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The left handed acoustic guitar is, contrary to
commonplace belief, one of the more approachable musical instruments
that one can play. Mastering it is possible provided training is
done with dedication and discipline. As all musical instruments,
learning takes time and practice makes perfect.
With left handed acoustic guitars, the key to success lies with
grasping the basics. In most cases, it will take you some time to
master them, but once you do (and hopefully along the way), you will
enjoy the ride. All you need is some fundamental instructions to get
you playing any chord and to any tune, easily. Below are some of the
basics, the grasping of which forms the springboard to mastery of
the guitar.
Consider Getting a Tuner
Tuners use mnemonics to help learners familiarize themselves with
string arrangements of the guitar. It is a great tool for starters
since you can form your own acronyms for the mnemonics, one that you
will remember easily.
Guitar Tabs
Guitarists use a different musical notation system called tabs
(guitar tablature). They help in indicating guitar fingering as
opposed to musical pitches as is the case with other instruments. To
grasp how guitar tablature works, you will need to look at each
string as corresponding to a line.
Placing Your Fingers On The Fret
Left handed players use their right hand for fretting and the left
for pricking. The tricky part is how to hold multiple frets
especially for players with short fingers. You need to research on
the style to use. Continuous practice will enable you to determine
the most appropriate style for yourself.
Strum With The Left Hand
Strumming is one of the more difficult exercises, especially with
left-handed guitars. You can try various combinations, upstrokes and
down strokes counting the beats as you play on. You can easily do
this with your fingertips but you will need to do some practice
since you are using the left hand. Remember to keep your arm in
constant motion to maintain flexibility.
Study The Guitar Itself
It is important to learn the names as well as the functions of the
different guitar parts. Learn how they work to appreciate them. You
will realize how important this is, when you master the art.
Practicing Chords
A chord is a group of notes played together. The goal in practicing
chords is being able to move your hand and fingers comfortably
without losing the chord’s rhythm. Start with the more common
chords, most of which you probably have heard, moving on to ones
that are more complex.
Compose Your Own Songs
This is very important. However, before you do, make sure you can
comfortably play along with songs as you listen to a CD. Composing
your own songs brings out the creativity in you, which is vital in
learning the guitar. Carry your instrument with you wherever and
whenever you can, play for friends and strangers. It is important to
enjoy and have fun in the process. |
