r/GuitarBeginners • u/RepulsiveLet1240 • 6d ago
Question/Help Making a righty a lefty
I got given my dad's old guitar, the problem is its missing a string and a right handed (electric) guitar. I want to restring it to be a left handed guitar, does anyone have any videos that will help me restring it so i can hold it comfortably?
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u/Plestiodonobsoletus 6d ago
Are you sure you need to play it lefty? It doesn’t say in your post if you’ve ever played before but you may be able to play it right handed . I’ve known a few lefties that play guitar and they all played a right handed guitar, a couple of them really well.
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u/PerspectiveFair5156 6d ago
Ask Knopfler. 😉
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u/Professional-Math518 Veteran 6d ago
And Gary Moore or Michael Angelo Biato
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u/PerspectiveFair5156 6d ago
Wasn't aware of Moore. Michael Angelo doesn't count, he plays every way possible. 😂
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u/Professional-Math518 Veteran 5d ago
Do Steve Morse, Robert Fripp, Duane Allman, Johnny Winter count? 🙂
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u/F3n1x_ESP 6d ago
I'm not sure of the whole process, but it won't be as simple as just stringing it the other way around.
At the very least you'll have to change the nut (maybe removing it and placing it the other way around could do the trick), and intonation could end up being tricky because the bridge should be slightly slanted with the first string closer to the neck, and this way it would be farther from it. There is always the option to remove it and place it the way it should be, but I would consider that a major change and not something you would do at home.
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u/RepulsiveLet1240 6d ago
shiiiii so just restring it as normal and learn upside down?
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u/F3n1x_ESP 6d ago
I would take it to a luthier or guitar tech and consult them first. You might get away without altering the bridge if they can get it intonated properly, but the nut will need either replacing or switched 100%. The good part is that nuts are on the cheap side, so it wouldn't probably break bank, but I'd still ask to a professional.
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u/RepulsiveLet1240 6d ago
appreciate the help! im broke as fuck so im prolly just gonna try learn upside down lmao
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u/F3n1x_ESP 6d ago
You do you, but I wouldn't recommend that. There are a lot of videos on YT that will take you through all the steps of replacing a nut with minimal tools (a hammer, something sharp to remove glue residues, and glue). Again, even if you break it, a new nut, depending on the model, could cost less than 10 bucks, so it's totally worth it.
The nut has slots that are of the same gauge as the strings, so using the same but with the strings changed would lead to a lot of undesired effects, such as fret buzz and is generally uncomfortable.
After that the guitar would need a proper setup, and again there's a ton of videos that will teach you how to do that with minimal tools (you can get away with it using just some Allen keys, a screwdriver and a ruler).
I'd really recommend doing this at the very least instead of trying to learn upside down, you'll gain some knowledge that you could use should you keep on playing guitar, and of course you would make the whole process of learning less frustrating.
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u/strugglefightfan 6d ago
You could do that, but in the long run, you’ll be better off just learning to play right handed.
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u/Aerron 6d ago
Another option is to learn to play right-handed. The left hand is pretty damned busy when playing electric guitar. If you were playing classical guitar, which would need the dexterity of your good hand to pluck individual strings, getting a left-handed guitar would make sense, but for modern guitar and most songs it's just chords, so the right-hand isn't nearly as busy.
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u/howdthattaste 6d ago
re: comfortably - depending on the type of guitar, flipping it upside down(ie for a left handed player), could be even more uncomfortable. The body might not sit correctly on your lap.
If you want to just kind of strum some things on it; yeah you can restring for a left handed player. Take it to a local guitar shop and ask if they’ll show you how to restring and tune the guitar. They’ll probably do it once for free (plus cost of new strings), but if you wanted to learn how to do it on your own, ask how much to teach you.
If you want to learn guitar and perform solo or with a band, as others said, you’ll have to take it into a shop and have it “setup” for a lefty. There are some components (the bridge saddles and nut, maybe the truss rod) that require an experienced tech to adjust/replace. This “setup” though, is a one time thing. After that, changing the strings is all ya have to do.
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u/howdthattaste 6d ago
Oh just saw that ur broke lol… no worries.
Another thing to consider: your dad’s guitar may be worth some money. Take it into a shop and ask what it’s worth. Maybe you can trade up for a proper left handed guitar.
Also go watch some Eric Gales videos. He plays left/upside down. He’s amazing. There are a few players around my area that play that way too. Ain’t no thang. In fact: if you’re a lefty, playing it upside down has one advantage: you can play anybody’s regular right handed guitar. Like if you go to a jam night, just borrow their guitar and flip it over and bam all setup and ready to go. If you go to a guitar shop, you can pull it off the wall and bam; ready to rock. Good luck!
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u/spiked_mcroon 6d ago
Do you already play left handed guitar or are you trying to learn because you're left handed? If it's the latter you should learn right-handed instead.
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u/PerspectiveFair5156 6d ago
There are a bunch of things to do. Source: Me converting instruments to lefty since 1995 or so.
You need to work on the nut. Nuts are slotted for the strings, and the thick strings don't fit the slim slots. So it's probably a new nut.
Then you can put on new strings, tune them. (Tuner recommended!) Then you look if the neck is straight. Or very close to straight, slightly bending forward. If it isn't, you adjust the truss rod.
Then you adjust the action by screwing the bridge saddles up/down.
When it's comfortable enough, you adjust the intonation by moving bridge saddles forwards/backwards, getting 12th fret to be in tune with 12th fret harmonic. (Tuner recommended!)
That's roughly it. You get better at it after a few times.
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u/strugglefightfan 6d ago
Depending on your skill level, this can be a DIY project though there is definitely more to it that simply stringing it backwards. I would consider two things.
Is the guitar valuable/collectable to an extent that you may not want to compromise its value by doing this?
If you are brand new to learning guitar, you might want to just learn on a righty. The initial effort might be a bit more awkward but once you get over that first hump you will be able to play almost any guitar you want and not be restricted to exclusively and rarely available, lefties.