Forum Home Forum Home > Other music related lounges > Music and Musicians Exchange
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Backwards Guitar
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedBackwards Guitar
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Smurph View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 11 2012
Location: Columbus&NYC
Status: Offline
Points: 3167 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Backwards Guitar
    Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:27
So, I play guitar backwards. Right handed guitars are just flipped upsidedown by me, and they are not restrung. It allows me to play "weird" chords that other guitarists can't play. It also puts me at a disadvantage when learning other people's music, but I have well over 120 compositions between myself and my band so that is not a problem either.
 
One thing though, WHAT OTHER GUITARISTS PLAY THIS WAY?
 
I am having trouble searching for anyone. I try googling different things but no one is going to use the same terminology.
 

Also, sorry if this is in the wrong thread, I wasn't sure which thread to put it in.
Back to Top
Dayvenkirq View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:29
I believe Jimi himself did something like that ... along with Paul McCartney. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Back to Top
NotAProghead View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Errors & Omissions Team

Joined: October 22 2005
Location: Russia
Status: Offline
Points: 7851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:34
Albert King comes to mind.
Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
Back to Top
Guldbamsen View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin

Joined: January 22 2009
Location: Magic Theatre
Status: Offline
Points: 23104 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:48
When I saw the thread title here, I thought it was about guitars played backwards as in flipped over like Syd Barret did on his first solo album. Somehow he could pan out how it would end up sounding, which I find pretty interesting. It certainly had Gilmour a bit bamboozled...
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams
Back to Top
Dayvenkirq View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:55
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

When I saw the thread title here, I thought it was about guitars played backwards as in flipped over like Syd Barret did on his first solo album. Somehow he could pan out how it would end up sounding, which I find pretty interesting. It certainly had Gilmour a bit bamboozled...

LOL . Albert King, huh? I know Jimi was influenced by King.
Back to Top
colorofmoney91 View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer


Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Biosphere
Status: Offline
Points: 22774 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 17:59
Doyle Bramhall II plays guitar like that.
Hanashukketsu
Back to Top
Guldbamsen View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin

Joined: January 22 2009
Location: Magic Theatre
Status: Offline
Points: 23104 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:02
What about upright guitar?
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams
Back to Top
PabstRibbon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 26 2009
Location: Québec
Status: Offline
Points: 925 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:17
Originally posted by colorofmoney91 colorofmoney91 wrote:

Doyle Bramhall II plays guitar like that.

+1
Back to Top
PabstRibbon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 26 2009
Location: Québec
Status: Offline
Points: 925 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:18
Originally posted by Dayvenkirq Dayvenkirq wrote:

I believe Jimi himself did something like that ... along with Paul McCartney. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hendrix was playing with a right handed guitar but he changed the strings to make an "home made" left-handed guitar
Back to Top
Dean View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:28
*sigh* why don't people read the OP - Jimi Hendrix did not just flip a right-handed guitar over, he also restrung it for left-hand playing, as did Paul McCartney for both bass and 6-string guitars, as shown in this pic:
 
also Tony Iommi, Kurt Cobain and most other left-handed players.
 
 
Whereas, as Alan correctly asserts, Doyle Bramhall II plays a normally strung right-handed guitar upside down:
 
 
Other backwards guitar players include Dick Dale and Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity, Katatonia etc)


Edited by Dean - March 14 2012 at 18:29
What?
Back to Top
Slartibartfast View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam

Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:35
Why the hell should the bassier strings be at the top anyway? Tongue

I've actually never tried it with opposite hands before, just did, didn't work for me.

But anyway, backwards isn't the right word I think.  It's opposite-handed.  When you change the string order I think it should be called opposite handed mirrored stringed or something.


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 14 2012 at 18:40
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
Back to Top
Dean View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 18:47
Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

Why the hell should the bassier strings be at the top anyway? Tongue

I've actually never tried it with opposite hands before, just did, didn't work for me.

But anyway, backwards isn't the right word I think.  It's opposite-handed.  When you change the string order I think it should be called opposite handed mirrored stringed or something.
Some left-handers play a right-hand guitar right-handed, some right-handed Hendrix tribute acts play a left-handed guitar flipped over and restrung for right-handed playing to get the same poor intonation that Hendrix's guitars had, and some right-handed players play left-handed. Bob Geldof is right-handed but plays right-handed guitar, flipped over and not restrung (ie backwards or opposite handed mirrored stringed if you insist).
What?
Back to Top
PabstRibbon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 26 2009
Location: Québec
Status: Offline
Points: 925 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 19:24
Jimmy Haslip play backward too 




Edited by PabstRibbon - March 14 2012 at 20:33
Back to Top
colorofmoney91 View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer


Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Biosphere
Status: Offline
Points: 22774 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2012 at 21:13
Originally posted by Dean Dean wrote:

...

Whereas, as Alan correctly asserts, Doyle Bramhall II plays a normally strung right-handed guitar upside down:
 
 
Other backwards guitar players include Dick Dale and Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity, Katatonia etc)

Cool

I had no idea Dan Swano played that way. That's neat to know.
Hanashukketsu
Back to Top
Smurph View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 11 2012
Location: Columbus&NYC
Status: Offline
Points: 3167 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2012 at 00:55
Dan Swano? Really? Seems like I have a bunch of guitar parts to learn. Crimson by Edge of Sanity doesn't seem that difficult.
 
Thanks for all the help guys.
 
http://vimeo.com/21261733
In case anyone cares, this is me playing backwards. Kinda crap recording but whatever, also the band is called Pseudo/Sentai now.


Edited by Smurph - March 15 2012 at 01:11
Back to Top
clarke2001 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 14 2006
Location: Croatia
Status: Offline
Points: 4160 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2012 at 12:47
I'm left handed. I can play right-handed guitar upside-down when necessary. However, I can strum it -but there's no way I will play arpeggio.

Also, it's really easy to hurt yourself; top string is thin and sharp.

The chords are fun. They're actually easier most of the time.
Percussion, sir!
Back to Top
Negoba View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 24 2008
Location: Big Muddy
Status: Offline
Points: 5208 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2012 at 14:13

I'm left handed but just play a right handed guitar the normal way.

I've always thought it was an advantage to have my dominant hand doing the fretting.

You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
Back to Top
Smurph View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 11 2012
Location: Columbus&NYC
Status: Offline
Points: 3167 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2012 at 15:56
Originally posted by Negoba Negoba wrote:

I'm left handed but just play a right handed guitar the normal way.

I've always thought it was an advantage to have my dominant hand doing the fretting.

That's how my old guitar player was. He actually thought he was playing left handed by doing that when he first started. And he told me it isnt easier. You will probably have to practice string skipping alternate picking styles a lot more to gain better control of your right hand.
Back to Top
ClemofNazareth View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Prog Folk Researcher

Joined: August 17 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 4659 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2012 at 19:17

I'm left-handed and tried playing a right-handed guitar normally and inverted, although I never tried restringing it.  I ended up buying a left-handed guitar and never looked back...


"Peace is the only battle worth waging."

Albert Camus
Back to Top
Negoba View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 24 2008
Location: Big Muddy
Status: Offline
Points: 5208 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2012 at 19:24
Originally posted by Smurph Smurph wrote:

Originally posted by Negoba Negoba wrote:

I'm left handed but just play a right handed guitar the normal way.

I've always thought it was an advantage to have my dominant hand doing the fretting.

That's how my old guitar player was. He actually thought he was playing left handed by doing that when he first started. And he told me it isnt easier. You will probably have to practice string skipping alternate picking styles a lot more to gain better control of your right hand.

I've been playing for 25 years now, and at this point it's hard to know. I think it helped at first. It's a different set of skills than writing and you have to have coordination no matter which way you play.

Left handed people have to do so many things both ways anyway...



No comments from the peanut gallery.


Edited by Negoba - April 12 2012 at 19:25
You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.191 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.