JP Cervoni chats about being a 'Left-handed and Backwards' Guitarist | Musicians Institute

During his guest Open Counseling at MI August 28, 2012, JP Cervoni discusses and demonstrates what playing guitar is like being a left-handed player who also strings the guitar upside-down (i.e., "Albert King-style," with the the heavy strings towards the floor and the high strings towards the ceiling).

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[TheRealRexJones]

Is there a website or forum for guys like us? We need to share techniques!!! Anyone interested in starting one? Hit me up! I love all genres btw.

[glengravel]

That's the wy I play - it is so effing easy to make a B chord

[izzyprado]

Rock on man! I play the same way! Do you buy lefty guitars and string them up that way? Or do you custom your own guitars?

[KevinMillard]

turn them strings around the right way man iam a lefty and i always buy left handed guitars pretty cool tho, iam teaching my self to also play right handed guitar been playing lefty for 30+ years now

[stupidusername]

I'm a lefty but even this is confusing

[stephandumont]

Yes!!! It's nice to see folks like me!!

[hansnesbitt]

I have played this way for 50 plus years...works great for me...better than most normal players I no switchin now...

[leftymadrid]

I am a lefty, some years ago I really couldn't find too many left handed guitars, so I just started learning all I could on a normal right handed guitar, up side down, strings and all, I got pretty good too, but then decided to actually get a quality left handed guitar with strings in the normal position. CRAP!!! I had to re-learn EVERYTHING from zero again, it sucked, It drove me nuts!!!! Finally, (determined to learn) I started to get some really good licks in. Got really good again, and am so happy I continued. Really comfortable with My playing now. But seeing a lefty, and playing the strings up side down reminds me of those first playing days...uffff!!!! This guy can really frigen play with up side down My hat goes off to him for sure...:-) :-)

[gerardoavila]

YEAH! Proud to be left handed upside down!!

[andrewdesormeau]

Let me start by saying that I am a left-handed guitarist you're not one of those left-handed guitars like me that actually switched the strings upside down I wish I would have never have done that, you're probably one of the best left-handed guitarist that are out there curently, but let me say no left-handed guitarist will ever beat a right-handed guitarist as far as technical playing I have yet to hear a lefty play like zakk Wylde or Steve Vai on that level, or James hetfield, I would be very amazed to hear a left-handed player play like Stevie Ray von, I believe that left-handed players are good guitarist in the sense that we can write music and we can play music on the guitar but we are not technically awesome, I don't believe even Jimi Hendrix was as Good as Stevie Ray von, there's just something about being a left-handed guitarist which I believe limits us to reaching heights that right-handed guitarist make.

[PapaWheelie]

I was just watching the bachelor (yeah I know don’t judge) and was like that dude is playing upside down wtf...

[thecoolestdad]

I am a drummer of 50 years and a bass player of about 6 years. I am left handed. I play my drums open handed, which means, I ride with my left hand on the hi hats and on my ride cymbal. I roll left to right and I set my kit up as a right handed kit, with my hi hat and ride on my left side. Playing open handed allows me to add fills with my right hand while maintaining the beat with my left hand on the hi hats and snare. Playing the bass, I learned on a right handed bass. So when I bought my basses, I bought left handed basses, and had my tech put a new nut on the neck and switch the strings, which puts the E string on the bottom of the neck, closest to the floor. There's no better way to play than this way. I tried playing a left handed guitar strung properly, and I could not. Stan Sargent plays the bass the same was I mentioned. He has played with the likes of Al Jarraeu and night time talk show bands.

[malesmandi]

that high E string bend makes me cringe lol. I've never had courage to bend high E string that far. Back when I was learning guitar, that string broke so many times and hit my arm, and I'm kinda traumatized lol

[PureSalemGuitars]

Look g for cool lefty guitars ??? Check out PureSalem guitars? A lefty owned and run company. All models come in lefty and at no bullshit mark- up.

[ProtoShreddaJoe]

Watching this made realize that I'm not at disadvantage playing upside down for 17 years. I'm just shit at guitar

[uniquebeings]

Has a dyslexic person playing upside it totally makes sense and somewhat easier or rather normal for me. I'm looking for leftie backwards players to jam with and learn from. 😁🎸 Where are the needles in the haystack?

[militantmike]

Same here left handed upside down I have left handed guitars strung right handed I use the left handed guitars for ergonomic reasons

[Ananchel]

I knew it was possible learning on how to play guitar backwards. I ordered a Les Paul a couple days ago and since I'm also a lefty player, I don't know how to switch the strings to the opposite side, although, I'm actually interested in playing the guitar backwards which in my opinion is gonna be really difficult. Wish me luck everyone!

[garygreen]

Awsome, that's how I play bro, kick the fuck ass man!!!

[paperhead]

I think Im the only righty guitar player watching this vid