Why so few lefties in the JG Community image? ??

Lefty here, with left handed guitars. Tried to play righthand in the very beginning, but it became clear that that wasn’t for me.

Ah, the new lefty topic is a bit later than it’s usual frequency :smiley:

I’m in that banner and I’m a lefty guitarist!
My guitar isn’t in the picture :stuck_out_tongue:

Indeed the ‘lefties playing righthanded’ take a bit of the representation.
Than there is the other effect on the demographic; the lefties that don’t 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 isn’t such a big surprise?

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Ahh, a quanta of nuance there I’d not thought about –

  • “restarting the process able handed” as a barrier to progress
  • “perception” 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.
“Lefty” was a proxy… ( I am curious as to why the population in picture, as @CT noted, is predominantly ‘white’ – 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.

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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 it’s 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 Justin’s dog Ziggy up. She’s Black and White and doesn’t have hands so that should make everyone happy exept the Cat people.

There’s just no pleasing everyone is there.

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Sorry if my statement was misinterpreted.

This isn’t 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, “more community, more better” and  “more individual, more better”. This is a positive sum game in which we’re happily engaged here.
:beating_heart:

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Justin’s 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!

We ain’t old - we’re Vintage!

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I am also a lefty who plays right handed I feel like a traitor. I walk in a box of shame.

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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.

:joy:

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Be proud! :rofl:

I imagine however that you don’t struggle as much making chord shapes with your left hand as I do? :thinking:

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