When I first started to learn guitar, it never occurred to me that chord diagrams were designed with right handed players in mind. I always managed to figure them out, but there was always that slight struggle to get them to make sense on my southpaw guitar.

Like me, many of you will just put up with deciphering regular chord diagrams – but why make it harder? Left handed guitar chords will help make learning that little bit easier.

For those of you who are new to guitar and a little unsure, I’ve put together a selection of 14 left handed guitar chords that every new guitarist should learn. I’ve also included an audio file for each diagram so that you can hear how each chord should sound when played correctly.

Left Handed Guitar Chords Diagrams

If you are brand new to guitar chord charts, head to the bottom of this page for a brief explanation on how to read the charts. If you’re viewing these on a mobile device, try using landscape mode to ensure that everything fits within your screen correctly.

Print Me! Click here to download a printable version of these chords! Right click the image to save it your your computer.

Explanation for Beginners

In case you are a complete beginner looking at these diagrams for the first time, let me briefly explain what they represent. The diagrams should be read as if you have your guitar standing up in front of you with the fretboard facing you.

The orange strip near the top of each diagram represents the nut, i.e. the thin strip of plastic on your guitar neck which holds the strings in place. For simplicity, each diagram only shows the first five frets of the fretboard.

The orange circles indicate where you should place your fingers, and the numbers on the circles (1-4) are your finger numbers.  Your fingers are numbered as follows:

• Index : 1
• Middle : 2
• Ring : 3
• Pinky : 4
• Thumb : T (thumb isn’t used in any of these basic chords)

A ‘0‘ above the nut (the orange strip) tells you that the string should be played ‘open’, i.e do not fret any notes. An ‘X’ above the nut indicates that the string should not be played.

Tip and Tricks

Finger placement. Try to place your fingers as close to the fret-wire as you are able to. The reason for this is because if you place them too far back, the string is likely to buzz. It might be difficult at first, but over time it’ll become second nature.

Finger pressure. Try to use the lightest touch necessary for the string to ring through without any buzzing. Pressing down too hard will cause the note to become slightly sharp, making the chord sound off key.

Strum and pick. At first, pick every single note individually to ensure that no strings are being accidentally muted. You might not notice dead notes when purely strumming a chord.

Pain. If this is the first time you have tried to learn guitar chords, your fingertips are going to hurt – sorry! After a while calluses will form and you’ll wonder what you were crying about. Give it a few weeks.

Stay in tune. Always tune your guitar before playing.

Further Reading : Recommended Left Handed Guitar Tuition Materials

• Left Handed Guitar Fretboard and Chord Chart Instructional Poster
• Big Left Handed Guitar Chord Book
• Picture Chord Enyclopedia for Left Handed Guitarists

If you have any questions, or feature requests, please leave a comment below.

Good news! It would seem that the RG721 I told you about a couple of weeks ago isn’t the only limited edition lefty which Ibanez are bringing out this year!

Ibanez UK have updated the left handed section on their website today, and I’ve spotted quite a few new limited edition lefty models which I haven’t seen before.

And do you know what’s extra awesome about these new guitars? Not a gloss black model in sight! I wonder if Ibanez spotted the flow chart I posted last year…

From left to right: RG721FML, AS153L, AR42oL, GSR200BL, AEW40LCD, TCM50L

Check out the full specifications of each guitar at the links below

1. Ibanez RG721FML
2. Ibanez AS153L
3. Ibanez AR420L
4. Ibanez GSR200BL
5. Ibanez AEW40LCD
6. TCM50L

To see the entire range of left handed Ibanez models currently available, you can check out the Ibanez UK website here. Ibanez have started to do that annoying thing where they forward you to a country specific page depending on your location.  So if you don’t live there, you may have to navigate to the UK site using the link at the bottom of the page.

As with the RG721FML, I can only see these guitars for pre-order on European and Australian/NZ stores. Fingers crossed that some (or all!) will make it across the pond as well. Keep an eye on that USA website…

Unannounced Limited Edition Models

Ibanez USA has recently dropped a hint on their Facebook page that a new left handed Prestige model is on the way this summer. Possibly this guy. Unless they’re just being incredibly mean, we might see an Ibanez RG655ML left handed guitar at some point soon.

If you write with your left, you’re considered to be left handed.  But just how left handed are you really? Take the 60 second left handed test and find out!

I carry out most tasks left handed, but there’s a handful of activities that would qualify me as being right handed. For example, I use scissors right handed and i’m the same with a computer mouse. I’m definitely not 100% left handed, and I’d wager that you aren’t either! No doubt even you righties have a little southpaw in you too…

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This quiz is based on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory with a few modern day activities thrown in for good measure. R.C. Oldfield published this measurement scale in 1971 in order to determine left or right hand dominance in everyday tasks.

An interesting fact I spotted when putting this quiz together was that most southpaws will use a knife and fork the conventional way (fork left, knife right), but when using a knife on its own, we switch to holding it on the other side.

And while we’re talking about knives – who else bought one of these and thought it was crap before you realised you had to hold the knife in your right hand for it to function properly? I almost threw mine out!

How did you score in the left handed test? Leave a comment below – I’d love to see your results!

Prestige Guitars are a relatively new company, having only been launched back in 2003.  They are based in Vancouver, Canada and produce some absolutely fantastic looking hand-crafted electric and acoustic guitars.

Until recently, Prestige only produced 2 or 3 of their guitars in a left handed version.  But the good news is that as of 2015, all current Prestige guitars are now available left handed! Great news!

The turn-around time will be roughly 120 days for the build, and unfortunately there is a small upcharge of $200 for a southpaw model. But as with companies like Schecter, I’d much rather a larger, more expensive selection, than a smaller choice at right handed prices.

Left Handed Prestige Guitars

A Selection of Left Handed Prestige Guitars

The image above shows a small selection of the Prestige range – which currently sits at 26 guitars in total. Please visit the Prestige website (link below) to check out the entire selection. As is mentioned above, everything current that you see on their site is available left handed.

Prestige Guitars Website

The Prestige website is very easy to navigate, and features some fantastic images of each guitar.  At the time of writing there is unfortunately no mention at all of left handed availability. However I am told by a company representative that a site update is in the works which will promote the expanded left handed options. Excellent!

For more information:
Prestige Guitars Website

You know what’s even more smarmy than being the grammer grammar Nazi who corrects a person’s spelling mistakes online? Being the guy who corrects their pronunciations – to their faces. 

Thanks to this article, you can now be that smug git! You’ll never pronounce a guitar brand’s name incorrectly again.

Working in a guitar store, I’ve heard them all. So I’ve detailed 21 of the worst offenders below so that you can avoid all embarrassment when you next visit your local guitar emporium. And just to show that I’m not making these pronunciations up, I’ve linked to irrefutable video proof for each brand.

21 Musical Instrument Companies Whose Names You Can’t Pronounce

1 Catalinbread Cat-Alinbred Proof
My boss calls them Kate-Alinbread.  And I hate him for that.

2 Charvel Shar-Vel Proof
I have a shameful secret. I pronounced these guys Car-Vel for probably a good decade. What a tosspot.

3 D’Addario Daddario Proof
No, it isn’t Dee Addario. Yes, i’m looking at you Rob Chapman. 

4 D’Angelico Dee-Ann-Jelico Proof
Why is it different to D’Addario? How in the hell should I know? It just is…

5 Godin Go-Dan Proof
Go-Din?! They’re French-Canadian – get some culture…

6 Ibanez Eye-Ban-Ezz Proof
Why’s this even on the list? Well technically, it could be pronounced Ee-Ban-Yez. Before being produced by the Japanese, Ibanez was a Spanish company, owned by Salvador Ibáñez.

7 James Trussart Troo-Sart Proof
Yeah, I thought it was Truss-Art too.  He’s French – sacré bleu!

8 Lakland Lake-Land Proof
Lakland is a combination of the founder’s surnames – Lakin and McFarland.  There, you learned something.

9 Lowden Lao-Den Proof
‘Low’, as in ‘cow’.

10 Mayones May-Oh-Nez (My-Oh-Nez in Polish) Proof
Watch the video and pick one. As long as you aren’t one of those Mayonnaise idiots, you get a pass.

11 Mooer Mower Proof
Everyone I know pronounces this ‘moor’. Because, you know, it reads that way…

12 Moog Mogue Proof
That’s right – Moogerfooger is pronounced Moger-Foger. W.T.F…

13 Ruokangas Rrroe-Kungass Proof
I struggle with this one, even after watching the video.

14 Sadowsky Sad-Ow-Skee (Ow as in Owl) Proof
If you’ve been calling them Sa-Doe-Skee then you’re probably in good company.  Now you know!

15 Steinberger Stine-Burger Proof
True story. Someone came in to the shop once and asked if we stocked Steen-Berjer.

16 Sonuus Saw-Noose Proof
Designed in the UK, where we enjoy making up our own trendy pronunciations…

17 Strymon Stry-Min Proof
Probably a fairly obvious one. But I have heard a few people saying Strimmin. Sake.

18 Suhr Sir Proof
It’s not Soor, and it certainly isn’t Shure. I couldn’t find a video with John Suhr himself, but Pete Thorn is synonymous with the brand, so he should know!

19 Takamine Taaka-Meenee Proof
Taka-Meen, Taka-Mine – both wrong. They’re Japanese you know.

20 Xotic Exotic Proof
It’s not Eff-ender, or Gee-Ibson, but these guys thought it would be hip to pronounce that first letter in its entirety.

21 ZVEX Zee-Vex Proof
Stands for Zachary Vex, hence the pronunciation.

22 Squier – it’s SQUIER, NOT Squire
One last infuriating bonus entry. Everyone can pronounce it, but plenty can’t spell it.

Did I miss any brands? What is the most ridiculous pronunciation you’ve heard? Leave a comment below!

Ruokangas Guitars are a Finland based guitar company who specialise in super high-end, completely handbuilt guitars.  This small team of highly skilled luthiers produce roughly 120 guitars per year, which are of the absolute highest quality both in terms of aesthetics and ergonomics.

Ruokangas Guitars was founded in 1995 by luthier Juha Ruokangas, who successfully built upon his company to produce a reputation that is second to none.  What makes Ruokangas stand out from the crowd is their outright refusal to utilise modern manufacturing techniques such as CNC machines and outsourced labour. These guitars are all completely handbuilt by Juha and his team of highly skilled craftsmen.

Photo : Ruokangas.com

“Our work is a testimony for the old world values. We have consciously decided not to take part in the ongoing industrial race for cheaper labour and bigger profits. Our ambition is simply to make our living by making the best electric guitars in the world and to cherish the tradition of handcraft.  Together we stand strong against the tide of the massive guitar industry that sells more in a day than we are able to build within a year. Their main interest is the shareholders profit, whereas for us this is purely a labour of love.”

– Juha Ruokangas

The website has a fantastic interactive guitar builder for each model that the company produces.  Using this you can create the guitar of your dreams and even obtain a rough estimate of what it will cost you.  Note that the builder is Flash based, so you will probably need to use a computer to take advantage of this resource.

Left Handed Ruokangas Guitars

From left to right: Hellcat, Mojo, VSOP, Unicorn, Duke, Steambass

Each of the guitars shown above comes in a wide variety of different styles. Check out the list below for the full range, including some example images which I created using the company’s online guitar buider tool! And what about left handed Ruokangas guitars? Every single one of their guitars available as a left handed option at no extra charge!

Ruokangas Mojo

Mojo Classic

The Mojo Classic is a no-nonsense twang machine, handcrafted of the finest Alder and Rock Maple. Pick your favourite pickups, colour, fretboard, pickguard, hardware, finish, neck profile – you name it – in the Guitar Builder!

Mojo King

The newest Mojo model! Custom candy colors, trem bar, hot rodded picjguard shape, whole new wiring scheme and more – the Mojo King forges together the hottest features of a classic bolt-on guitar, and then some!

Mojo Deluxe

The solid body of the Mojo DeLuxe is crafted of lightweight Spanish Cedar with Figured Arctic Birch top. The striking appearance is completed by dropping off the pickguard and fitting the neck pickup using a unique ‘top float’ method.

Mojo Grande

Ruokangas craft the superlight semi-hollow body of the Mojo Grande of resonant Spanish Cedar with stunning Arctic Birch top to add brilliance to the tone. Add your personal touch in the Guitar Builder and voilá!

Ruokangas VSOP

VSOP Classic

The VSOP Classic is Ruokangas’s reliable Alder/Maple workhorse that won’t let you down under any circumstance. Choice is yours – head to the Guitar Builder to dial in the specs of your very own custombuilt Classic.

VSOP Deluxe

The tonal and visual combination of Arctic Birch and Spanish Cedar is simply amazing. The elegant drop top contour with Walnut veneer laminated between the top and body lines out the bodyshape of the Deluxe beautifully.

Ruokangas Hellcat

Hellcat Classic 

The bolt-on Hellcat Classic is handcrafted of the finest Alder and Rock Maple. Ruokangas quarantees massive tone, flawless workmanship and effortless playability – you choose the rest in their fantastic online Guitar Builder.

Hellcat Deluxe 

Upgrade the bolt-on Classic with Spanish Cedar body and striking Arctic Birch top and you get the DeLuxe. With handmade metal pickups it’s all there – from the growling dropped lows to the articulated highest notes.

Hellcat Artist 

The neck-thru-body Hellcat Artist sets a new standard for the modern soloist style electric guitar, offering unparalleled access to every single note on the fretboard, superb tone, balance and playability.

Ruokangas Duke

Duke Sonic 

If you’re after a solid set-neck, stripped down rock’n’roll machine, check out the Duke Sonic – Spanish Cedar slab body and neck, paperthin nitro finish, a muscular sounding P90 or two and cool vintage colours to choose from.

Duke Classic 

The Duke Classic set-neck / carved top design launched Ruokangas to success in the mid 90’s. The super responsive tonal combination of solid Spanish Cedar and Arctic Birch with all the recognizable design elements are there.

Duke Artisan

The semi-acoustic Duke Artisan is extremely light, yet perfectly balanced to hold, responding to your touch with exquisitely matured tone with beautiful, piano-like sustaining quality.

Ruokangas Unicorn

Unicorn Classic

The Unicorn Classic is the culmination of Juha’s luthier experience since the early 90’s.  Despite the full blooded Ruokangas design elements and unconventional material choices the Unicorn oozes Roots and Tradition.

Unicorn Artisan

With the Unicorn Artisan, Juha has stepped outside the box to explore, experience and design the ultimate semi-hollow electric guitar. His trademark tonewood recipe guarantees dynamics and responsivity second to none.

Ruokangas Steambass

Steambass Classic

The Steambass Classic bass comes with an Alder body. It also features a bolt-on thermo-treated Maple neck and a choice of any of their well seasoned Rosewood, Ebony, Maple or Arctic Birch fretboards.

Steambass Deluxe

The Steambass Deluxe bass comes with a Spanish Cedar body accompanied by an Arctic Birch top.  As with the Classic it also features a maple neck and a choice of the finest of fretboard woods.

Ruokangas Website

Ruokangas are clearly a company who take great pride in how they present themselves to the world.  Their guitars are stunning, their website is beautifully designed, their photography is spectacular, and their videos are all of a high professional quality.  Check out their website below and start building your dream guitar.

Oh, and if you’re wondering how to pronounce Ruokangas – check out this article.

For more information:
Ruokangas Guitars Website

Travel guitars are ideal for when you’re on the road, or even just for when you need something handy in the office for a quick lunchtime jam session.  There are plenty of great left handed travel guitar options, and I’ve compiled a quick list of some of the best models currently available.

As you’d expect from a guitar likely to be thrown around a lot, none of these models are desperately expensive, and so should be accessible to most.  Designs range from models which are simply smaller in size, to clever guitars that save space through folding necks or other similarly innovative designs.

Left Handed Travel Guitars

links to each guitar available below

1Traveler EG1 Custom Black – check it out
Modelled after a Gibson Les Paul Custom! The EG-1 is the creme-de-la-creme of lefty travel guitars, as it manages to squeeze some real quality features into such a tidy package. Full 24.75″ scale length, alder body, mahogany neck, gold hardware, binding, and even an on-board tuner! The guitar comes with a built-in headphone amp which will allow you to have silent practice with headphones, or hook up to an amp for jam sessions on the beach! Overall length 28.5 inches.

2Traveler Speedster Red – check it out
Another high quality option from portable guitar favorites Traveler. The Speedster features a full 24.75″ scale length, American maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and a dual-rail humbucker pickup. The arm is detachable for the ultimate in portability. Overall length is 28 inches.

3Traveler Ultra Light Acoustic – check it out
The Ultra-Light is Traveler’s electro-acoustic option for southpaw players and is the smallest and lightest full-scale length acoustic-electric guitar ever made! Includes a Shadow acoustic pizeo pickup for when you need a little extra volume. The lap-rest is detachable to give an even smaller footprint. As with all Traveler guitars, it will easily fit into airline overhead bins. Overall length is 28 inches. 

4Martin Backpacker Acoustic – check it out
Unlike the more innovative designs found on the Travelers, the Backpacker looks more akin to a traditional acoustic guitar. Specifically designed to withstand the rough and tumble of outdoor life! Super light weight at only 2.5 pounds!

5Johnson JG-TR2 Trailblazer Acoustic – check it out
The Trailblazer is the most affordable option on this list and is basically a full sized neck with a shrunk down acoustic body tacked on!

Other Options

Headless Guitars
If you find that your guitar is just that little bit too tall to take on the road then a guitar with a headless design may be what you need.  For example Steinberger guitars are famed for their headless neck and smaller body size – whilst not technically travel guitars they could just save that extra couple of inches that your main guitar would take up.  Something like this Steinberger Spirit could be just the ticket! A bass version is also available.

Short Scale Guitars
Shorter scale guitars are not just for kids – they can make a perfect travel guitar for anyone!  Many guitars will come in all shapes and sizes all the way down to a 1/4 size.  Obviously smaller sized guitars come with their trade-offs, but these issues can probably be overlooked in place of their portability.

Take a look at my previous articles on shorter scale left handed guitars for ideas…
1/2 Sized Left Handed Guitars
3/4 Sized Left Handed Guitars

Or for the ultimate compact guitar – why not try a ukulele? I have a guide for that too!

Please let me know if you have any other suggestions for guitars to add to the list!

Martin Guitars are a USA guitar brand established in 1883 by Christian Frederick Martin.  Although Martin are mostly known for their highly regarded steel-string acoustic guitars, they have also produced several models of electric guitars and basses over the years.

But what about left handed models I hear you ask?  Even though I’m well aware of Martin’s southpaw friendly business model, I decided to ask them…just in case. Here is the response I received in return:

“As a lefty player myself I’m happy to tell you we are currently building lefty versions of all of our models”

That’s right folks – every single guitar is available lefty – and with zero upcharge! How many other big name guitar brands can say that?  And the customer representative I spoke to was even a southpaw himself.  There really is little point in listing all of the available guitars, so all that’s left to do is to head over to the Martin website and see if anything takes your fancy! Unless you have a fantastic local guitar store with a large selection you’ll more than likely need to special order one, but it’s great that the option is there for us!

The image above shows a small selection of Martin’s guitars, but be sure to head to their website to view the full range.

Martin Guitars Website

The Martin website doesn’t have a left handed section – because it doesn’t need one.  But just in case you aren’t familiar with Martin’s lefty friendly stance, the spec list on every individual model page does say “Available left-handed at no additional charge“.  Nice work Martin!

For more information:
Martin Guitars Website

Think you’ve seen it all when it comes to weird guitar designs? Well, you haven’t! Check out these 17 crazy monstrosities – you won’t believe number 15 isn’t Photoshopped!

1. The Destroyer
Part guitar, part mandolin, and what’s the antennae for? A freaking theremin, that’s what! As if that wasn’t enough, the Destroyer comes complete with in-built effects, tuner and glow-in-the-dark capabilities thanks to its multitude of LED lights. Mark Dalzell is the creator of this quirky beast – plenty more photos on his Flickr page.

2. Tennessee 15-String Bass
This one is for the extended range police – you know, those guys who get all high and mighty every time I talk about guitars with more than 6 strings? Well this over-the-top crazy bass has 15 strings – FIFTEEN!! How d’ya like them eggs? Recently spotted for sale on eBay UK.

3. ZZ Zulu Warlord
Well, that’s what the gentleman selling this monstrosity on Craigslist christened it. This taxidermy special features a deerskin hide body covering, steer horns, and in case you didn’t notice them, the volume and tone knobs are sheep eyeballs. Although preferring cash, the seller was also willing to trade it for a live goat and vintage pygmy blow dart gun…

4. Grassroots GR-PPG
This has got to be the epitome of a ‘no-frills’ Strat! The GR-PPG is made by Grassroots for the Asian market.  Black, white and tortoise-shell variations are available – check them out here.

5. The Swinger Guitar
Belt out a victory solo every time you serve an Ace with the Swinger tennis racket inspired guitar. The Swinger puts the soul of an electric guitar into a body inspired by vintage tennis rackets.

6. Bender Distortocaster
The Bender Distortocaster looks like it would be more at home in a Salvador Dali painting than in your lap. Although bizarre in appearance, these ultra-rare and ultra weird guitars are reported to be excellent players. Here’s a great YouTube video.

7. Rockin’ Chair
Ever wished your guitar was also a chair?  Yeah, me neither! What’s incredible is that after making the bass, the builder somehow thought it would be a great idea to build a guitar version as well.  Check them both out in action in this video. As far as weird guitar designs go, these are right up there!

8. The NO-Caster
More a study of negative space than a guitar! Three kinds of aged plywood, recycled 27 inch inner tubes, many screws, tape. What more do you need? The No-Caster, designed by Eric Mecum can be played sitting down, but a guitar strap is preferred!

9. Lego Guitars
Is there anything you can’t do with Lego? These two examples were created by Fosters Guitars.

10. Dewey Decibel’s Flipout Guitar
Most of the time when you hear about a guitar being flipped it’s a southpaw converting a righty guitar into a lefty. That’s not quite the case with these crazy guitars!  Find out more on the Dewey Decibel Guitars website.

11. Lawsuit Proof Les Paul
Another design which takes the idea of flipping a guitar to extremes! Not too sure this is a real guitar, but an innovative idea nonetheless!

12. Baster Stereo
While great as an art installation, i’m not quite sure about the practical qualities of this creative guitar! See it in action on Vimeo.

13. Wangcaster
You knew I had to include this infamous guitar in here somewhere!

14. Pikasso
Thought that 15 string bass was over the top? This guy has 42 strings of sheer and utter insanity. Check out this video which shows Pat Metheny giving it a workout.

15. Yoshihiko Satoh 12 Neck
The string count keeps on exploding! This beast has a whopping 72 strings! Another guitar which definitely falls under the art category.

16. Coon Dog Guitar
Wow, this one is super realistic! Looks like an actual dog asleep inside a guitar case.  Oh wait…it is.  My bad, next photo!

17. Teenar Girl Guitar
CREEPY.  That is all I’ve got to say.

 Click the buttons below to share these crazy guitars with your friends!

Southpaw bassists will be interested to learn that our friends over at Overwater Basses are running a fantastic promotion, exclusive to left handed players!

To celebrate International Left Handed Day, Overwater are offering a discount of 20% on all custom left handed orders. This generous deal is only available until the end of August – don’t miss out!

In case you were wondering, all Overwater basses are available left handed (usually at no additional charge). Why not visit the link below and see if anything grabs your eye?

For more information:
Overwater Bass Website

Happy National Left Handed Day!  Every year on August 13th we southpaws get our very own designated day to celebrate our dexterity.  Left Handed Day is also meant to help raise awareness of the troubles that us southpaw people experience with living in a right-hand centric world.

So the idea is that we have an excuse to get drunk and have a whinge at how easy righties have it? Well, not quite.

National Left Handed Day – August 13th 2015

Special events are usually set up around the world, such as designated ‘left handed zones’ where righties are encouraged to use their non-dominant hand to perform simple tasks.  These special areas might only include southpaw tools and utensils in order to force people into finding out what it’s like being a southpaw in a right handed world.

All too often we southpaws are overlooked by designers and developers. So it is also hoped that through participating in this day we can raise awareness of the need for ambidextrous product designs.

Here’s my (selfish) suggestion for this yearly event.  Every year on August 13th guitar stores worldwide should have a sale where only the southpaw models are discounted. Do it. Do it.

Are you planning on celebrating National Left Handed Day?  Leave a comment below!

Did You Like This Article?  Check These Out!

• 25 AMAZING Facts About Left Handed People!
• 15 CRAZY Superstitions Related to Being Left Handed
• 60 Second Lefty Test – How Left Handed Are You?

Further Reading – Check out these fascinating resources!

Let your friends know about National Left Handed Day by hitting the buttons below!

Sweetwater is currently running a massive sale which they claim includes their best deals of the year so far. Take a peek inside and you’ll find some delicious savings on 6 excellent left handed Schecters that you won’t want to miss!

Most of these guitars have a whopping 50% off the usual price. That means that you can pick up one of these 6 models for a mere $450-$500 – bargain!

From left to right: Blackjack C-1 FR, Blackjack A-6, Blackjack A-6 FR, Blackjack A-6 S FR, Banshee 8 Active

Thanks to LeftyFretz reader Christian for the heads up!

Check out the deals at the following two links:
Banshee 8 Active
All Other Guitars

You walk into your local guitar store with the intention of treating yourself to a new axe. After selecting from a few options and specifications on one of their computers you hit ‘print’. Later on, after enjoying a quick panini and latté at a nearby café you head back and pick up your new custom 3D printed guitar – fresh from the printer.

Sounds very futuristic doesn’t it? But at the rate that 3D printing is currently progressing, this could eventually become a reality. The technology is already revolutionizing manufacturing by allowing designers to create products in new and innovative ways.

What is 3D Printing?

Believe it or not, 3D printing has been around for decades – but until recently was restricted to larger scale, industrial scenarios.

An object is created by the printer, which lays down one thin layer of material at a time. Think of it like the creation of underground Stalagmite rock formations, except the printer is very specific, only laying down material where it is needed.

3D printing has several advantages over traditional manufacturing processes:

• Reduces waste material (uses around 98% of raw material)
• Energy Efficient – Up to 50% less energy
• Less time to bring a product to market
• Allows for incredibly complex designs

How Does the Printer Work?

It starts with computer aided design software (CAD), which designers will use to model a 3D blueprint of their object (or objects). This is then loaded into the printer software.

Various materials such as plastics or metal powders can be used to form the design. These materials are heated and then extracted through the print nozzle once liquefied. Very thin layers of the design are deposited one at a time as a two-dimensional cross section. Once deposited, the print material very quickly solidifies to form a solid object.

This process continues vertically until the entire design has been formed.

Image Source: 3DForged

Printing Materials

Although most designs will be composed of some type of plastic, other materials are available.  In theory you can use anything you like, as long as the material liquefies at the desired temperature and quickly becomes solid at room temperature.

Machines already exist which can print 3D food, such as chocolate, pasta and dough.

But what about guitars? A chocolate axe sounds great, but it’d snap in half easier than a Gibson headstock…

At the time of writing, MakerBot has been developing composite filaments which can be used for printing. One of these new materials is a maple wood composite, which apparently looks and feels (and smells!) just like the real thing.  As for it’s tonal properties? Who knows…

Even if 3D printed materials don’t stack up to real woods now as far as ‘tone’ is concerned, it would be pretty naïve to assume that the technology won’t catch up.

Check out the video below which shows a quick demonstration of how a 3D printed guitar sounds. In this video, only the bodies are printed.

3D Printed Guitar

Although you won’t find a fully 3D printed guitar at present, companies have actually been making partially printed instruments for years.

The most widely known of these brands is probably ODD Guitars, who are based in New Zealand. At the moment only the bodies of ODD guitars are 3D printed, with the rest of the instrument consisting of traditional parts.

Check out the video below which shows my personal favorite from the ODD range – the Steampunk, complete with moving innards! To achieve this level of design complexity with traditional manufacturing methods would be hugely expensive.

Left Handed 3D Printed Guitars

For us southpaws, the 3D revolution could pave the way to unlocking a far less limiting choice of guitars – in fact, there would be no limit. Because everything is digital, the source file could simply be flipped in the software to produce a mirror image.  One click.

If 3D printed guitars eventually became the norm, we’d finally realise that dream of having the exact same selection as our spoiled for choice right handed friends.

For now it’s a pipe dream, but all we have to do is be patient while the technology catches up. Which shouldn’t be a long wait…

Gibson fans will be pleased to hear that the Memphis division has just announced a brand new left handed guitar for 2015! And for a change, it’s quite different to the regular range usually offered to southpaw players…

Say hello to the new limited edition left handed Gibson Memphis ES-Les Paul semi-hollow, available in an eye-catching Light Burst finish!

2015 Gibson Memphis Left Handed ES-Les Paul

The ES-Les Paul is Gibson’s attempt to combine the best features of both a Les Paul and an ES-335 to give a lightweight but powerful new guitar.

• Body : Mahogany
• Top : Figured Maple
• Back : Figured Maple
• Neck : Mahogany
• Fingerboard : Rosewood
• Pickups : Memphis Historic Spec PAFs
• Finish : Light Burst with Nitrocellulose Lacquer

These special edition guitars will be limited to only 100 pieces worldwide.

Interested in picking one up? Here are a couple of dealers who I know will be stocking these beauties soon. Drop them an email for info.
Southpaw Guitars (USA)
GuitarGuitar (UK)

For more information:
Gibson Website

So you want to learn bass guitar huh? Let’s see if I can get you started…

This article lists a number of quality beginner bass guitars that are still reasonably priced and should give you a solid introduction to your new hobby.  As a good rule of thumb, if you stick with big name brands it is hard to go too far wrong. If you are buying for a child or would prefer a smaller guitar, check out my post on 3/4 sized left handed guitars.

As a beginner there really isn’t a lot you need to ponder over. Seriously. Types of woods used, number of frets, types of tuners – these are really non-issues for now. Just buy something (preferably from the list below) that you like the looks of and dive in. But just before we start looking at the basses, there are a couple of things you might like to consider…

Number of Strings

Your traditional bass guitar will generally have 4 strings tuned EADG from low to high.  Bass guitars are available with 5, 6 or even more strings, but if you are starting out it is generally recommended to begin with a 4-string model.

Long, Medium or Short Scale?

A standard 4-string bass generally has a 34 inch scale length (the distance between the nut and the bridge), however many other sizes are available. If you are a younger player you may find it easier to begin on a shorter scale length model (generally 30 inches or less) before graduating to a 34 inch or higher bass later on. Likewise, someone with smaller hands might find a short-scale bass easier to get on with.

There is a difference in tone between basses of different scale lengths, but at this early stage it isn’t going to be a big deal. If you decide to go for a smaller bass you can also check out my guide to 3/4 Size Left Handed Bass Guitars.

Here are a few great beginner bass models for the aspiring lefty bassist. Unless otherwise stated, these are all 4-string models.  I have also listed their scale lengths in bold and provided links for current pricing and specifications. They are also listed in order of my own personal preference.

Popular Left Handed Bass Guitars Under $200

1. Dean Edge 09 34 – link
2. Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro 28.6 – link
3. Rogue LX200B 34 – red or 4. blue or 5. black

In all of the other price brackets, I have listed the guitars in order of my own personal preference – but not here. The basses here are all very similar in terms of features and pricing – pick whichever looks the best to you. You really aren’t going to notice a big difference between any of them at this stage. The exception here is the Ibanez, which is a shorter scale instrument at 28.6 inches. This is the one to go for if buying for a younger player, or for people with smaller hands. Without spending a lot more cash, the Ibanez is the best short scale left handed bass available, period.

Popular Left Handed Bass Guitars Under $300

1. Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Sunburst 34 – link
2. Ibanez GSR200 34 – link
3. ESP Ltd B50 34 – link
4. Rogue VB100 Violin Bass 31 – link
5. Stagg BC300 34 – natural or black
6. Ibanez GSR205 5-String 34 – link

In this price bracket the Squier is going to be the best choice if you are after a more traditional looking instrument. These guitars are super versatile, well-made, and you have that famous name on the headstock.

Looking for a more modern design? The Ibanez GSR200 is for you! Again, these guitars are really versatile and well-constructed – super popular amongst new players. They’re also a little bit lighter than the more traditional jazz and precision basses – easy on the back! The ESP is very similar, but has a more ‘pointy’ design that is sure to appeal to the heavy rockers!

If you really want to stand out, why not consider the Rogue VB100? This guitar is modelled after the Violin bass made famous by Sir Paul McCartney (a fellow lefty!).  The shorter 31 inch scale length will make it easier to handle if you have smaller hands.

Popular Left Handed Bass Guitars Under $400

1. Squier Vintage Modified 70s Jazz Bass Natural 34 – link
2. Ibanez SR300L 34 – link

In my opinion, these are the two best basses for new players, period. If budget permits, either of these will be a fantastic choice.

The 70s Jazz bass is very similar to the sunburst model in the previous price bracket, but has a few extra bells and whistles to offer. For example it has a soft maple body and maple neck/fingerboard which will help give it a slightly brighter sound. The fingerboard is also bound and has block inlays, which gives it that awesome 70s vibe.

Again, if you’re after something with a more modern design, Ibanez make some great lefty bass guitars – the SR300L being one of them. The specification is superb for this kind of money, and just look at it – how could you not want to pick that thing up for hours every day? Sexy!

Neal Says: So to sum up quickly! For general all-round versatility, I would pick up one of the two Squier Vintage Modified Jazz basses. In fact – I did! I have the natural model hanging on the wall in front of me as I type this. These jazz basses are pretty much the go-to basses for new bass players, and receive universally great reviews.

Alternatively, if you’d like something a little less traditional looking, my choice would be the GSR200L from Ibanez.  Again, this is another bass that I have owned and can recommend personally – in fact, it was my first bass! It’s well made, sounds great and will hold its value well due to the popularity of this model amongst new players. The SR300L is an even better choice if you can stretch your budget that little bit further!

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Amps
Part Six : Effects
Part Seven : Accessories
Part Eight : Lessons

Looking for your first acoustic or classical left handed guitar? This article should serve as a good primer to help you understand the various different styles of acoustic guitars.  Head to the bottom of the page for an in-depth list of the best beginner left handed acoustic guitars, sorted by price bracket.

If you’re looking to buy for a child or just have smaller hands, you may like to check out my article on 3/4 Sized Left Handed Acoustic Guitars.

Acoustic or Electro-Acoustic Guitar ?

The first thing you’ll want to do is decide whether you want a traditional acoustic or an electro-acoustic guitar.  The main difference between the two being that you can plug your electro-acoustic directly into an amp, whereas with a traditional acoustic you will need to use a microphone to amplify the sound when playing live.

A great advantage to starting out with an electro-acoustic guitar is that many will come with a built-in tuner.  If your guitar doesn’t come with a tuner I highly recommend a clip-on headstock tuner such as a Snark – find out more about these in Part 7 of the Newbie Guide.

After reading this you may be thinking of just buying an electro-acoustic. Hell, it’s the same as an acoustic with a few extra bells and whistles right?  This is true, but these extra gadgets obviously come at a price. Think carefully about what you need.

Body Styles

Acoustic guitars come in a seemingly endless variety of different shapes and sizes and you’ll want to take this into deliberation when buying your first guitar.  Various shapes and styles are suited to different genres and so this can be an important consideration to make.  Let’s take a look at a few of the most common shapes.

Dreadnought Guitars The most popular acoustic guitar body shape.  Dreadnought guitars have large body shapes which will equate to a louder sound being produced. Due to the deeper soundbox the Dreadnought style will produce a very bassy, boomy sound. For the average player, this is the right style of guitar to go for.  This is however a fairly large guitar and may be a handful for a smaller framed individual.

Grand Concert Guitars The Grand Concert (GC) body style is the major body style most directly derived from the classical guitar. It has the thinnest soundbox and the smallest overall size of the major styles, making it very comfortable to play but also one of the quietest. Its smaller size makes it suitable for younger or smaller-framed players.

Grand Auditorium Guitars The Grand Auditorium (GA) is very similar in design to the Grand Concert, but slightly wider and deeper. Many GA-style guitars also have a convex back panel to increase the volume of space in the soundbox without making the soundbox deeper at the edges, which would affect comfort and playability. The result is a very balanced tone, comparable to the GC but with greater volume and dynamic range and slightly more low-end response, without sacrificing the ergonomics of the classical style, making these body styles very popular.

Jumbo Guitars Jumbo Guitars are designed to be loud and full of bass. It’s basically similar in function and usage to the dreadnaught. In some situations, the mid frequencies get lost, overpowered by the bass. Again, due to its size, it may not be right for a beginner player, or a small framed person.  Ideal for use in large open environments where sound projection is important.

Classical Nylon String Guitars Classical guitars are characterized by the use of nylon strings. Typically, these instruments have a wide neck and a very flat fingerboard. Some “old school” instructors feel that this is the only guitar a beginning guitarist should consider as the lighter string tension and nylon material are easy on the fingers.

Travel Guitars / Small Scale Guitars If you need something to learn with on the road then these more compact guitars are an ideal choice.  Likewise, if you are a smaller individual a travel guitar can be much easier to tame than the more sizeable options. Check out our list of 3/4 Sized Left Handed Guitars. Keep in mind that these smaller guitars will also have a much smaller ‘voice’ than their full bodied cousins.

Cutaway Guitars All of the body styles listed above can have a portion of the body ‘cut away’ on the bottom side to allow easier access to the upper frets.  The cutaway will affect the tone of the guitar to a degree.This type of guitar tends to be favored by players who are more into a fingerstyle type of playing due to the better access to higher frets. Most manufacturers will differentiate between full body and cutaway guitars by adding ‘CE’ to the end of the model name.

Types of Wood

The main element which will affect the sound coming from your guitar besides the shape is the wood that it is made from.  However, as a beginner this is not something you should be desperately concerned about.  To an untrained ear most acoustics will sound more or less the same!

Enough chat, let’s look at a few good examples of left handed acoustic guitars…

It’s worth noting that with acoustics more so than any other style of guitar, you should really try to spend as much as you can comfortably afford. It’s a false economy to buy something cheap now, only to spend more later on getting the guitar you should have chosen in the first place.

In every price bracket, I’ve arranged the guitars in order of my personal preference. Classical options are shown separately at the end of each list.

Popular Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Under $100

1. Jameson EA – black or blue
2. Rogue RG-624 – link
3. SX Mentor S – link or with cutaway
4. Moz Electro Acoustic – Sunburst or Leaf Quilt

• Omega Classical Kit – link

Best Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Under $200

1. Ibanez PF15L – link
2. Oscar Schmidt OG2 – natural or black or with cutaway
3. Stagg SA30D – black or natural
4. Jay Turser JTA424 – link
5. Johnson JG-624 – link

• Stagg C546 Classical – link
• Ortega R122 Classical – link

Neal Says: In this price bracket I’ve placed the Ibanez PF15L at the top of the list. It looks fantastic, is built from quality materials, and the famous Ibanez name on the headstock means it will hold its value very well.  For under $200 it’s going to be hard to beat the Ibanez!

Popular Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Under $300

1. Fender CD-100 – link
2. Ibanez AW400L – link
3. Ibanez AEG10L Black – link
4. Taylor BT-1 Baby – link
5. Taylor BT-2 Baby – link
6. Tanglewood TW28 – link

• Stagg C546 Classical – link

Neal Says: This is the price range at which we begin to see guitars from the bigger, well known brands. The Fender CD-100 is pretty much the go-to beginner guitar for southpaw players – it’s affordable, you’ve got the big name on the headstock and it sounds great. In my opinion it’s the best buy in this price bracket, but honestly you cannot go wrong with any of the guitars mentioned here. The two Taylors are a little bit smaller than your average acoustic, making them a great choice for younger players or for those with smaller hands.

Popular Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Under $400

1. Fender CD-100CE – link
2. Yamaha FG720SL – link
3. Ibanez AEG18L – link
4. Taylor BBT Big Baby – link
5. Dean Exotica Quilt – link
6. Dean Performer – Black

• Dean Espana Classical – link

Neal Says: In the previous price bracket I picked the Fender CD-100 as the best buy. For a little bit extra cash here, the CD-100CE adds electronics and a cutaway for improved upper fret access – once again the Fender is a great choice. Another top pick in this bracket is the FG720SL – Yamaha is famed for producing guitars that seem to punch well above their price – and this model is no exception.

Popular Left Handed Acoustic Guitars Under $500

1. Taylor GS Mini – Sapele or Mahogany
2. Epiphone ’64 Texan Limited Edition – link
3. Epiphone EJ-200SCE Limited Edition – Natural or Sunburst
4. Fender Sonoran SCE – link
5. Seagull S6 – link
6. Dean Exotica Bubinga – link

• Cordoba C5 Classical – link
• La Patrie Etude Classical – link

Neal Says: Now we’re getting into the real quality picks – anything here will potentially last you for life. Personally, I would take the Taylor GS Mini (in fact, I did! I have one hanging on my wall right now!). These guitars are slightly smaller than usual, making them ideal for new players – but they sound every inch as big as a full sized acoustic. In my opinion, the GS Mini is the best beginner acoustic guitar – period. If you can afford it, you will not be disappointed.

For full sized options, the Epiphones are both limited editions, so these will make a nice investment if you’re looking for something a little bit more special. My personal choices aside, you cannot go wrong with any of the guitars in this price bracket.

So there you have it! The best left handed acoustic guitars for beginners. Hopefully you’ll have spotted something that interests you amongst these choices.

If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below.

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Amps
Part Six : Effects
Part Seven : Accessories
Part Eight : Lessons

So you want to learn the left handed electric guitar huh? Let’s see if I can get you started…

This article lists a number of quality beginner guitars that are still reasonably priced and should give you a solid introduction to your new hobby.  As a good rule of thumb, if you stick with big name brands it is hard to go too far wrong. If you are buying for a child or would prefer a smaller guitar, check out my post on 3/4 sized left handed guitars.

As a beginner there really isn’t a lot you need to ponder over. Seriously. Types of woods used, number of frets, type of tuners – these are really non-issues for now. Just buy something (preferably from the list below) that you like the looks of and dive in. But just before we start looking at the guitars, there are a couple of things you might like to consider…

Single-Coil vs Humbucker Pickups

Single-Coil – Check out the image at the bottom of this article.  Notice the slimmer looking pickups on the 3rd and 4th guitars? Those are single-coils. As you can probably guess from the name, these pickups are made using a single coil of wire. Typically they produce a bright, lively tone with low to moderate output. A traditional single-coil pickup does not have the ability to reject noise or hum from being picked up along with the vibration from the string. This may mean that you notice a subtle humming noise when playing, however this is a small trade-off to gain the sought after tones which only single-coils can produce.

Humbuckers – These are so called because of their ability to ‘buck the hum’, unlike single-coil designs.  The Gibson Les Paul in the image above features humbuckers. They typically have a fatter sound and higher output than single-coil pickups and are therefore a little more suited to overdriven styles of playing. Although that’s not to say that they can’t handle cleaner tones as well – they just won’t be quite as bright and jangly sounding as a single-coil.

I would suggest that for your first guitar, it really doesn’t matter too much what you pick. That is, unless you want to rip out some high gain metal as soon as possible. You sir, need humbuckers!

Scale Length

Scale length is defined as the distance between where the strings contact the nut and where they contact the bridge, i.e. the length of the string that will vibrate to produce a sound.  Typically there are two common scale lengths – 24 3/4 inches and 25 1/2 inches.  For the most part, most Gibson style guitars (1 and 5 in the image below) will utilise the shorter 24 3/4 inch length, while Fender style guitars (2, 3 & 4 below) will generally use 25 1/2 inches.

All other things being equal, a longer scale length will result in increased string tension.  This will give a slightly brighter sound with a tighter bottom end.  The added tension will also make it slightly more difficult to bend strings. Shorter scale lengths will give a thicker, chunky lower end and make string bending a little easier.

If you have smaller hands you may prefer to start with a 24 3/4 inch guitar such as a Les Paul or SG type due to the slightly shorter stretches required.  Otherwise, don’t worry about it too much for now.

Enough talk!  Let’s see the guitars! 

I have arranged the guitars into different price brackets so that you can quickly find something suited to your budget. The guitars are also listed in order of my personal preference.

Complete Packages Under $200

Although I don’t generally recommend beginner packages, sometimes it just has to be done if you are on a tight budget. An inexpensive guitar is better than no guitar, right?! If you look carefully you should be able to find a full starter kit for less than $200.

On a budget, the brand that I generally suggest is Sawtooth. They have a good number of left handed Stratocaster and Telecaster style packages which come in a wide variety of colors. Check them out at the link below.

• Sawtooth Beginner Packages – link

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $200

1. Squier Affinity Stratocaster – link
2. Squier Affinity Telecaster – link
3. Jay Turser 300 – link
4. Stagg S300 – black or 5. sunburst

Neal Says: The Squier Affinity series is probably where most new guitarists on a budget will start out. They’re affordable, look great, play great, and you’ve got that famous name on the headstock, which means that they’ll hold their value! They will handle any genre of music comfortably, with the exception of extremely heavy metal. For under $200 these two are your best choice – pick whichever style you like best, as both are very similar guitars. Job done!

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $300

1. Squier Standard Stratocaster – antique burst or black
2. ESP Ltd EC-100 – link
3. ESP Ltd EC-50 – black or silver burst
4. Ibanez GRG120 – link
5. ESP Ltd M-50 – link
6. ESP Ltd MH-50 – link

Neal Says: Once again I’ve put the Squiers at the top of the list! The Standard Series is a step above the Affinity models mentioned in the previous price bracket. You just can’t go wrong with one of these.

Although! If you are looking to rock out that little bit harder, you’ll probably need some powerful humbucker pickups, right? In this case, you’ll want to take a look at the EC-100 and EC-50 from ESP Ltd. The EC-100 is basically the same as the EC-50 but with a fancier quilted maple top. The Ibanez and other 2 ESPS are also fine choices, but the fixed bridges (no whammy bar) on the first 2 ESPs make them a little more beginner friendly.

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $400

1. Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster – link
2. Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster – link
3. Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster – link
4. Epiphone G-400 Pro – link
5. ESP Ltd EC-256FM – link
6. ESP Ltd M-100FM – link
7. Schecter Omen 6 – link

Neal Says: Are you starting to see a trend here? Squier once again claims the top spot. In my humble opinion, the Classic Vibe series from Squier are the best value electric guitars available – period. I have the 50s Strat and Tele myself, and prefer them over my USA Fenders which cost 3-4 times the price. One of these could potentially be your main guitar for life. As a beginner, you just aren’t going to notice the marginal difference in sound between the 50s and 60s models – pick whichever looks the best to you.

For a heavier sound check out the humbucker equipped Epiphone G-400 or ESP Ltd EC-256. Metal and hard rock fans will love the ESP M-100FM or Schecter Omen for a higher gain sound.

Popular Left Handed Electric Guitars Under $500

1. Epiphone Les Paul Standard – ebony or cherry
2. Fender Standard Stratocaster (various colors) – link
3. Fender Standard Telecaster (various colors) – link
4. Ibanez RG450 – link
5. Gretsch Pro Jet – silver or black

Neal Says: These are all really solid choices. For under $500 you can get that famous Fender quality, and these guitars come in a huge number of color choices to sweeten the deal. You get a lot of bragging rights by having that logo on your headstock too!

Alternatively, the Epiphone will give you that authentically beefy sound that only a Les Paul can produce. Everyone looks cool wearing a Les Paul! The Ibanez will be the best choice for those of you wanting to become the next shred maestro or heavy metal monster! Lastly, I’ve thrown in the Gretsch just to give you the option of something a little different.  In terms of sound, the Gretsch falls somewhere in between the Fenders and the Ibanez – but most importantly, it looks the absolute business!

Any one of these will make a great starter guitar, but obviously if you are willing to drop a little more coin then things can only get better! As a beginner left handed guitarist the choice isn’t exactly overwhelming, but don’t worry, things get much better later on. And it makes your decision right now much easier…

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Amps
Part Six : Effects
Part Seven : Accessories
Part Eight : Lessons

So you want to learn to play guitar or bass but are unsure of where to start?  You’ve come to the right place my friend! This eight-part guide will clue you in on everything you need to know when starting out with your new hobby.

I am periodically adding to this guide, so keep checking back for updated information. Everything in this series will also apply to our right handed friends so tell them to check out the information out as well.

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Amps
Part Six : Effects
Part Seven : Accessories
Part Eight : Lessons

Part One : Your First Guitar and Important Tips Before You Buy

Before we start looking at gear, here are a few ideas to consider that will hopefully help you to avoid any newbie pitfalls.

Left or Right Handed?

First things first.  Are you a left handed or a right handed guitarist?  If you’re unsure, check out Should I Learn Guitar Left or Right Handed? Although there are less options for new left handed players, this is not a reason to play the wrong way around and potentially hinder your progress over.

Decide What Your Budget Is

The next thing to do is to plan out what your total budget is, and then when buying your equipment stick within that budget! You’ll most likely need more than just a guitar, so tally up all of of the equipment you will need when doing your calculations.  For example if you want to play electric guitar you will at minimum require a guitar, a lead, and an amp or effects unit.  Also budget for any additional expenses once you have your gear, such as instructional materials, lessons, guitar stands, gig bag etc.

Buy The Best You Can Afford

As far as guitar is concerned, it really is a case of ‘you get what you pay for ’. It’s a false economy to purchase a cheaper guitar now, only to spend more money further down the line when you realise that you need something of a higher quality. Start off with a great setup and it will service you for years to come and save you money in the long run.

I’m not suggesting that you buy a $4000 Fender Custom Shop as your first guitar (although how cool would that be?!), just do yourself a favor and don’t buy whatever is on sale in your local Best Buy.

Keep It Simple Stupid

When choosing your first guitar you don’t want to become overwhelmed by buying something loaded with fancy gadgets and gizmos.  For example I would not recommend initially buying a guitar with a floating tremolo (floyd rose style) system. I cannot imagine the frustration a beginner would have trying to tune his or her guitar for the first time with one of those bridges. You also probably don’t want to start out on a 7 or even 8-string monster – yikes!

Comfort and Ergonomics

Your first guitar is primarily going to be something you play at home, probably in your bedroom, possibly in front of the mirror! You may think it will be cool to buy a Flying V right off the bat, but you are going to get quickly frustrated when you’re sitting at home and the thing keeps sliding off your leg. An uncomfortable guitar is only going to cut your practice sessions short and introduce tension into your playing.

Beware of Guitar Store Sales Staff

It can be incredibly intimidating stepping into a guitar store for the first time.  Unfortunately many guitar sales staff are there for one reason and one reason alone; to make the biggest commission possible.  If your rookie ass ventures into a guitar store alone they are going to eat you alive, and you’ll come out of the place $1000 poorer with a guitar that they’ve been trying to shift for months.  Have a good idea of what it is that you’re after before heading to the store, and if possible take some guitarist friends with you.

Make Use of Internet Knowledge

Sign up to one or more guitar websites that have online forums (LeftyFretz has a forum!) and read the relevant sections – you can learn a lot by reading other new players’ questions.  Ask as many stupid questions as you like, people are always glad to help out newcomers.  They could save you making a costly mistake!

Blah, blah, blah.  You just want to see the gear right?

Part One : Tips Before You Buy
Part Two : Beginner Electric Guitars
Part Three : Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Part Four : Beginner Bass Guitars
Part Five : Amps
Part Six : Effects
Part Seven : Accessories
Part Eight : Lessons

Looking for your first left handed banjo? Awesome! The banjo is an immensely satisfying instrument to play, and mastering it will give you many, many years of pleasure and enjoyment. But where to start?

In this buying guide for beginners we’ll give you all of the information that you should need in order to jump straight into your new instrument. From suggesting some great beginner banjo choices, to explaining the differences between each model style – this article has you covered.

Left Handed Banjo – Beginner Guide

Should I Play Banjo Left or Right Handed?

Right or left handed banjo? If you are brand new to playing a stringed instrument you might be debating over which way to play. For a quick answer, refer back to this article.

It’s worth noting that for most styles of banjo playing I would suggest that it is especially important to have your dominant hand as your picking hand. Banjo is typically a very picking-centric instrument, so it’s important to have a good sense of rhythm and control with your picking hand.

Four or Five String Banjo?

This really depends on the style of music you’d like to be playing.

4-String. A 4-string banjo typically comes in two flavors –  a tenor, or a plectrum banjo.  A plectrum banjo is the same as a 5-string, minus the shorter drone string (5th string) and is popular with jazz players. The tenor has a shorter scale length and is popular with Irish folk players. They are typically used to perform a Dixieland style of playing and are mostly played using a plectrum (guitar pick). Example video.

5-String. The most popular banjo by far, and probably the style that most will opt for. A standard 5-string banjo has 22 frets, with the 5th string tuning peg being located at the 5th fret. They typically come in two different variations – with a resonator, or with an open-back. Often called a Bluegrass Banjo, the design with a resonator is the most popular style of banjo for playing bluegrass. An open-back banjo is preferred for Clawhammer (frailing) style play due to its softer tone.

• Bluegrass (resonator) banjo is typically played with a thumb-pick and two metal fingerpicks (also known as Scruggs style). Example video.
• Clawhammer style is played with either the fingernails or specialised plastic or metal fingerpicks. Example video.

6-String. If you already play guitar then a 6-string banjo may be an appealing option to you.  However, note that these are essentially just banjo shaped guitars. They are tuned and played like a guitar, but give a banjo style sound. Example video.

Best Beginner Left Handed Banjos

If you stumbled across this article through a Google search you’re probably itching to get started with your new instrument, right? Cool! Before we look at the instrument in more detail, let’s take a look at a few excellent left handed banjos you can pick up right now which will be ideal for new players. These are listed in order of price, from lowest to highest.

Resonators

1. SX Country 5-String – more info
2. Davison Jameson 5-String – more info
3. Oscar Schmidt OB5 5-String – more info
4. Deering Goodtime 2 5-String – more info

Open Backs

1. GoldTone CCOT 5-String – more info
2. GoldTone CC50 5-String – more info
3. GoldTone CC100+ 5-String – more info

Banjo Accessories

A few extras that you might like to pick up with your new instrument.

Tuner. A good headstock tuner is a must to ensure that you are playing in perfect pitch – my personal favorite is the Snark clip on. Simply clamp it on to your headstock and it will tune your banjo perfectly via vibration.  Check it out here.

Straps. A banjo strap is slightly different to a regular guitar strap and is a must have if you plan to stand up while playing. Take a look through a selection here.

Fingerpicks. If bluegrass or clawhammer is the style of music you are opting for then a good set of picks is a necessity. Both plastic and metal varieties are available. Most players favor a plastic thumb pick coupled with metal fingerpicks. However, be sure to test all options (including your own fingernails!) to see what works best for you.  Take a look through the selection here.

Banjo Lessons

So you’ve got your new instrument – now all that’s left to do is learn to play the damn thing! I’ve listed below a few popular books which will help get you off to a great start.

1. Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus – more info
2. Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus – more info
3. Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo – more info
4. Banjo for Dummies – more info

Extra Information

I’m sure the information above will be enough to get many of you started.  However, for those of you who might need a little more information before taking the plunge, here’s a bit of extra reading that’ll cover a few extra things you might like to consider.

Resonator versus Open-Back

Resonator. If you look at the back of a resonator banjo you’ll notice a plate which is attached to the body – also sometimes referred to as the ‘pot’. The purpose of this resonator plate is to help the banjo to produce a louder sound, which helps in band situations. The sound bounces off the plate and is projected forward toward the audience. As mentioned above, you’ll probably want to opt for a resonator if bluegrass is your intended play-style.

Open-Back. It should be fairly self-explanatory, but open-back banjos are essentially resonator banjos without the resonator! Because of their open back, these instruments produce a slightly quieter, mellower sound than their resonator cousins. Due to their softer tone they are generally favored for playing old-timey American music, and are typically played using the clawhammer playstyle (or variations of this style).

It’s worth noting that on some resonator banjos, the plate can be removed to give a quieter sound if needed.

Strings and Tuning

As a new player it is generally felt that you should stick to lighter gauge strings at least initially.

If you’re coming to banjo from playing guitar, the order of the strings might surprise you a little. Unlike on a guitar where the strings are in order from thickest to thinnest, the string order on a standard 5-string banjo is 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and then 5th.

The 5th string differs to the others in that it attaches to a special tuner located at the 5th fret, resulting in it being 3/4 the length of the other strings. It is often called the ‘thumb string’ and is used to create a drone sound. Specialised capos are available to alter the pitch of the thumb string.

The most common tuning used in bluegrass is open G (G B G B D). When playing older styles of music, common tunings are Open D (F# D F# A D) and Double C (G C G C D)

Play Styles

The two most common banjo playstyles are Scruggs style and clawhammer. Other styles exist (such as simply playing with a guitar pick), but these are the two which are most commonly associated specifically with banjo playing.

Scruggs Style. The most common form of picking in bluegrass music is Scruggs style (named after Earl Scruggs), where the player uses fingerpicks on the thumb, index and middle fingers. The ring and pinky fingers are typically used as a brace against the body of the banjo. In this playstyle the strings are plucked very quickly in repetitive patterns (rolls), resulting in a very fast, lively sound.

Clawhammer. Also known as Frailing, the clawhammer style of play is preferred for old-time American music. The thumb and index or middle fingers are primarily used to pick. The hand forms a ‘claw’ shape with most of the movement coming from the wrist or elbow, rather than the fingers, which remain relatively stiff throughout.

A big difference between clawhammer and Scruggs style is the direction in which the strings are plucked. Scruggs style players will pick down with the thumb and up with the fingers, whereas clawhammer players will pick downwards with all fingers. While Bluegrass can be called a picking style, clawhammer is more a rhythmic strumming style.

Popular Banjo Brands

A list of a few well known banjo brands who offer left handed models.

• Deering
• GoldTone
• Oscar Schmidt
• Savannah
• Stagg

Leave a comment below with any brands that need to be added to this list!

Are you looking for a ¾ sized left handed guitar for a child? Or perhaps you just need something a little smaller to throw in the trunk when travelling.  This article is for you my friend! Although we aren’t overwhelmed with choice, there are some fantastic little guitars out there.

If you’re looking for something even smaller, take a look back at my half size left handed guitars article. Or perhaps a Ukulele would be a fun option if you want to go even smaller!

Compared to half-sized models, three-quarter sized guitars will open up a much wider assortment of guitars including some from a handful of the bigger brands.  A suitable guitar (or even a full beginner package!) should be attainable for less than $100 if on a budget.

Let’s dive right in and take a look at a few good examples… click the buttons below to jump to the relevant sections! Links are provided for each guitar so that you can see their current pricing.

Popular ¾ Sized Left Handed Acoustic Guitars

1. Oscar Schmidt OG1

Due to its low price, the OG1 is probably the most popular acoustic on this list. The Oscar Schmidt brand is actually produced by Washburn, so you’re assured of a good quality instrument. Available in three different colors – pick your favorite and don’t look back!
Check it out here – Natural or Black or Sunburst

Also available as a cutaway version!

2. Stagg SW201

The Stagg SW201 is another popular choice for guitarists on a smaller budget. They are very comparable to the Oscar Schmidts above, and will run you roughly the same price. Also available in three fantastic different finish options.
Check it out here – Natural or Black or Blueburst or Pink

3. Daisy Rock Guitars

As you can probably guess from the color choices, Daisy Rock guitars are designed specifically for girls! Their smaller size and famous ‘slim and narrow’ neck design makes them ideal for younger players, or just for people with smaller hands.
Check it out here – Wildwood or Pixie Pink or Pixie Pink Sparkle or Pixie Plum Purple

4. Taylor Guitars

If you’re super serious about guitar, one of these is what you’re after. These are all professional quality guitars, with the GS Mini in particular being exceptional.  I personally keep a GS Mini in my own collection, and it is one of my absolute favorite guitars. A GS Mini or Baby Taylor will potentially last a lifetime, so is a great investment.
Check it out here – GS Mini Sapele or GS Mini Mahogany or BT-1 or BT-2

5. Martin Guitars

Martin is a big name in acoustics, so these are another great choice for players looking for that little extra bit of quality craftsmanship.
Check it out here – LX-1 or LXME

Popular ¾ Sized Left Handed Bass Guitars

1. Ibanez GSRM20L Mikro

It’s unfortunately fairly slim pickings when it comes to smaller basses – even for right handed players! Luckily Ibanez has hooked us up with this fabulous little gem. Affordable, quality materials, and that famous name on the headstock – what’s not to love? Definitely your best option for a small lefty bass.
Check it out here – GSRM20L Mikro

2. SX Ursa

The SX Ursa may appeal to those of you who prefer a more traditional bass design, or those on a very tight budget. It comes with an amp, strap and gigbag – all you need to get started!
Check it out here – SX Ursa Sunburst or SX Ursa Purple or SX Ursa Black

3. Oscar Schmidt OB25

Oscar Schmidt really have us covered when it comes to smaller guitars! The OB25 is modelled after the famous Fender Precision bass and packs a lot of guitar into such a modestly priced package. Oscar Schmidt is manufactured by Washburn Guitars, so you can be assured of a quality instrument.
Check it out here – Oscar Schmidt OB25L

Smaller bass guitars are a lot harder to find than 6-string guitars. Any of the guitars listed above will make a great tool for younger players, but if you decide to opt for something a little bigger, definitely check out my article on the best beginner left handed bass guitars for a much larger choice.

Popular ¾ Sized Left Handed Classical Guitars

1. Omega Classical

At a mere $50, the Omega is absolutely ridiculous value for money – and you even get a gigbag! How do they do it?
Check it out here – Omega Classical

2. GuitarWorks Classical

Those after something of a little higher quality will appreciate the GuitarWorks classical package. The store will carry out a 20 point set-up and adjustment process on your guitar to ensure that it plays absolutely perfectly. If you’ve been playing guitar for a while, you’ll know that a good set-up will make a massive difference to the guitar’s playability. Great value!
Check it out here – GuitarWorks Classical

Again, smaller sized left handed classical guitars are tricky to come by.  The guitars listed above are some great examples which you can pick up today, but if you are willing to wait a little longer you have the option of special ordering a guitar from brands such as Alhambra or Contreras.

For a larger selection of options you might like to take a look at the Newbie Guide, which lists some great full-sized classical options.

Popular ¾ Sized Left Handed Electric Guitars

1. SX RST Package

With 7 fantastic colors to choose from, we’re really spoiled for choice with the SX RST! Comes with amp, gigbag, strap, cable, picks, lessons – everything you need in one tidy bundle. At just $115, I don’t know how they do it!
Check it out here – Pink or Black or Purple or Sunburst or Red or Blue or White

2. Axl Guitars

Stand out from the crowd with the Badwater SRO and its crazy antiqued finish, or stick with the more traditional design of the Headliner SRO.
Check it out here – Badwater or Headliner Black or Headliner Blue

3. SX Hawk

The Hawk’s are essentially the same as the SX RSTs listed above, with a maple rather than rosewood fretboard.
Check it out here – Purple or Red

4. Daisy Rock Guitars

Daisy Rock is a brand which aims their guitars at female players. The smaller size and thin, narrow neck design makes them ideal for smaller hands and frames. You won’t struggle to stand out from the crowd with one of these colorful designs!
Check it out here – Rock Candy Pink or Rock Candy Silver or Elite Violet or Rebel Rockit or Peppermint

4. Stagg S300

Another solid choice for those looking for a Stratocaster style instrument. Quality features such as an alder body and hard rock maple neck ensure a great playing experience.
Check it out here – Stagg S300

5. Ibanez GRGM21 Mikro

If you really want to rock out, then this humbucker equipped Ibanez Mikro is definitely the choice for you! Based on the celebrated RG guitar style, this is one seriously fast axe! Left handed models tend to be popular sell out very quickly, as these are really the only 3/4 sized lefty electrics from one of the very big name brands.  Snap one up if you get the chance!
Check it out here – Ibanez GRGM21L

Any of those should make a fantastic smaller guitar. Some of the models I listed are not strictly ¾ sized – some are simply shorter scale-length guitars, which more or less means the same thing. With shorter scale length guitars the frets are closer together, which should make it easier for smaller hands to navigate the fretboard. The majority of full sized guitars have a scale length of 25.5 inches, whereas most Les Paul or SG style guitars are slightly shorter at 24.75 inches.  If you are unable to locate a 3/4 sized model, try and find a full sized Les Paul, as opposed to a Strat or Tele which both have the longer scale length.

Lefty Travel Guitars

It may also be worthwhile having a look into left handed travel guitars if you can’t find anything to your liking from the ¾ sized market.  Travel guitars are designed to be mobile (duh!) and as such they may turn out to be a good smaller instrument for your kids. Check out my article on left handed travel guitars.

As A Last Resort

If all else fails, buy a right handed instrument and string it left handed.  As we mentioned in our article on restringing a right handed guitar upside down this isn’t the best route to take, but if no other options are available it may be a necessary evil until your child can handle a full sized left handed guitar.

If you require a smaller guitar for your even younger child – check out our article on 1/2 Sized Left Handed Guitars or lefty ukuleles.