Playing Guitar Upside Down For Dexterity

Don't restring the strings... the goal is to simply try and teach your right hand how to be more efficient and dexterous.

Don't work on strumming the guitar or finger picking when you do this. And understand that simple things - like stretching your fingers - is incredibly difficult.

The thing I like about this the most is how it reminds me of how I first felt that day I first learned guitar. It's all new again, and there's something exciting, refreshing, and humbling about that.

I've learned this technique makes me a better piano player, and makes my left and right hands together much stronger and faster.

I always like a challenge - give this a shot! It's super tough, but you'll get better in a few weeks - I promise!

my music is at http://www.fororchestra.com/music

-Walt

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• guitar upside down
• dexterity
• flip guitar
• webcam video waltribeiro

[cpsrisri123]

Ok so I'm a lefty and playing upside-down is hard for me and playing right handed is difficult too. I'm going to restring it but I was wondering if you knew which string should go to which peg? It's an acoustic guitar. Would my low E string go to the peg my high E string went to before and vice versa, etc.?

[waltribeiro]

@cpsrisri123 i'm confused.

[waltribeiro]

@cpsrisri123 it should just mirror backwards, heavy strings on top. i don't even restring, I just do calisthenics for my non-dominant hand

[KingAlanI]

i figured this was mainly an issue for lefties trying to play rightie guitars

[waltribeiro]

@KingAlanI it can go either way. It's just a fun thing I do to get my non dominant hand on par with my dominant fret hand. Helps for my piano playing

[Commiteee]

i noticed something that would be very helpful that nobody has done and i think it would help many (even me, but more people newer to theory). and that would be to kinda make a list of how to learn theory, you know? like first start with intervals, then maybe learn how to form scales, etc. i noticed i was (and still am but to an extent) lost on where to go.. like i might need to know something before i tackle learning something and it all get confusing and really makes you wanna quit.

[waltribeiro]

@Commiteee yea take it slow and baby step. good idea to have a list. theory is tough, diferent people start at different points, just have fun with it.

[megaguitar69]

Another question? When I'm pushing down on the strings and raising the strings up like I see when my friends play IS how hard do you have to push down on the strings? Some one told me that all I have to do is just barley touch them and get the same affect... So who is right??

[megaguitar69]

Question? I'm a beginner and I just bought a cheap guitar off of Ebay and I was wanting to know are my fingers going to get sore and bleed from learning how to play?  I'm a very slow learner due to a motorcycle accident back in 1980.

[seasonedtoker]

@cpsrisri123 just revert the strings but before you do, you need a new nut. if it's a dreadnought guitar forget about it unless you'll be modifying the bridge too.

[HatsDownProductions]

walt! were do i go from were i am now? i have about 1 year and 7 months on my belt but i feel stuck as far as what to learn, could i show you a video of what i know roughly and see if you can give me new things to learn?

[MalZmoo]

Can you please, please, please explain all about tensions and suspensions?!

Thanks so much!

Mal

[cpsrisri123]

@waltribeiro Ah, ok, thanks.

[cpsrisri123]

@waltribeiro I'm sorry, i don't know how to explain it really. I'm going to restring my guitar backwards and I was wondering which tuning peg I should put each string to. Because I'm pretty sure it changes. I don't know if this is less confusing or not.

[destroman16]

Muscle memory, that's what you were thinking of. :)