Left handed vs. Right Handed Playing

Posted: 12/19/2008 11:57:57 AM
vonbuck

From: new haven ct.

Joined: 7/8/2005

snuffy,
if you play guitar right handed, you'll find playing the theremin right handed easier to use (right hand pitch)

I'm left handed, polay bass and 'horizontal " string instruments that way.

I play cello and accostic bass right handed, don't ask.

I find it is more comfortable for me to play theremin left handed as well.
I can play right handed if needed, but I'm not as accurate.

Build it right handed.

Andy
Posted: 12/20/2008 3:33:46 AM
snuffy406

From: Maryland, USA

Joined: 12/13/2008

Thank you so much for clearing that up, Brian R and Andy (Vonbuck). Theremin is so unrelated to any other instrumument, trying to relate it to the string family is just me getting overexcited and mental with excitement. Two weeks ago I had no idea there were Thereminists around, now I are gonna be one!
Going with the inventor and the best player, right handed pitch control is the way I'll build it. I know "how to practice" a musical instrument, so it will be fine. This is gonna be FUN!
Posted: 10/11/2024 3:14:49 PM
richierich

Joined: 10/11/2024

I'm new to this site and I plan to get a theremin soon but this left/right positionning seems akward to me since on cello (wich I play) it's my left hand controlling the pitch, and the left doing the bowing.

So I'm like hesitating what to choose

It seems to me that the theremin is counter-intuitive in it's normal state.

Has anyone ever bought a DIY kit and reversed it with success ?

Thanks in advance

Posted: 10/12/2024 2:48:36 PM
dewster

From: Northern NJ, USA

Joined: 2/17/2012

"I'm new to this site and I plan to get a theremin soon but this left/right positionning seems akward to me since on cello (wich I play) it's my left hand controlling the pitch, and the left doing the bowing." - richierich

Theremin pitch is quite difficult to control, so you want to use your dominant hand for it.  I also play guitar, where I would argue the picking hand has the harder job, but the Theremin doesn't feel backward to me because of that.

Posted: 10/12/2024 10:10:43 PM
feflower

Joined: 11/19/2020

I am left-handed (write, throw, eat, etc).

However, I have committed myself to learn all new instruments right-handed--including the theremin. I have recently began learning cello and drum kit--also both right-handed. I have not found any extraordinary problem learning this way.

The main reason for my decision to learn instruments right-handed is, in my youth, I learned how to play guitar left-handed and now deeply regret that decision. I am unable to pick up any guitar and play it.

Posted: 10/13/2024 11:23:46 AM
dewster

From: Northern NJ, USA

Joined: 2/17/2012

Somewhat tangential, but several years ago my wife got tendonitis in her right (dominant) hand from mousing.  She switched the mouse to her left hand and it only took a short while before that felt as natural as the right hand.  I did the same with my trackball a couple of years ago - it felt weird and awkward for a while, but after a few months I actually started to prefer it.  Neither of us switched the buttons either (left click is still the main click).  It's pretty amazing that the non-dominant hand can learn to do precision tasks as well as the dominant hand, especially after being rather neglected since birth.  Think about touch typing too, both hands have roughly the same task, and the non-dominant doesn't feel any less able than the dominant.

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