Monday, February 11, 2008

Left Handed Guitar Chord And Barre Chord Pictures

Like I said in an earlier post, I read an article about playing the guitar left handed where the author said that you shouldn't try to play a right handed guitar upside down because certain chords are impossible to make. I stated that that was a bunch of bull and now I am ready to back up my claim.
I have provided pictures of myself making "impossible" chords with my right hand.
Some of these chords are actually easier to make than when playing a left handed guitar. The basic G chord (see photo) is very simple and looks like an obscene gesture. I get funny looks with that one. With the Barre G the strings are completely pressed down on the third fret with the index finger and an E type chord is pressed with the remaining three fingers. I use the first three fingers for a basic A chord but you can also press these three strings with only the index finger if it is more comfortable. I have tried to make a basic F chord on a left handed guitar and found it difficult but when I make the chord upside down on a right handed guitar it is much easier.
I have only provided pictures of the basic chords and a few Barre chords that are used quite often, so if you are learning to play a right handed guitar left handed I hope they will help.

2 comments:

  1. I just found your site and your post. I've been playing left-handed-upside-down since 1972 and it's always fun to find somebody else who's doing it.

    While it looks like you and I both play the B, C and D chords the same way, I find it interesting how you play the A chord.

    My "A" is a one-fingered creature; I just push down the three strings with my index finger, kinda like a slide, I guess.

    Interestingly, I also play the mandolin right-handed upside down, which a musician friend pointed out, is actually like play a guitar right-side up. So I guess if I ever wanted to switch it wouldn't be that hard. But I don't!

    Thanks

    Tom Tuerff
    www.myspace.com/tomtuerffmusic

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Tom, I also play an A chord with the index finger but use three fingers when I play rhythm mostly. I don't know why I used the three finger method in the picture, probably just used to it.
    I am also learning the mandolin (upside down of course) and didn't think about it as being the same as playing right handed. That's good to know. Ben

    ReplyDelete

Ben Willis demonstrating the "left handed upside down guitar method".


A chord


B Chord


C Chord


D Chord


E Chord


F Chord


G Chord


B Barre Chord


D Barre Chord

Contact Info

E-mail Ben Willis at
bwillismusic@gmail.com