Left-Handed Guitar: Everything Lefties Need to Know

Being left-handed in a right-handed guitar world creates a decision that right-handed players never face: should you play left-handed or right-handed? And if you choose lefty, where do you find guitars, how do you read chord diagrams, and why does every guitar shop have exactly two left-handed guitars?

Here’s the complete guide for southpaw players.

The Big Decision: Left or Right?

Option 1: Play Left-Handed

Play with the fretting hand on the right and picking hand on the left - the mirror image of a right-handed player.

Advantages:

Feels natural from day one
Your dominant hand controls strumming/picking (arguably the more expressive hand)
No mental translation needed for physical movements

Disadvantages:

Fewer guitar choices (10-20% of models are available as lefties)
Often more expensive (left-handed models cost more)
Chord diagrams, lessons, and YouTube tutorials are mirrored
Can’t easily pick up a friend’s right-handed guitar

Option 2: Play Right-Handed

Play on a standard right-handed guitar, using your dominant left hand for fretting.

Advantages:

Unlimited guitar selection
All learning resources work as-is
Can play any guitar anywhere
Your dominant hand does the complex fretwork (chord shapes, scales, lead playing)

Disadvantages:

May feel unnatural initially (though all beginners feel unnatural)
Your non-dominant hand handles strumming/picking

The Recommendation

There’s no wrong answer, but here’s the reasoning:

If you’re a complete beginner who has never played guitar, consider trying right-handed first. Both hands start from zero regardless, so there’s no “dominant hand advantage” in the early stages. Many famous guitarists who are naturally left-handed play right-handed: Mark Knopfler, Noel Gallagher, Paul Simon, and Gary Moore.

If you’ve tried right-handed and it feels deeply wrong - not just unfamiliar, but fundamentally incompatible - play left-handed. Trust your instinct. Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Kurt Cobain played lefty and did okay.

Left-Handed Guitar Options

1. Buy a Purpose-Built Left-Handed Guitar

Major brands make left-handed versions of popular models:

Fender/Squier: Stratocaster, Telecaster
Epiphone: Les Paul, SG
Yamaha: FG800 (acoustic)
Taylor: Limited left-handed acoustics

Online retailers have better left-handed selection than most local shops.

2. Restring a Right-Handed Guitar

Take a right-handed guitar, flip it over, and restring it with the strings in reverse order. This is what Hendrix did.

Issues:

The nut slots are sized for specific string gauges - they need to be re-cut
The saddle (acoustic) may need adjustment for intonation
Cutaways are on the wrong side (for electric, you lose upper fret access)
Controls and knobs are in awkward positions

3. Play a Right-Handed Guitar Upside Down

Play it flipped without restringing - the low strings are closest to the floor. Very unusual and limits your technique, but some players (notably Albert King) made it work.

Reading Chord Diagrams as a Lefty

Standard chord diagrams show the guitar from a right-handed perspective. Left-handed players need to mirror them:

Right-handed C chord diagram:

  1 2 3 4 5  (frets)
e|---|----|
B|-1-|----|
G|---|----| 
D|---|-2--|
A|---|--3-|
E|---|----|

Left-handed (mirrored): Flip the diagram horizontally. The high E string is now on the left, low E on the right.

Tip: Many online resources offer left-handed chord diagrams. Search for “left-handed chord charts” for correctly oriented references.

Tips for Left-Handed Players

1. Find a Left-Handed Teacher

If taking lessons, a left-handed teacher (or one experienced with lefty students) can demonstrate properly without you needing to mentally mirror everything.

2. Mirror YouTube Videos

Some video players allow you to flip the video horizontally. This turns a right-handed tutorial into a left-handed one.

3. Build a Lefty Community

Online forums and social media groups for left-handed guitarists are supportive communities that share resources, chord charts, and gear recommendations.

4. Don’t Let Anyone Tell You You’re Wrong

Some teachers insist left-handed students play right-handed. If right-handed playing genuinely doesn’t work for you, find a teacher who respects your choice.

Common Mistakes

1. Forcing right-handed play when it doesn’t feel right. Give it an honest try (2-3 weeks), but if it’s fundamentally uncomfortable, switch to lefty.

2. Buying the cheapest left-handed guitar. The limited lefty selection includes some great instruments. Spend $150-250 for a quality starter.

3. Not flipping chord diagrams. Playing from right-handed diagrams without mirroring leads to incorrect chord shapes.

Try This in Guitar Wiz

Guitar Wiz’s Chord Library provides clear chord diagrams that you can reference whether you play left or right-handed - use them to verify your mirrored finger positions. The Tuner and Metronome work identically regardless of which hand you play with.

Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store · Explore the Chord Library →

FAQ

Should left-handed people play guitar left-handed?

Both options work. Try right-handed first - if it feels fundamentally wrong after 2-3 weeks, switch. Many famous lefties play right-handed successfully.

Are left-handed guitars more expensive?

Often slightly, due to lower production quantities. However, major brands like Fender, Epiphone, and Yamaha offer left-handed models at reasonable prices.

Can I just flip a right-handed guitar?

You can, but the nut needs adjustment, cutaway access is reversed, and controls may be awkward. A purpose-built left-handed guitar is preferable.