I'm finally going to give this a try at age 40. I am left handed and bewildered over the advice to lefties.

On the one hand, it makes sense to just play right handed. On the other hand, holding the guitar in a left handed manner (backwards) feels more natural.

However, I have learned to do many things that had no left options (flying R/C planes for example) and have done just fine.

I'm going to start with my son's right handed guitar for a few months and then decide whether to go lefty or righty.

Does anyone have some advice as to how to tell if I'm having normal beginner difficulties as opposed to hand orientation difficulties (if that makes sense!)

Thanks!

Matt

I'm guessing that you might be slightly ambidextrous if you can learn to be a righty. I was born ambidextrous but had parents that taught be to do things as a righty. I play pool as a lefty and in the times I ever sot a rifle, lefty was easier too. So, if you have the ability to develop as a righty, it will be easier for guitars and reading some stuff about playing where references are to the right v. left deal. However, there have been a few pretty good guitarists that did the left handed deal so you are in good company.

It's all about what's comfortable. If you feel it becoming more natural fairly soon, I would thing you'll be ok. I would think that you don;t want to fight it too much if it never becomes natural.

By the way, I can still play pool pretty well as a righty too. Was quite a help those times I played for $$. Few shots on the table that you can't hit naturally...