Lefty here, with left handed guitars. Tried to play righthand in the very beginning, but it became clear that that wasnât for me.
Ah, the new lefty topic is a bit later than itâs usual frequency
Iâm in that banner and Iâm a lefty guitarist!
My guitar isnât in the picture
Indeed the âlefties playing righthandedâ take a bit of the representation.
Than there is the other effect on the demographic; the lefties that donât get into playing because of misconception about the learning path, the lack of access to lefty instruments or worse; starting on a righty and giving up easier than a righty because of frustration or ignorance of the significance. Throw a bit of coincidence in the mix and this banner isnât such a big surprise?
Ahh, a quanta of nuance there Iâd not thought about â
- ârestarting the process able handedâ as a barrier to progress
- âperceptionâ of increased difficulty deterring entry
- lack of ready access to left handed guitars that enable left handed playing.
These are good concepts to keep in mind about many things.
As I wrote earlier, this was more an enquiry exercise, as well as a consciousness raising.
âLeftyâ was a proxy⌠( I am curious as to why the population in picture, as @CT noted, is predominantly âwhiteâ â but that may be a perilous discussion these days)
Bias exists everywhere, and it is good to understand why it exists, and to keep an enquiring mind always at the ready.
When this new forum was started Justing asked the members to summit pictures if they wanted to be in the banner, so there was an equal opportunity for everyone, not just white right-hand players.
I do agree with others that the banner should be updated but if itâs going to be this much of a problem with right verses left, white verses colored then maybe the banner should just be taken down.
Put a picture of Justinâs dog Ziggy up. Sheâs Black and White and doesnât have hands so that should make everyone happy exept the Cat people.
Thereâs just no pleasing everyone is there.
Sorry if my statement was misinterpreted.
This isnât about casting aspersions or shade.
It is about enquiry, questioning assumptions, being open minded to differences of thought processes, and how we can be an even stronger as community and as individuals.
I think the community picture is great. Music can be individual, and community focused, both simultaneously and separately.
My angle is, âmore community, more betterâ and âmore individual, more betterâ. This is a positive sum game in which weâre happily engaged here.
Justinâs students are largely drawn from northwestern Europe, Australia, the United States and Canada , largely fans of rock music from the 1960s to 2000s, have ready access to technology, plus discretionary income to feed their Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. Is it any wonder they are mostly white?
Of course, anyone of any stripe who wants to learn from the best should be welcomed.
Justin also has a large student base in India but the forum seems to be most active with old white guys.
guilty as charged!
I am also a lefty who plays right handed I feel like a traitor. I walk in a box of shame.
I am Jokeing of course. I only did it because I used my daughters ignored right handed guitar when I started. I just have to work that much harder with my finger picking skills.
Be proud!
I imagine however that you donât struggle as much making chord shapes with your left hand as I do?