Stupid newbie question -- left hand vs right hand

[ClearwaterMike]

I've been wondering about this for some time -- I'm right handed, yet I use my left hand for the hard stuff on the neck. My right hand just holds the pick and strums the strings, while the left hand does all the hard work.

Or, at least, that's how it seems. Am I missing something here? I'm still a very poor player, so maybe it's too early to expect my right hand to be adding much to my playing, but it seems as though my weaker, less flexible left hand is getting a mighty workout.

Who decided that right-handed people strum with the right, and fret with the left? Do we do that by tradition, or is there some "intrinsic" reason we fret with our non-dominant hand?

BTW: This is why I've never understood why England, Japan, and Australia folks sit on the right side of the car. That means they have to use their left hand for shifting -- at least, before automatic transmissions. I'd hate to have to drive a RHD car with a standard transmission, and have to shift with my left hand!

[genelovesjez]

I think the fretting hand is traditionally your less dominant hand because fretting is actually easier than picking. Turn your guitar around and try doing some picking with your other hand and you'll probably see what I mean.

As far as the driving on the left, I think that goes back to the days of riding horseback and which side you wore your sword.

[johnreardon]

Good question

However, I would maintain that it's your 'strumming' hand that does a lot of the hard work. Your left hand (assuming you are right handed) doesn't really move that much. Yes your fingers and wrist do, but not as much arm movement as with your right.

So therefore it is better to use your dominant hand.

As for driving. Most of your time in a car, your hands are on the wheel. Therefore is it not safer to leave your dominant hand on the wheel, whilst changing gear with your less dominant one. Majority of people are right handed, so it must be safer to sit on the right and drive on the left

So the rest of the World who drive on the wrong side should change to driving on the left and improve road safety

[ClearwaterMike]

Originally Posted by johnreardon

So the rest of the World who drive on the wrong side should change to driving on the left and improve road safety

The few times I've been in right-driving countries (UK & Japan) it's taken extra effort to remember to look right, and not left, when crossing a street.

I read or heard somewhere that Winston Churchill, long before the start of WWII, was almost killed during a visit to the US because he stepped off the curb while looking right -- which would be correct in the UK, but not Boston.

If he had been wiped out, it's possible that Germany could have won WWII because of the difference it would have made in US/UK relations at the time. Also, Churchill was a great orator and inspiration to the Brits, who badly needed bucking up after Dunkirk.

[Tim Armstrong]

I think it's notable that many left-handed players are much more comfortable picking with their left hands and fretting with their right hands. Kinda reinforces the idea that it's better to have the dominant hand doing the picking/strumming!

Cheers, Tim

[1293]

I think "handedness" mostly affects larger, multi-axial arm movements (like strumming, throwing, etc.). I think the differences between the dominant and weak hands are diminished when you get below the wrist (i.e. finger dexterity).

Originally Posted by johnreardon

.

As for driving. Most of your time in a car, your hands are on the wheel. Therefore is it not safer to leave your dominant hand on the wheel, whilst changing gear with your less dominant one. Majority of people are right handed, so it must be safer to sit on the right and drive on the left

So the rest of the World who drive on the wrong side should change to driving on the left and improve road safety

I find shifting with my left hand more awkward than steering with my left hand. Unfortunately, most people don't have the sense to drive with both hands. I often wonder how many accidents could be avoided if people drove with both hands. I know I've avoided idiots who would have hit me if didn't have both hands on the wheel.

Most people suggest the 10:00 and 2:00 positions. I prefer 9:45 and 10:15. It gives me an extra half hour to get where I'm going.

[raisindot]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I think it's notable that many left-handed players are much more comfortable picking with their left hands and fretting with their right hands. Kinda reinforces the idea that it's better to have the dominant hand doing the picking/strumming!

Cheers, Tim

Not me.

I'm a "semi-ambidextrous" leftie (left hand dominant for writing and other "fine motor skill" things), but I throw with my right hand (and catch with my left), play racket sports with my right hand, bat lefty, do most household gruntwork with my right hand and strum with my right hand and fret with my left (and there's no way I could do the reverse).

Jeff in Boston

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by ClearwaterMike

I've been wondering about this for some time -- I'm right handed, yet I use my left hand for the hard stuff on the neck. My right hand just holds the pick and strums the strings, while the left hand does all the hard work.

Or, at least, that's how it seems. Am I missing something here? I'm still a very poor player, so maybe it's too early to expect my right hand to be adding much to my playing, but it seems as though my weaker, less flexible left hand is getting a mighty workout.

Who decided that right-handed people strum with the right, and fret with the left? Do we do that by tradition, or is there some "intrinsic" reason we fret with our non-dominant hand?

BTW: This is why I've never understood why England, Japan, and Australia folks sit on the right side of the car. That means they have to use their left hand for shifting -- at least, before automatic transmissions. I'd hate to have to drive a RHD car with a standard transmission, and have to shift with my left hand!

I pretty much agree with you, although we're in the minority. How much "difficult work" each hand does depends on what sort of player you are, but I recall both my hands being equally inept at their appointed tasks when I started playing. Synchronizing the two is where it gets really hard, which is part of why it's harder to play fast on guitar than many other instruments.

However, I always recommend that people learn to play right-handed, just because left-handed guitars are so scarce.

Ever see a left-handed piano or violin? Didn't think so.

[neocaster]

Originally Posted by tiktok

Ever see a left-handed piano or violin? Didn't think so.

In fact, the left-handed piano has been done. I have a left-handed mother and a left-handed niece. My niece has begun trying her hand at a guitar at age 8. The first time she picked it up, she picked it up right-handed. The next time we're out together, we'll be stopping at a guitar center so she can see if a left-handed short scale instrument feels any more comfortable to her. I'm very comfortable with the idea that when it comes to how a left handed person should play guitar, my thoughts on the subject are worth little to nothing. In the end, my niece, if she plays, will have the option of playing however she pleases and however she feels suits her best... Unless she takes up piano.

[Tedecaster]

I've had the same thought about which hand would be more adept in which position but "it is what it is", as they say. How about the poor guys who just flip over a RH guitar and play it lefty? I guess you adjust. I've driven a bit in England & Ireland and you get used to shifting with your left hand pretty quickly. Thank God the pedals weren't reversed!

[Ptrallan01]

your strumming hand only has to keep the rhythm and string straight so it would appear that your fret hand does most of the work. If you play with your thumb and fingers your right hand has a lot more to do and it gets complicated REAL fast. This might be why right hand for picking and left hand for strumming is taught.

Most of us are ambidextrous to a point. Both my parents my current wife, my three best friends, and my secretary are left handed. I have always been attracted to left handed women. Consequently most of my life is spent in a left handed world because everyone around me sets up things left handed. You adjust if you want to. I play basketball left handed, ping pong with either hand, bat from both sides of the plate but I can only throw right handed and then worse than the average girl. Oh, and I drive with my left hand primarily so I would be lost in one of those strange places where you shift left handed and drive right.

[johnreardon]

Originally Posted by Ptrallan01

your strumming hand only has to keep the rhythm and string straight so it would appear that your fret hand does most of the work. If you play with your thumb and fingers your right hand has a lot more to do and it gets complicated REAL fast. This might be why right hand for picking and left hand for strumming is taught.

M.

I would have to respectfully disagree with this. Your strumming hand does a lot more than keeping rhythm and string straight. It provides a lot of the emotion and attack in your playing. My right hand, strumming if you like, moves hell of a lot more than my fretting hand, which does move a fair bit.

I cannot comment on the attraction matter. I'm too busy looking in their eyes, to notice if they are left or right handed

[ClearwaterMike]

Originally Posted by johnreardon

Your strumming hand does a lot more than keeping rhythm and string straight. It provides a lot of the emotion and attack in your playing. My right hand, strumming if you like, moves hell of a lot more than my fretting hand, which does move a fair bit.

Last week I brought my Tele in to work so a guy who does a lot of jazz playing (always on a Tele) could check it out for me. As a total newb, I was pretty sure I got a good one, but I wanted Vince to check it out for me.

I was amazed at his technique. He held the pick between his right thumb and index finger, and the other 3 fingers to pick individual strings as he played. The pick was for rythm more than anything else, and the other fingers were for melody. A great player, to be sure.

I'm sure other people here play similarly to Vince (and as well), but it's the first time I'd noticed someone strumming with a pick and picking individual notes with the other fingers. Way, WAY more coordination than I'm capable of.

[johnreardon]

Originally Posted by ClearwaterMike

Last week I brought my Tele in to work so a guy who does a lot of jazz playing (always on a Tele) could check it out for me. As a total newb, I was pretty sure I got a good one, but I wanted Vince to check it out for me.

I was amazed at his technique. He held the pick between his right thumb and index finger, and the other 3 fingers to pick individual strings as he played. The pick was for rythm more than anything else, and the other fingers were for melody. A great player, to be sure.

I'm sure other people here play similarly to Vince (and as well), but it's the first time I'd noticed someone strumming with a pick and picking individual notes with the other fingers. Way, WAY more coordination than I'm capable of.

I tend to play with my fingers as well as a pick. I use my fingers, sometimes to hit notes on adjacent strings. Not quite playing melody and rhythm together, but has a nice effect

[genelovesjez]

Originally Posted by Ptrallan01

your strumming hand only has to keep the rhythm and string straight so it would appear that your fret hand does most of the work.

I think the fact that the picking hand is not anchored anywhere is the reason that picking requires more coordination. Of course, it's just a matter of degrees and many players are quite happy going the other way.