Can you play ukulele left handed

This is a ukulele made specifically for left-handed people. Because the tuners, frets, and strings are made for standard tuning, they are likely to hold their tuning better than a right-handed ukulele that is strung upside down. While they will be harder to come by in a music store, there are a few companies that make them.

You can also request them from your local music store and they should be able to order one or more for you. Because they are rarer than right-handed ukuleles, they can be more expensive than a typical ukulele. This is why they might be something you only want to consider if you are serious about the instrument.

My husband is left-handed and has no musical experience or background, so for this blog I decided it would be fun to have him try these different ways of playing the ukulele Thank you for being a good sport, dear!

I decided not to string it upside now, but instead had him try to play the right-handed way, and then had him try playing backwards, using his right hand to fret and his left hand to strum. Making the chord shapes was at first challenging for him no matter how he held the instrument, the same as it can be for any beginner. However, after a few minutes of trying both ways, he decided it was definitely more comfortable for him to play the ukulele upside down.

So, there you have the perspective of one left-handed beginner. Are you left-handed? I do find myself using rather different chord fingerings for some things though. Oh and I tried playing rightie both with the uke and when I started guitar which I play with a 'proper' left handed guitar , but the hands just didn't like it compared to leftie. I am another leftie who plays right handed.

It has always puzzled me a bit as to why this is "wrong" - after all, my clever left hand is doing all the fiddly bits with the chords, while my not so bright right hand is just strumming up and down. So isn't that how all left handers should play?

Isn't it the right handers who are getting it wrong? I too, am "left handed" but play all my instruments "right handed. Either way, you will need skill and coordination. Perhaps the answer to the question is to simply pick up your uke and see what feels best for you. As Barry says, there is no one right answer - just do what feels right and don't let others dictate anything as if there were only one option.

Lefty playing left-handed here. I'm with Barry on this one though.. There are pros and cons, and I wouldn't presume to tell anyone the other way is wrong. Likewise I refute anyone who dares to assert that for all left-handed players right is right. Personally I've not come across a slanted bridge yet except on a banjo uke - easily rectified!

A lefty playing lefty. My brain just can't operate the other way round. I'm very jealous of other lefties that can play right-handed. After reversing the strings on my Makala Dolphin I had some intonation problems. I fixed that by filing out the nut to get the C string to sit deeper. On the other hand, my Bruko came set up for a lefty.

No idea what they did but it plays like a dream. Never seen a slanted bridge on a ukulele. Sounds a bit fiddly so going to make sure I avoid that next time. Thanks for the tip!

I know it wouldn't be that much trouble for me to swap strings over, but it's good to know the slots in the nut and saddle fit the strings ok before it's shipped, and it's nice to be able to take the ukulele out of the box, tune and strum it straight away! I play a regular strung right-handed uke upside down.

I started on guitar that way. Striking strings in reverse doesn't make much difference, if anything it gives me a slightly different flavour. A couple of chord shapes have been tricky but overall I don't think this way is any harder or easier. I have a few videos on YouTube under the name lurch I have taught many left-handed students that play right-handed. You become ambidextrous to point after a while anyway. Lefty guitarist and uke player here. When I was starting out the shop I bought my first guitar from really pushed "learning right handed".

It didn't work for me. All my guitars and basses are left handed including a Kala Ubass. I have right handed Kala tenor and a Soprano ukes. Flip the uke, flip the strings. No adjustment to bridge or nut. Intonation is fine for what I play. One day I will treat myself to a lefty uke. Of the two chores in playing, chording is arguably the more difficult to be good at.

It makes sense that your dominant hand should be doing the hard stuff, not your non-dominant hand. I still have children try ukulele right-handed first. A left-handed guitar can be quite expensive, but switching two strings on a ukulele is easy. A mirror of my experience! Why I ever listened to a right handed person telling my left brain what was best is beyond me. I just made the switch and only just starting to play left and for once it feels so natural. I finally have hope. I need help.

I so want to surprise my husband for this christmas with maybe learning a few chords and 1 song. You can get the book at our shop. Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment.

Enter your email to get the latest news about the release of. Accessories Books Ukuleles Kids 0 Items. Fortunately, lefties have several choices when learning to play a stringed instrument: Play It Like Everyone Else Left-handed people can choose to be part of the right-handed world and finger the chords with the left hand, while strumming with their right. Reversing the Normal Way Left-handed people can turn the standard ukulele backwards and finger with the right hand and strum with their left hand.

Restringing the Instrument Left-handed people can restring their ukuleles and finger with their right hand while strumming with their left hand. Learning From a Left-Hander When I initially studied guitar from a left-handed player who had a left-handed guitar, it was kind of cool.

How to Restring the Ukulele I had a left-handed student who wanted to strum with his left hand and hold the ukulele in his right. Below is a good video that explains how to read the chord charts with the re-tuned ukulele.

You simply look at the chord charts as a mirror. Grab yourself a left-handed chord chart from here What if you want to get more technical than just swapping the strings around? You might also like Is the ukulele just a fad? The Martini Encounter. What is that Ukulele in the Canary Islands? What Are The 30 Human Rights? Uke Lounge. July 2, at pm. Log in to Reply. February 3, at pm. Leave a Reply Want to join the discussion?