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Right hand or left had setup
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Author:  bob J [ Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:38 am ]
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I must finally decide. I am EXTREEMLY left handed. Everything-eatting in mid-East excepted. The problem is I injured nerves in elbow in Nam. fingers 4,5 are numb but have about 95% range of motion. The real ploblem, as I see it, lies with fingers 2,3 which have lost strength. Playing around with almost finished neck, I again noticed the weakness (I had become accustomed to weakness and unconsiously compensted for everything else. I don't know if I have enough strength to bar with 2,3. Problem exacerbated because I am a COMPLETE SPAZ trying to do things with my right hand. I don't know if there is a good answer; perhaps someone has had similar experience or has a suggestion....PLEASE.
Thanks, as always,
Author:  Dave Rector [ Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:58 pm ]
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Bob, you might want to consider that all righties do the fingering with their sub-dominant hand. Seems like a leftie could do that as well.

With the weakened fingers being on your left hand ( hope I got this right) you should be able to string the guitar as a leftie would and use your stronger right hand to do the fingering.

There will be a learning curve, and no doubt some frustration, involved but it is doable.

Hope this helps.
Author:  bob J [ Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:30 am ]
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Thanks Dave
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:59 am ]
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I attended college on a golf scholarship at MIddle Tenn. State. My coach there was a proponent of teaching players to lead the swing with their dominant hand. This would have right handers playing left handed and left handers playing right handed. His theory was that this put the dominate hand guiding the swing. However with some one who has already learned to swing the conventional swing, it proved to be far too difficult for the brain to make the change in mussel memory and coordination.

I would fear that trying to change from being a right hand guitar player to a left hand player would be equally as difficult for the brain to adapt quickly.

If I was in you situation I would try a more radiused fret board first. It will help make barr chords easer and help reduce fatigue. I have built two for a friend of mine that has a similar problem as you. On his we used 14” radius fret boards, and this has helped him considerably. I myself have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and have gone to 15” radii on one of my own. I have to say it has helped.

I would think it much simpler to accommodate the weak fingers with a more tighter radii than to relearn t play left handed.
Author:  bob J [ Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:43 am ]
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Thank you all
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