Left-handed players have three main ways to hold and play a guitar

A left-handed person can play guitar in one of three ways: restring a standard right-handed guitar to play it backwards, buy a guitar built specifically for left-handed players, or learn on a right-handed guitar the way right-handed people do. The first two are far more common. Which one works best depends on what feels natural to your hands, what guitars are available to you, and whether you want to play alone or in groups.

The most straightforward path is buying a left-handed guitar — the body shape, neck, and string order are all mirrored so your left hand does the fretting (pressing the strings down) and your right hand does the picking or strumming. This is how the majority of left-handed players learn, because the guitar is built for the way their hands naturally want to work.

Key Takeaways

  • A left-handed guitar has its strings reversed and its body mirrored so a left-handed player's dominant hand does the fretting work.
  • You can also restring a right-handed guitar backwards, which costs less upfront but requires more setup work and limits your choice of guitars.
  • Some left-handed players learn on right-handed guitars, which takes longer but lets you play any guitar you pick up.
  • Left-handed guitars cost the same as right-handed ones but are harder to find in stores and online, so budget extra time to locate one.
  • The neck shape and body cutaway are mirrored on a left-handed guitar, which matters more for comfort than most beginners realize.

Buying a left-handed guitar built for your hand

A true left-handed guitar is built as a mirror image of a right-handed one. The strings run in reverse order (the thickest string is on top instead of the bottom when you hold it), the neck is shaped for a left-handed player's reach, and the body cutaway — the notch that lets you reach the higher frets — is on the left side instead of the right. This means your left hand naturally falls into the fretting position and your right hand handles the pick or fingerpicking.

The cost is the same as a right-handed guitar at the same quality level. A beginner left-handed acoustic runs $100 to $300, and a beginner electric runs $150 to $400. The real challenge is finding one. Most guitar shops stock far more right-handed guitars because they sell in higher volume. You will likely need to order online or special-order from a music store, which adds a week or two to the wait. Major brands like Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, and Yamaha all make left-handed models, but not every finish or style is available in left-handed versions.

If you are renting or borrowing a guitar to try before you buy, ask specifically for a left-handed model. Playing a right-handed guitar when you are left-handed is like writing with your non-dominant hand — possible, but it fights your natural instinct and slows your progress.

Restringing a right-handed guitar to play left-handed

You can take a standard right-handed guitar and restring it backwards so the thickest string sits on top. This costs $15 to $40 in strings and an hour or two of your time, plus the cost of the guitar itself. The appeal is that right-handed guitars are everywhere — in pawn shops, on secondhand sites, in your friend's closet — so you have far more options to choose from.

The catch is that the guitar was not built for this. The nut (the piece at the headstock where the strings sit) has grooves cut for right-handed string order, so you will need to file those grooves wider or have a repair person do it. The bridge (where the strings attach at the body) may also need adjustment. The body cutaway will be on the wrong side, making it harder to reach the high frets comfortably. The neck shape and weight distribution will feel slightly off because the guitar's balance was designed for right-handed playing.

This method works if you have a guitar sitting unused and want to experiment cheaply. It is less ideal if you are buying a guitar specifically to learn on, because a purpose-built left-handed guitar will feel better in your hands and let you progress faster.

Learning to play right-handed despite being left-handed

Some left-handed people learn to play right-handed guitars the standard way — right hand fretting, left hand picking. This is less common than it used to be, but it is still a real path. The advantage is that you can pick up any guitar anywhere and play it. The disadvantage is that it works against your natural hand strength and coordination, so the learning curve is steeper and you may hit a ceiling sooner.

This approach usually happens by accident: someone borrows a right-handed guitar before they know better, gets a few songs under their belt, and decides to keep going rather than switch. If you are considering this deliberately, understand that you are training your non-dominant hand to do the most precise, demanding work on the instrument. Many left-handed players who tried this way report that switching to a left-handed guitar later felt like learning a different instrument entirely — easier and more natural, but requiring a restart.

What to check when you buy a left-handed guitar

The most important thing is to hold it and play it before you commit, if possible. Order from a seller with a return window so you can send it back if it does not feel right. Check that the nut is properly cut for left-handed strings — if the grooves are too shallow or too deep, the strings will buzz or sit too high. Make sure the truss rod access (the adjustment point inside the neck) is on the side you can actually reach as a left-handed player.

Ask the seller whether the guitar comes set up for left-handed play or if you need to take it to a repair person first. A new guitar often needs a setup — adjusting the action (string height), intonation (whether it plays in tune up the neck), and truss rod tension. This costs $50 to $150 and is worth doing whether you buy left-handed or right-handed, but it is especially important on a left-handed guitar because fewer technicians work on them regularly and you want someone who knows what they are doing.

Playing in bands and groups as a left-handed guitarist

If you plan to play with other musicians, a left-handed guitar works exactly the same way as a right-handed one — you just hold it on your left side instead of the right. The chord shapes, scales, and techniques are identical. You will sit to the left of a right-handed guitarist instead of the right, and you will angle your body slightly differently on stage, but the music itself does not change.

The only real consideration is space. In a small room or on a small stage, a left-handed and right-handed guitarist sitting next to each other might bump elbows or headstocks. Most bands solve this by spacing people out or having the left-handed player sit on the far left of the stage. It is a minor logistics problem, not a musical one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I learn on a right-handed guitar and switch to left-handed later?

Yes, but it will feel like learning a new instrument. Your muscle memory is built into your dominant hand, so switching means retraining that hand to do different work. Most people who do this report it takes a few weeks to feel comfortable again. It is easier to start on the correct orientation from the beginning.

Are left-handed guitars more expensive?

No — they cost the same as right-handed guitars at the same brand and quality level. The challenge is availability, not price. You may pay shipping costs or wait longer to find the model you want, but the guitar itself is not marked up.

Do I need a left-handed amp or other gear?

No. Amplifiers, pedals, tuners, and all other gear work the same way regardless of which hand you use to play. Only the guitar itself needs to be left-handed.

What if I cannot find a left-handed guitar in the style I want?

You have two options: order online from a major retailer or music site that stocks left-handed models, or special-order from a local music store (they can usually get any model a manufacturer makes). Both take time but expand your choices far beyond what a typical store shelf holds.

Do famous left-handed guitarists play left-handed or right-handed guitars?

Most play left-handed guitars — Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Ray Vaughan all played left-handed. A few, like Mark Knopfler, learned to play right-handed. There is no single rule; it depends on what each player found most comfortable early on.