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akinoguy
Aloha
USA
19 Posts |
 Posted - 12/14/2008 : 3:56:30 PM
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I am right handed and I want to teach someone who is left-handed some basic ukulele chords using my ukulele (which is strung in the standard reentrant GCEA tuning). In addition, would not it be a neat trick if you could strum a song right handed, and then switch playing left-handed?
I am trying to figure the following out:
1. Is there a need for a left-handed Ukulele/or do the strings have to be reversed (AECG) on a right-handed Ukulele?
2. If a left handed person holds a "right-handed" ukulele, is forming the chords with the fingers the same? For example, if I name the fingers
A-little finger
B-ring finger
C-middle finger
D-index finger
E- thumb
and frets are numbered as usual,
I prefer to from these chords as follows:
G7:
2-B
1-D
2-C
0-
(thumb holds neck)
C7:
1-D
0-
0-
0-
C:
3-A
0-
0-
0-
and F:
0-
1-D
0-
2-C
If you are left handed, playing a right-handed ukulele the G7 and F appears to me quite difficult in this manner. So I would assume playing the chords must involve different fingering.
Any thoughts from left-handed ukulele players?
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 07:20:54 AM
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Well there’s a lot of left handers who take different approaches – certainly when it comes to guitar, and I think all of them apply equally to uke. ,
1) They can learn right handed anyway. This has the advantage of being able to play over 90% of the instruments that you’ll see in the shops, round people’s houses etc. The disadvantage is that you’re using your ‘weak’ hand for the strumming, which is the important bit. People who have done it this way include Mark Knopfler out of Dire Straits, and Gary Moore out of Thin Lizzy.
2) They can play a right handed instrument, and just flip it over without restringing, forming the chord shapes backwards. This has the advantage of 1) that there are more instruments available, and also they’re using their dominant hand for the strumming, so it will sound better. The disadvantage is that the shapes (as you say) may be more difficult to get your fingers round. People who have done it this way include Elizabeth Cotton, Bob Geldof, and Jimmy Cliff. I suspect that this is easier on the uke than guitar because there are 4 strings, and 4 fingers on the hand.
3) They can buy a left handed instrument, (which will be better with a guitar, for instance) or restring a right handed one (which won’t be such a problem with a uke – the bridge is flat and the nut shouldn’t be too hard to fettle). The advantage is that this, for a lot of left handers is the most natural and comfortable way to play. The disadvantage is that they won’t be able to simply pick up a spare uke at a party and join in, unless they’ve got their own instrument. People who have done it this way include Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and (ahem) Billy Ray Cyrus.
In the end, the person who’ll be doing the playing has to make the decision, but all of those approaches are certainly possible!
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 09:32:53 AM
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| As a leftie, I have my predjudices about playing. When I was 14, my folks got me an Islander uke for my birthday. I learned to play it left handed - it's easy enough to do the chords, and I worked out the fingerings for them myself. Later, as I started to play banjo (couldn't afford a left handed one) I played right handed, and learned guitar thay way, too. I believe that lefties have and advantage on fretted stinged instruments, because the right hand plays a pattern, while the left hops around between chords. At one time back in the 70's, the entire banjo staff at McCabe's in Santa Monica (me, John Zehnder and Pat CLoud) were left handed, along with Dave Zeitlin and Rick Ruskin on guitars. Lefties have to do a lot of weird stuff to accomdate to a right handed world, so it's usually not hard to get someone playing right handed. Of course, I can switch back and forth on my uke during a song - it's great showbiz and weirds people out! Cool, eh? |
keaka |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2008 : 3:45:47 PM
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You are not thinking enough like a left hander.
1 The left hand uke is tuned GCEA. A right hander would see it reversed as AECG.
2 Use numbers to name fingers.
index finger-1
middle finger-2
ring finger-3
little finger-4
Chords do not require different fingering and are just as easy for lefties. Tell the student to think of you as a mirror image and to copy exactly. Place a mirror on the desk so the student can see the chord diagrams reflection. Left handers are more adept at solving problems arising from being left handed. My advice is not to alter music or notation. It is for the most part useless because of the scarcity of music tabs written for left handers. Eventually they will adjust and be able to read anything without having to hunt for special music sheets.
On a personel note, with questions like these, you shouldn't charge to much.
Also, all ukuleles are left handed!!!
I teach uke, guitar and bass. When I hand an instrument to a beginner, I give it to them straight up and observe which way they prefer to tilt it. I do mention(warn) to a beginner that most people and music sheets are for right handers, but don't insist against their preference. There is no weak strumming hand in either case.
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Stay Tuned... |
Edited by - hikabe on 12/15/2008 3:49:22 PM |
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