Left Hand Chord Charts by Kim Giancaterino © All Rights Reserved
Left Hand Chord Charts
Chord Charts for Left-Handed String Instrument Players
An impressive group of musicians are known for playing left-handed instruments with normal stringing. The list includes Tim Armstrong (The Ramones), Justin Bieber, Jonathan Butler, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Billy Ray Cyrus, Dick Dale, Elliot Easton (The Cars), Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Albert King, Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Buddy Miles, Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Iggy Pop, Otis Rush, and Slim Whitman.
Some artists in this category, like Paul McCartney, play both genuine left-handed instruments and right-handed instruments that are altered for left-handed playing. In addition to several styles of guitars, the former Beatle also plays the mandolin and ukulele left handed. Many resources are available for left-handed string players. We’ve put together a collection of helpful left hand chord charts for beginner and intermediate level acoustic guitar, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele players.
Jimi Hendrix
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Jimi Hendrix Axis Bold Poster Print
Guitarist Jimi Hendrix
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jimi Hendrix was naturally left handed. He was forced to write and play guitar with his right hand while in the presence of his father who believed left handedness was a sign of the Devil. At the age of 14, young Jimi came upon a ukulele with one string that was destined for the trash. He taught himself to play by listening to Elvis Presley tunes and the catchy theme song from the television show Peter Gunn. A year later he purchased his first acoustic guitar for five dollars.
According to family members, Jimi became adept at playing right handed with the strings upside down, as well as left handed with the strings in the proper order. The budding Superstar practiced for several hours each day, and had to play right handed any time his father was around or risk losing his guitar.
Jimi Hendrix
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1993)
Jimi Hendrix Copenhagen, Denmark Poster Print
Left Hand Chord Charts for Guitar Players
Chord Charts for Left-Handed Guitar Players
Left Hand Guitar Chord ChartMel Bay Left-Hand Guitar Chord Chart
Left Handed Guitar Fretboard and Chord Chart Instructional PosterLeft-Handed Bass Guitar Chord Chart by William Bay
Left Hand Chord Charts for Banjo Players
Chord Charts for Left-Handed Banjo Players
Left-Handed Banjo Chord Chart 5-String G Tuning by William BayLeft Handed Banjo Chords and Fretboard Poster – Open G Tuning
Left Hand Chord Charts for Mandolin Players
Chord Charts for Left-Handed Mandolin Players
Left-Handed Mandolin Chord Chart by William Bay (Author of 200 Books)Left Handed Mandolin Fretboard and Chord Chart Instructional Poster
Left Hand Chord Charts for Ukulele Players
Chord Charts for Left-Handed Ukulele Players
Left-Handed Ukulele – The Complete MethodMel Bay’s Left-Handed Ukulele Chords
Paul McCartney
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Beatles (1988) & Solo Artist (1999)
The Beatles Paul McCartney Poster (1964)
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney studied the trumpet as a youth, but fell in love with the guitar when rock and roll came on the scene. His initial attempts at playing guitar right handed were frustrating. When he spotted a concert poster for country music singer and left-handed guitarist Slim Whitman, a bell went off. He restrung his right-handed guitars and learned to use them left handed.
Paul McCartney’s 1960 sunburst Les Paul guitar is one of just a handful made that year. In fact, the logo is upside down because Gibson didn’t reverse the logo on lefty headstocks back then. The Paul is Dead rumors of 1966 were fueled by photos of Paul McCartney playing guitar right handed. Conspiracy theorists were certain the man playing was a lookalike stand-in. The urban legend has been mocked endlessly in popular culture.
Paul McCartney
21-Time Grammy Award Winner
Paul McCartney by John Froehlich
Left Hand Chords for Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and Banjo
Designed and Edited by J. Bruce Jones
Left Hand Chords for Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele & Banjo is a comprehensive resource which contains essential chord fingering charts for left hand players for the major, minor, and seventh chords, keys, barre chords, arpeggio scales, moveable soloing scales, blank chord boxes, and sheet music. The book provides a variety of music charts for playing rock, folk, country, and blues music. All chord charts show fingerings for the left handed guitar, mandolin, ukulele and banjo player. Left Hand Chords also includes fingerboards for each instrument string for the left hand player. Also by this author: Essential Chords for Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and Banjo
Left Hand Chords for Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and Banjo by J. Bruce JonesEssential Chords for Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and Banjo by J. Bruce Jones
J. Bruce Jones
Left Hand Chords developed from readers who asked if I could take my Essential Chords book and convert it over for left hand players. Left hand players would describe to me the process they went through to figure how to play traditional chords but with the opposite hand. It took a bit to do but I did figure it out, along with the help of some readers who gave great comments and suggestions.
Kurt Cobain
Nirvana – American Music Award (1995)
Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist
Kurt Cobain
Naturally ambidextrous, Nirvana’s front man Kurt Cobain chose to play the guitar left handed. He was a talented performer and songwriter who used the instrument to express his love of the pop music and punk rock genres. Interestingly, he played drums right handed. Off-stage Kurt Cobain was also known to draw and write with his right hand.
Music by Nirvana
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New YorkNirvana Bleach (Deluxe Edition)
Kurt Cobain
I’m left-handed, and it’s not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars. But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite. I’ve only owned two of them.
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Electric Guitar
Available in Right and Left Handed Versions
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Three-Tone Sunburst Solid-Body Electric Guitar24-inch Scale Length Allows a Comfortable Feel and Smooth Playability
1st Lefty Beginner Guitar Lesson
Left & Right Hand Technique
Jimi Hendrix
I’ve been imitated so well I’ve heard people copy my mistakes.
Colorful Musical Hearts
Our bass clef and treble clef heart designs are available on several products, including shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, magnets, aprons, playing cards, buttons, and PopSockets. Give a fun and practical gift to your favorite musician, music teacher, or music student.
Treble and Bass Clef Musical Heart on Grunge Bassist Coffee Mug
Treble and Bass Clef Heart on Grunge Bassist Customizable Tote Bag
Unique Gifts for Music Lovers
We’ve designed 2,000+ products for string instrument musicians and fans. Find a unique gift for your favorite player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music collection.
Find the Best Music Gifts
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This means that–at zero cost to you–we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
30-inch Wood Classical Guitar – Case and Accessories – Great for Kids and Beginners – Purple Gradient
30-inch Wood Classical Guitar – Case and Accessories – Great for Kids and Beginners – Pink30-inch Wood Classical Guitar – Case and Accessories – Great for Kids and Beginners – Red Gradient30-inch Wood Classical Guitar – Case and Accessories – Great for Kids and Beginners – Blue
Explore String Kings Music
