Which Side of the Brain? Left? Right? Neither?
Since I am home sick I have some time to think.
I admit I am puzzled by many things, despite the fact that, when questioned, I'll make up an answer if I don't know one. One mystery has always been my handedness. I am supposedly a lefty. Which is good--I get to use all that right-brain creativity juice. But here's the thing: I can't use so-called left-handed scissors. When I play whiffleball or some such stupid ball game I bat right (though I do throw left) but I often prefer to catch right. I was forever pulling my mitt off during neighborhood championships. I use a mouse right-handed. I can work manual transmissions just fine. I can write with almost the same speed and legibility with my right hand (although this does not count for much if you've seen my handwriting). I shoot guns as a righty. I draw with my left but often paint with my right. When I have to kick a ball (or a cat--no, just kidding) I momentarily freeze and neither foot springs forward. [OK, I said "here's the thing," but then went ahead and listed several.] Now, when it comes to guitar I should probably be playing left-handed, but I just can't. I remember reading how Joe Strummer was a lefty, but he only had a standard guitar to learn on, plus he thought it would be better to fret with his good hand [I'd agree], but what ended up happening for him was that he could never do all kinds of nice picking with his right hand. That's how he got his nickname, Strummer. So, when I got my guitar many years ago, I deliberately bought a standard model, because it seemed to me that skill on the fretboard far outweighs what happens over the soundhole. Plus, with my handedness confusion, both hands are pretty useful, so I might as well take advantage of all the lessons and chord charts out there for righties. All my informal lessons and noodling up to this point had been on a standard--except for the parent's recital in sixth grade, but that's another, sadder tale than this. I still think I'm right because every time I give it a go and try to use my right hand for fretting I get all fumbled up. (I'm not really all that good with my left, but at least my poor fingers don't get tangled.) I'm not claiming to have any special ability here, I really am confused. But I'll carry on, making my millimeter of annual musical progress. Any advice would be helpful.
PS I heard one guitarist (lefty) say he never knew there were lefty guitars so he just learned to play by flipping it over and leaving the strings the same. And he learned all his chords upside-down! There are also idiotic rumors out there Paul McCartney is not left-handed, but he prefers to play that way. Patent nonsense! And he's not dead, either.
PPS I have other bodily mysteries, if you're interested. No...don't be scared. I was only gonna mention that when I let a beard grow in it contains thick dark brown hair, standard-issue in whiskers, it seems, as well as grey (matches my head), but also blond and red! Strange, huh?
Since I am home sick I have some time to think.
I admit I am puzzled by many things, despite the fact that, when questioned, I'll make up an answer if I don't know one. One mystery has always been my handedness. I am supposedly a lefty. Which is good--I get to use all that right-brain creativity juice. But here's the thing: I can't use so-called left-handed scissors. When I play whiffleball or some such stupid ball game I bat right (though I do throw left) but I often prefer to catch right. I was forever pulling my mitt off during neighborhood championships. I use a mouse right-handed. I can work manual transmissions just fine. I can write with almost the same speed and legibility with my right hand (although this does not count for much if you've seen my handwriting). I shoot guns as a righty. I draw with my left but often paint with my right. When I have to kick a ball (or a cat--no, just kidding) I momentarily freeze and neither foot springs forward. [OK, I said "here's the thing," but then went ahead and listed several.] Now, when it comes to guitar I should probably be playing left-handed, but I just can't. I remember reading how Joe Strummer was a lefty, but he only had a standard guitar to learn on, plus he thought it would be better to fret with his good hand [I'd agree], but what ended up happening for him was that he could never do all kinds of nice picking with his right hand. That's how he got his nickname, Strummer. So, when I got my guitar many years ago, I deliberately bought a standard model, because it seemed to me that skill on the fretboard far outweighs what happens over the soundhole. Plus, with my handedness confusion, both hands are pretty useful, so I might as well take advantage of all the lessons and chord charts out there for righties. All my informal lessons and noodling up to this point had been on a standard--except for the parent's recital in sixth grade, but that's another, sadder tale than this. I still think I'm right because every time I give it a go and try to use my right hand for fretting I get all fumbled up. (I'm not really all that good with my left, but at least my poor fingers don't get tangled.) I'm not claiming to have any special ability here, I really am confused. But I'll carry on, making my millimeter of annual musical progress. Any advice would be helpful.
PS I heard one guitarist (lefty) say he never knew there were lefty guitars so he just learned to play by flipping it over and leaving the strings the same. And he learned all his chords upside-down! There are also idiotic rumors out there Paul McCartney is not left-handed, but he prefers to play that way. Patent nonsense! And he's not dead, either.
PPS I have other bodily mysteries, if you're interested. No...don't be scared. I was only gonna mention that when I let a beard grow in it contains thick dark brown hair, standard-issue in whiskers, it seems, as well as grey (matches my head), but also blond and red! Strange, huh?
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