Left Handed Bass Guitars

If you’re a left handed person, using a bass guitar designed for a right handed is absolutely difficult. Turning the tuning head of a normal bass guitar can be troublesome and confusing. Aside from the trouble brought by the tuning head, hitting the right string can also bring more difficulty and a little confusion. Good to know that there are bass guitars made especially for left handed bassists. The left handed bass guitars are designed to give convenience to southpaws when using the bass guitars.

The left handed bass guitar is the counterpart design of the ones made for right handed bassists. From the tuning head, to the position of the string, and then down to the body design, left handed bass guitars are made specifically to address the needs of left handed players. Right hand and left hand guitars may differ a lot by their looks, but playing either instrument will produce the same quality sound. The difference in their designs does not alter the purpose of the instruments. 

A left handed bass guitar consists of the typical components you see on its twin instrument. Only the placement of the components is shifted to fit southpaw users. Holding the neck with the left hand, players must use their right hand to play the instrument. Now this time, right hand bassist will be having some trouble using the bass guitar. 

In terms of design, left handed instruments are in no way behind. There are bass guitars whose bodies are carved in different shapes to create unique and creative bass guitars. For a female bassist who wants some emphasis and expression, bass guitars cut in heart or daisy shape is sure to fit their style. To match their designs, bass guitars are finished and polished with elegant colors like red, green, blue, mahogany, black, brown, white or a combination of different colors. 

Like the right hand counterpart there are also five string left handed bass guitars suitable for rock and metal genre. Even six to eight string bass guitars are available in many stores. With five string bass guitars, most likely you’ll see three knobs of the tuning head positioned at the top and two at the bottom.

We've highlighted a few pictures of some great left handed bass guitar options around this site, as well as provided a video for inspiration to all aspiring left handed musicians out there. Have a look!

Left Hand Bass Guitar – Purchase Considerations 

If this is your first time to purchase a bass guitar, then these two tips are noteworthy.  

• First, check the size of the neck. See to it that you are able to hold the neck freely while your fingers are touching the strings. Old bass guitar designs have considerably thicker size necks that players often find it inconvenient. However, most new models are shipped with thinner necks that are easy to handle.

• Second, another important thing to consider on a left hand bass guitar is the weight. Bass guitars are normally heavier than lead or acoustic guitars. But despite their heavy nature, there are already bass guitars made with lightweight making them easy to use, carry and transport. If you think that your choice is too heavy for you then try a different one.

Renowned makers of right handed bass guitars are also the ones who manufacture the left hand designs. Big names like Fender, Ashland CSR, Ibanez, Squier, and Dean Edge are just few of the proud makers of left handed bass guitars. So, if you’re left handed and the design of normal bass guitars hinders you from playing then it’s time to make a shift and pickup the right instrument that matches your needs.