Lefty roll call

[DryBones]

OK,
I know there are a few lefties on here so let's sign in and show our numbers. A pic of your mando would be cool as well.

Here are mine:


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/JBWicklund/3%20Stooges/3Amigos.jpg

[ab4usa]

and here is a picture of Jason's next mandolin, my Old Wave

[DryBones]

yeah, Alan...I'll do you the favor and take that ol' beater off your hands when you are ready. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Taxman killed my scroll envy http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Eugene]

I'm a lefty, but I play standard mandolins. If you'd like to see a few of mine, they're pictured in "Post a picture of your bowlback."

[Chad Thorne]

I play lefty, a Mid-Mo M-1.

[Cedartop]

Lefty playing lefty, though someday I may follow Nile's H. and learn to play with the other hand as well. My modest stable includes a Gibson plywood, Weber Absaroka, Weber custom Yellowstone with cedar top, and a Bluestar Mandoblaster which is an electric mandolin. Would love to post a picture bu I am pretty incompetent with a computer plus digital camera.

[mandocrucian]

Currently, I probably plunk on the lefty Mid-Mo a whole lot more than on any of my RHed instruments. I can sit around and play various "fiddle" tunes of all stripes (a lot of Brit stuff, Nordic polskas, etc.) without getting bored after only a few go-rounds due to the added difficulty of doing it LHed. Proficiency improvement seems to to be speeding up. Any "new" (fiddle-type) tunes, I now usually learn LHed. (if the tune is in my head, there's no problem playing it RHed).

Waste of time? Well, it's recreational, and I don't have to be particularly creative - the tunes stand on their own. I have to think the melodies because there isn't much ingrained muscle memory, although it seems that I'm getting some phantom muscle memory bleeding over from the the other side. And it's a means of messing with my natural/normal dominance brain settings. After playing for a bit, I'll notice that I'll do other tasks (without thinking about it) with the left hand more frequently.

Now Eugene is always saying that playing from one side or another is moot since both hands are used. Then how come playing with the pick in the LH seems to temporarily shift hand dominance over to left (or at least, less RH dominant)? I'm using both hands, so why isn't the normal RH dominance uninterupted? (Just an observation)

<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>(Actually, I'm starting to think playing RHed mandolin is a waste of time. I've taken it to the edges of what can be done, and though the most common reaction is "I've never heard anyone play a mando like that." it doesn't translate to anything more (CD sales, interest in lessons or workshops, sideman jobs). So why bother? I'm just about ready to go work for Fat Tony.)</span>

Niles H

[danman]

I've been playing lefty for about 30 years. I currently have a '83 Hutto and a '05 Eastman

[Lefty&French]

Hello here! Playing lefty since 1967...
My F instruments (true "hand made" lefties) and my first mandolin, a Calace bowlback.

[djeffcoat]

1982 Monteleone Grand Artist ( his first lefty )

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2310136940047414145DIYBsi


DJ

[doc holiday]

Michael Heiden Artist. photo on heideninstruments.com
in the gallery.. (lefty f5) It's a great one.
It was preceded by a Collings MT &
a Weber Varnish Yellowstone lefty
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif
Doc

[piknleft]

My Old Wave Lefty Oval. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet! Mike

[Eugene]

Now Eugene is always saying that playing from one side or another is moot since both hands are used. Then how come playing with the pick in the LH seems to temporarily shift hand dominance over to left (or at least, less RH dominant)? I'm using both hands, so why isn't the normal RH dominance uninterupted? (Just an observation)
You're putting words in my mouth/at my keys. Of course, hand dominance is not moot, and, as an inconvertible lefty, I wouldn't want to suggest it is. As you handily demonstrate Niles, I just don't believe that being left-handed necessarily dictates placing the neck in the right hand or being right-handed necessitates placing a neck in the left. I can't know, but as I've written elsewhere, I would wager my strengths and weaknesses in playing mandolin are quite different than they would have been if I had taken up an instrument built in reverse to standard.

I'm not certain what you're trying to imply with your anecdote, Niles, but I only play standard instruments, and my run of left hand dominance has continued uninterrupted for several decades.

I'd rather not force the poor Cafe to read this stuff again. You're always welcome to e-mail me directly. Also as I've said elsewhere, I think you'll realize I agree with you more than otherwise.

[Lefty&French]

Now Eugene is always saying that playing from one side or another is moot since both hands are used. Then how come playing with the pick in the LH seems to temporarily shift hand dominance over to left (or at least, less RH dominant)? I'm using both hands, so why isn't the normal RH dominance uninterupted? (Just an observation)
You're putting words in my mouth/at my keys. #Of course, hand dominance is not moot, and, as an inconvertible lefty, I wouldn't want to suggest it is. #As you handily demonstrate Niles, I just don't believe that being left-handed necessarily dictates placing the neck in the right hand or being right-handed necessitates placing a neck in the left. #I can't know, but as I've written elsewhere, I would wager my strengths and weaknesses in playing mandolin are quite different than they would have been if I had taken up an instrument built in reverse to standard.

I'm not certain what you're trying to imply with your anecdote, Niles, but I only play standard instruments, and my run of left hand dominance has continued uninterrupted for several decades.

I'd rather not force the poor Cafe to read this stuff again. #You're always welcome to e-mail me directly. #Also as I've said elsewhere, I think you'll realize I agree with you more than otherwise.

Encore ??!! #
I thought it was "Lefties playing lefty (only) roll call"!
-Insert an emoticon here-

[Eugene]

Well, the topic only specified "Lefty roll call" which I am. I'm sorry to have felt "called" if inappropriate.

[Eugene]

...And sorry, I don't do emoticon. Of course, you're always welcome to e-mail too, Phil...especially if you're pining to unload your non-gauche Calace on a fellow gauchian.

[mandocrucian]

I'm not certain what you're trying to imply with your anecdote

While the fretting hand might be thought of as being more complicated, the dominant hand probably is inclined to be the plectrum hand. So picking "LHed" (the left hand holds the pick) seems to have an effect (for me) of shifting dominance towards the left hand, at least for a temporary period following the playing. It's anecdotal and not "evidence", but to me, there's some connection.


I can't know, but as I've written elsewhere, I would wager my strengths and weaknesses in playing mandolin are quite different than they would have been if I had taken up an instrument built in reverse to standard.


You are most likely on target with that. My "form" (LH) is quite good - but is that because I already know what good form is supposed to look/sound like and thus avoid bad habits? Or does the reversal of the hands play into it? One differnce which is on the physical level: I've never braced with the LH - the free wrist has always felt much more natural with this hand.

Ryan Thomson wrote a book called Playing Violin and Fiddle Left Handed (http://www.tiac.net/~cfiddle/lefthandedbook.html) which has presents the case for 'reversed playing' for lefties. And the bow requires a lot more control and finesse than a plectrum does.

The only way to get a more objective analysis about R vs L playing is to have done both simultaneously starting both at the same time. Prior experience playing on one side contaminates that experiment.

This is a fascinating conundrum. It's possible that I might come to a conclusion that RHers might actually be better off reversing things and fretting with the RH! Aside from Ryan Thomson, I can't think of any RHers who have any experience with mirrored playing. This seems to be the domain of LHers who by various circumstances are forced into a more ambidextrous life.

In my reading of material of brain science and handedness, there's a impressive list of historical LHed geniuses (geniui?), headed by Da Vinci. But could it be that lefties are forced into conforming to many RHed execution of tasks, and it is the ambidextrous wiring being developed which may be responsible for the added brainpower?

I really dislike the "more instruments to choose from" rationale (which should have a low priority) for lefties playing RHed instruments. However, using that mode of playing as a way of re-adjusting the dominance wiring of the brain would be one worth considering. (I can now read text upside down - without having to practice it - and I attribute this to be a byproduct of tinkering with my own wiring.)

Niles H

[Eugene]

Now that bit on reading is interesting. I have always been able to read upside down and backwards, sometimes without even realizing the text wasn't as it should be.

[Leftyman]

Add me to the list,I have a Howard Morris A4,and a custom Lefty F5,I think its the only one Howard has built.
Then I have an Oldwave oval hole with a one piece rosewood back very sweet.
I also have a custom lefty MT with a gloss top and binding.Its an allrounder, has fantastic tone and lives up to all the hype,and makes you sound better than you really are,and kills MAS stone dead on contact.
lefty

[Lefty&French]

Well, the topic only specified "Lefty roll call" which I am. #I'm sorry to have felt "called" if inappropriate.
Of course, but I'm sure Niles and you knew very well it was just a "lefties playing lefty speaking to lefties" thing... not a debate about playing reverse or not.
It explains my "encore"...
Pardon my poor english please( but in french, we say "gaucher" for lefty, or "gauchiste" for ultra left wing;"gauchian" must be a Unionstatian word!).
For the Calace, well, I don't know... but you can PM me.

[Soupy1957]

I gotta be careful not to stare too long at a "lefty" instrument...lol....screws my head up!!
-Soupy1957

[Lefty&French]

I gotta be careful not to stare too long at a "lefty" instrument...lol....screws my head up!!
# # -Soupy1957
Like "Big Brother" tuners by Photoshop? (another thread)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Eugene]

While unaware of the French political implications of being "left", I was simply making up a French-English hybrid word with "gauchian", of course. As a somewhat lame attempt at obtuse humor that might be somewhat amusing to all, I suppose it was amusing to none and potentially offensive to some. Jheesh! I won't quit the day job.

[DryBones]

see what happens when you ask a simple question to lefties? no wonder we don't get any respect!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Lefty&French]

...I was simply making up a French-English hybrid word with "gauchian", of course. #As a somewhat lame attempt at obtuse humor that might be somewhat amusing to all, I suppose it was amusing to none and potentially offensive to some...
Don't suppose! For me, it's not offensive but difficult to understand (humor or not) because english is not my language. Eh oui : Lefty & French (comment conjuguer deux défauts rédhibitoires)
But my "Unionstatians" was a lame attempt at obtuse humor that might be somewhat amusing to all english speaking cafe fellows! I hope it was offensive to none.

[Lefty&French]

...or
"Eugene, moi Tarzan!"

[djeffcoat]

My other lefty F5 model is a Woodley.

http://www.12fret.com/retail/wdlyJCoat.htm

DJ

[Eugene]

Je m'appelle Eugene, et je suis gauchée. (Feel free to correct my ultra-rusty French.)

[danman]

Here is a picture...hopefully...