbulb, one of my favorite musicians! Damn :)
A friend of mine from high school is a lefty and he grew up playing like you so he could seamlessly use the instruments of his older brothers (who were right-handed). However, once they gave him his own guitar strung in the traditional way (for a lefty), my friend ended up becoming way more used to the traditional fingerings, although to this day he can play the other way. I can't help thinking that was mostly just because he got way more invested in practicing once he got his own guitar. Now I'm curious to ask him a bit more about the whole transition.
So excited to watch this video. I am a south paw and also play upside down. I only learned a few cords (can't read music) and thought I would never be able to play any other cords, until I saw you play. Do you know of any instruction manual that shows the cords upside down? I'm over 70, but would love to find instructions on how to finger different cords upside down.
I looked up your video wondering whether this (logical) option for left handers was widespread or not. I’m astonished that anyone finds it “wrong”, “odd” or even “exceptional”. Thanks for the video!
I'm an orthodox lefty and the discrimination against lefty players has just the weirdest and most miserable energy there is.
As a fella lefty, I play guitar left-handed (curse you Paul Mc) and strings traditionally strung. BUT, this limits you to the back right corner of Guitar Center and its collection Indonesian Squires. Your method opens you up to the WHOLE WALL of top end guitars... a definite PRO.
Benn, this was a fascinating video for me. i started playing upside down at age 14 [my sister's guitar], and for 3 years struggled with all the difficulties and limitations. but in your video you didn't even mention the "con" which which was most difficult and bothersome for me back then: properly strumming upstrokes and downstrokes when playing simple rhythm guitar. it took me a while to even figure out why i didn't sound right. i wasn't even thinking about picking and playing lead at that point in time.
at age 18, i made the decision to take guitar seriously and buy one of my own, and i decided to buy a lefty guitar {like Hendrix, McCartney, et all] and have never looked back.
about 30 years later, when RUclips was created, i learned of a whole world of amazing upside down players like yourself, Elizabeth Cotton, Otis Rush, Doyle Bramhall, etc. you impressed me with your upside down picking styles. lead work is understood. But one thing i notice is that i don't see any of you playing full and normal rhythm playing, no hybrid picking, not even walking bass lines. is that just because it's all easy and taken in step so you didn't even mention it as a "con", or am I correct that all those things are indeed difficult for an upside down player?
the blending of lead and rhythm which Hendrix did is inconceivable to me upside down.
For those few left handed guitarists who have simply turned over a right handed guitar and playing it upside down (inverted)...you could play like that and keeping struggling with the cord and the switches and not being able to reach the higher frets for soloing....
Or you could use your loaf and get yourself a left handed guitar and restring it backwards.
You will have to get a new nut and also have it intonated and set up by a shop.
It will solve many problems for you.
*No more damaged cords
*No more moving switches
*Easier to play because once the guitar is intonated, the strings will be the correct lengths
*No more scratches on your guitar because the scratch plate will be in the correct place to protect it.
*Much easier access to the higher frets for soloing.
*And lastly, you will be playing your way, the upside down backwards way but playing on a guitar that was made for your ergonomics. Like the belly cut and the carves to rest your arm, and all that malarky.
So if you are too far into playing upside down to change your playing now, then don't change. Just play upside down but at least do yourself a favour and make the playing easier for yourself.
Hopefully this advice will convince you to get a left handed guitar but restring it to solve some of those problems.
I'm a fellow lefty trying to help your playing be a little bit easier.
When I first started, I learned on a right handed guitar, the traditional right handed way cos I couldn't find a left handed guitar. A year into playing that way, I was getting pretty good but then I did find a left handed guitar (paid over 30% more than the exact same right handed guitar) and started over as a lefty.
If I had seen this video back when I was a thirteen year old, (late seventies vhs era) I would probably have saved myself a lifetime of frustration as a lefty and followed your lead with those strings. Inspiring.
I'm left-handed and I struggled many years to start practice, had some failures. I am hyped now.
This makes me feel so much better about me playing upside down. tysm!!!
Hi Im 55 and been playing both right and left strung guitarist since I was a kid. I went to lefty strung for fingerpicking and like you was mostly one finger one thumb. Playing inverted definitely gets the thumb working really well. Great site well done Benn. Subscribed :)
Thanks a bunch for talking about this, not a lot of people talk about alternative playingstyles let alone playing left handed. Just got a right handed guitar that I was going to flip the nut on. Now I think it will stay a my topsy-turvy guitar
As a guitarist I will say this, at a bare minimum, learn where your root notes are, learn your intervals, and you can figure out from there what the notes are that you need to play. Playing strung upside-down, would certainly open up new possibilities, so by all means keep doing it if it helps you express who you are as an artist. Learning Notation, charts, tablature, etc... I have no problem with if you feel it will help you. At least give it a try and see if it's for you or not. I've always been an ear guy, but I'm glad I took some theory classes as well as classical guitar, which forced me to learn to read the notation. I only use the stuff I feel I need, but it was a good experience for me to learn whether or not I needed any of it.
Left-handed player here. When I started, it was the right-hand way on borrowed guitars. Then, once I got my own it was so much better, even if I had to relearn. And then at some point I remember learning a song from tabs off that internet thing. Which I had read upside-down by error. So I might be a lefty player, but from that point onward, I had that reverse power-chord I could pull on righty guitars when someone would pass me theirs.
More recently, I made a 4-string fretless oil-can banjo for/with my daughter. And since it's laying around closer than my guitars, I often end up playing with it, reverse. (she's a righty, good for her!)
I play the guitar inverted too. Thanks cos I was thinking of giving up. I can't fully rotate my left wrist so this style suits me. Although I'm right handed. Best wishes to you.
Hey fellow lefty! Interesting video. I'm a lefty too, though I play the "right way" for a left handed player. Before I got my own guitar I would play my mom's right handed guitar sometimes, and my natural inclination would to be flip it upside-down and fret with my right hand. When I got my first guitar, though, it was a lefty, so I can play it normally. I can pretty decently play a right handed guitar upside-down though like you do if I'm in a situation where I don't have my own around. It's a pretty useful skill to have if you're a lefty who plays guitar lefty.
I'm a lefty, but as a very young child was given the advice to learn right handed on a traditional right handed guitar. Having access to more instruments and having them fit as intended has been a huge plus, and as well as using my dominant hand for the more intricate fret work. But I do feel it held me back rhythmically, at least in the beginning. Great video on how this impacts the mechanics and also a testament to how adaptive humans are. BTW - I use many of the same chord voicings you prefer.
I play traditional, but halfway through this video, I’m gathering that practice and critical thinking is the way to learn to play. Style comes naturally, and those “shortcuts” will be found by any attentive player. Keep fighting the good fight. Thanks!
I'm right-handed and I likely would've ended up playing lefty if it weren't for my sister. What sparked my interest in guitar was guitar hero. I started getting back into the game around 3 to 5 years ago. I played by myself so I played how I felt most comfortable, which was right hand on frets, left hand on the bridge. I started getting kinda good when my sister told me that I was holding the guitar wrong. Then it all made sense why I had to enable "lefty" to play guitar hero with the way I held the guitar. It was weird at first but pretty quickly I caught up to where I was previously. Just a kinda interesting story. I've been playing guitar for about 2 or 3 years now.
I’m lefty and play a lefty, but I continually get told I’m an evil freak against nature and there is no such thing as left handed people. Not entirely sure how it affects anyone else, I’ve managed to buy a nice collection of unusual guitars, and I have made music I’m proud of. At the end of the day it’s a tool and any way you can get music out of it and are happy is great. It you hold a hammer weird to hammer nails and it works then great, the only time it’s bad is when you use the hammer to hit people.
This is rather obvious, so I'm suspecting a rather obvious con to it that I don't see... but have you tried cables with angled plugs? Wouldn't that solve the problem of breaking cables and your ribs being bruised?
I have progressed to buying left-handed guitars and having a luthier set it up with right-handed stringing. It's mandatory for single-cutaway models and desirable for double-cutaways so the volume/tone knobs don't eat into your forearm.
Can't you buy a 90 degree cable? That way the cable is out of the way and it should reduce wear 😁
Such smising in the thumbnail!very very hawt (the old school meaning) 😆
If you want to play the Mandolin then stringing the car reverse will work well for you. The tuning is identical but not the low to high pitch sequence. The chord shapes on a mandolin are identical to playing a guitar upside down. I'm a bassist who used to play a bit of mandolin.
Lol made that comment on your other video and saw this! that is really cool man! Alleviates the hunt for left handed guitars and other stringed instruments, can just get the instruments that speak to you! Cheers again from a fellow lefty!
Correction: Jimmy Hendrix wasn't actually left handed, the reason he played "left handed" style (on an upside down right handed guitar restrung left handed style) was because he recognised (or at least believed) that the historical technique of using your dominant hand for plucking and your slower hand for fretting was actually wrong and that using your "fast" hand where you needed the speed most was a superior way of playing any guitar.
I actually think the fact you play inverted is really awesome. It just goes to show how personal a musical instrument really is.
Here's one for you. I am totally left handed, but I have to play right handed. It's the only way it feels natural. If I have to write, it's always left handed. If I hold a baseball bat either way feels natural.
Man, somebody got his wiring messed up, and as a kid I never thought about it. Anyway, I'm glad you persevered. I enjoy watching your videos. Thanks
Man, you didn't mention the drawback of not being able to play Chuck Berry properly! Seriously.
I play the same way and just discovered you. Looking forward to checking out more, I can see I'll learn new ideas. I love the positivity and confidence.
(speaking of which- I want to see you run to the other room and come back able to bust out some Travis picking :))
I was one of those in the whatever camp. I play a few instruments the right way, but badly. If I had needed to accommodate different technique I might have ended up being more creative - who knows. I'm actually much more interested in the story of your left eyebrow!
A woman named Elizabeth Cotten (1895-1985) also played a normal guitar left handed, strung 'normal' for right handed play, her style was known as Cotten Picking style. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cotten
I'm 69 years old and have been playing upside down and backwards since I was about 8. I play both bass and rhythm I got my first guitar that fancy sears guitar with the amp built into the case🤗 I have played professionally as well. My only issue I ever ran into is I have short fingers and I gave problems with a lot of the more intricate chords but playing a mix style of finger and bar chords I can play most anything. I switched to 90 degree plugs and fixed my jack problems I would screw a little piece of felt to my guitar using the nut and washer holding the female jack. No more scratches! My basses were never a problem I play a lot of runs in my style of rock and country.
A dude I knew played like this. He said it was from holding the guitar up to “mirror” what he saw on TV (ace frehley?) as a little kid. I found it fascinating. Cool video.
I'm thankful i found this video and your channel. For years i been told i was stupid and should give up guitar playing being i'm a left handed player myself. Like i understand the majority of guitar playing is right handed style but for me my left hand has always been my dominant playing hand with more accuracy than my right hand on a guitar.
Playing right handed bass is no issue being that's finger style, but guitar for me is always going to be left handed odd enough.
OMG lowky happy asf you brought this to attention. My name is Hendrix (yes birth name and no no corolation to my playing style) and I've been playing this way since just about forever, I too have been mocked for using such a style in the early stages of me learn but when you get good enough people don't really notice, let alone care!
Just want to suggest here:
"Wallis Bird" is a female Guitarist from Ireland, I think. She also plays upside down and is a killer musician. her channel don't has the reach she deserved in my opinion.
She's not that good. All her songs sound pretty much the same, guitar wise, and her lyrics are too cliched on the virtue signaling front. Maybe that's why.
Was given an right handed guitar and I am left-handed , I never played a string instrument, so I find it interesting that it is possible and people do play up side down thx 😊 for being on online ,58 yrs and retired and now time to learn
Pro #4 is instant Albert King! Thanks for answering my question too, Chapman or Warr should totally send you something.
I'm in the club!! Only famous guitarists I know who play like this are Dick Dale, Rosco Martinez, and just learned today that Seal plays like this. Of course Hendrix, but only early on and he later transitioned to lefty strung.
Like most people I taught myself to play this way because the only guitar available to me was right handed and it would have pissed it's owner off if I switched the strings. It was pure necessity mothering invention. Over time Iearned a LOT of chords, to fingerpick, to play fast leads, chicken pick, etc. If I were to do it again knowing what I now know I would teach myself the traditional way but that ship sailed decades ago. No regrets. I sound a little different that most people and everyone in my world likes to hear me play. And I always liked how I could hit the low E and A strings harder on the downstroke and upstroke without hitting the higher string by accident. Gives a strong chunky feel to some tunes.
Elizabeth Cotten played that way
Damnit that's such an awesome story ; now I know what to reply when the kids students I have will ask "can you play guitar upside down ?"
Thank you so much for sharing !
I am a lefty, playing it backwards for well over 15 years, and unless you point it out, MAYBE 1 out of 100 people notice .
But I've never had anyone take it away from me... that's so odd.
And yeah---Peop[e do not understand that once you learn a lot playing inverted, you can't just play a lefty np--that it brings you back to square one, total re-learn.
Thanks for pointing out so many obscure inverted players. Before this all I could name was Albert King, who out of necessity, used Flying V's (because you can access the high frets -- most body shapes IE Les Paul block it)
For sure! I started learning at 18 and now 60. No way in hell I’m starting over learning to play a non inverted properly strung lefty guitar. I play just for my own enjoyment so no point in getting frustrated with relearning chords. I’ve never even picked up a lefty guitar.
I played the same way most of the time..previously I played on righthanded but since I am lefty person I decided to play on left. I have to admit that at first I got some problems. In terms of selection of guitar, strings and techniques. I have to set up my guitar too often..but now I appreciate my decision to play on that way 20 years ago until now..I am totally comfortable with it..
I learned to play both ways left handed. I used to only have a left handed acoustic guitar. The bass player in a band I was a part of also had a right handed electric. This led to me playing most of the rhythm stuff on my regular lefty acoustic, and playing lefty inverted for more challenging lead stuff on his electric. Eventually I got my own lefty electric and learned to play all those scales on a regular lefty guitar. Years later I am significantly more comfortable on a lefty but can still play right handed if there is a jam session or something at a bar and someone let's me borrow their RH guitar.
I think it is totally mind boggling and cool! So, I'd like one of those jerseys.
7:30 - Angled jacks are very good friends for everyone. Not just inverted :) as for the knobs, yes it's true that the lefthanded market has much less variety, however, that's where the customshops come in. Or you get a body kit and do it yourself.
9:41 - But the top strings are normally those you can mute a lot better with your picking hand than the bottom strings? So why is it a problem here, as the same principle applies?
10:11 - the same can be achieved for regular players, if they change their tuning :) Speaking of tuning, how well do you fare with inverted Open tunings? In general, for all kinds of players, different tunings are a treasure trove for new styles and chords.
15:01 - YES. TABS ARE KILLING YOUR GAINS :)
20:41 - have you tried those picks where they sit on a ring on your thumb?
In conclusion, for "effect" I would rather learn inverted guitar instead of going traditional lefty for ambidexterity. Because then you can use the same instrument, flip it on your lap, and just keep playing. Despite knowing that learning inverted is going to be more difficult because I cannot "mirror" the movements.
PS: why are many of your videos that I watched look like they have a very compressed and flat color correction? Is that a conscious decision to pop out more uniquely or is your monitor giving you a false response :)
This is such an amazing story, thanks for sharing. Thanks also to that Grandfather and Cousin.
I'm so glad a fellow gen Xer is shouting out this topic! I've been playing this way since 1985. Are there any method books for us that aren't homemade?
Another upside down lefty here. I’ve been buying left handed guitars and heavily modifying them for years. Lately I’ve taught myself how to play left handed with the strings set correctly. Post some more videos of your music!
I know ive seen other artists that play the guitar inverted, but at the top of my head I can't think of a name. But on bass there's Mono Neon. He he has developed a very unique style, and i dig it.
Commenting 3 years too late because I’ve just found this video BUT also a lefty, who initially learned upside down until my uncle noticed and restrung my guitar for me, but can still play upside down.
It was always great at party’s:
“Hey you play guitar, play us a song!”
“Nah can’t, I’m a lefty and that guitars right handed”
Or
Drunk guy playing about a girl badly in the corner over and over again, pick up right handed guitar and rip out Emperors ‘I am the black wizards’ upside down.
This is how I've always played ...my brother said I could use his but I couldn't flip the strings. I never switched when I got my own ..
I'm a bassist and I'm right handed and play with the strings upside down...I'm really unique because all I've seen are lefties, but I play both ways. Inspiration came from curiosity because 2 friends who play guitar (lefties) upside down. It's got pros and cons for sure. In my head, it makes more sense backwards, but technique has many alterations that have to be done.
Thank you...very encouraging for we, the lefties...when I was starting, buying a left hand guitar was not in the cards. Learning scales patterns in every key is a bigger challenge for any player, left or right, and pays much bigger dividends.
Great story! Quick fix help: get a right angle cable.
Yes! 👍
Oh and I just had a after thought hours later about your wire issue. I just use a 90 degree angle cord in my guitar, and place the straight part into the amp. Never had a problem after that 🙂 it angles down perfectly
i didn’t realize this was an option. i am left handed but also when tried learning guitar and the direction of chord progression felt backwards... might need to try this
Haha I’ve had almost the exact same experience… Jimi Hendrix, vibing, etc… I was too poor to be able to afford a lefty bass. I’m a stubborn lefty towards everything. No one was ever willing to give me lessons. Thank god for the internet.
The struggle is real ✊
I have played the same way since I was 10, I am now 57. One thing I do is I buy all left hand guitars, have a new reverse nut and a bit of bridge work to keep the intonation correct. This eliminates cable issues and knob issues which helps comfort tremendously.
Seal plays like this. So does Eric Gales. From WikiPedia:
Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the bass E string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother, who is left-handed, and never second-guessed the untraditional technique.
Seal is left-handed. He has a left-handed guitar that is re-strung to be backwards, so he can play electric guitars the way he is used to, but the knobs are in the normal place.
I LOVE THIS…I play like this, but the reason I do is because growing up we had no money for a guitar so I borrowed a les Paul Jr. from my best friend. He wouldn’t let me re string it…so upside down was all I could do.
I now own far to many left and right handed guitars ( but the lefty’s are set up upside down)
Tapping is the place upside down really works well
I can steal a guitar lick from any right handed guitar player instantly…I just figured out how to do it
But I once saw Dick Dale play in Vegas, I had no idea what he was doing because I’ve never watched someone play like me
You sir, you are such a great person! I'm just a keyboard player but I love your channel.
.... wow, coming back from your other channel "The Flashbulb". Awesome music and artistic talent!