06.06.13
I already know I’m weird, thanks anyway
From a web “health facts” story — left-handed people are so weird.
Left-handed people suffer more fright during the watching of horror movies, readers are informed. And there are more fibers connecting their left and right brain halves, a condition called “asymmetric,” which is said to make one more prone to schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder.
On the other hand, there’s people like me, who are lefties but also largely ambidextrous:
Left-handedness has its advantages, too! The same atypical brain tendencies associated with mental health challenges may also contribute to greater creativity and cognitive skills among some left-handed people.
For example, a study of professional orchestras uncovered a disproportionate number of left-handed musicians.
The GMA review article also notes that lefties are reportedly more likely to excel at music, as well as math and language fluency. Lefties are also reportedly more likely to score over 131 on IQ tests.
Lefties are more prevalent in one-on-one sports, too. Part of my college scholarship money came from wrestling. I wrestled right and left.
I do not play a left-handed guitar. But the dominance of my hands in playing standard guitar is the reverse of that of a right-handed player.
My strong hand is on the fret board. The strong hand of the righty player is in picking.
Does it make a difference? A subtle one, I suspect, having more to do with tonality, composition and choices in material that’s played over a lifetime.
Screw ya, righty. You are so normal.
Christoph Hechl said,
June 7, 2013 at 2:49 am
Mark Knopfler, who in my opinion is the best guitar player on the planet, is also lefthanded and plays a right-hand guitar. He attributes the resulting playing style as a source of inspiration for several of his songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27OT_FSWrIE
George Smith said,
June 7, 2013 at 8:18 am
I didn’t know that. Will have to take time to look at the video.
Another lefty who played right was/is Stan Webb of Chicken Shack, who you may not know. Christine McVie was in the 1st version of that band when they had their one and only hit as part of the Brit blues boom, ‘I Wish it Would Rain.”
Anyway, I had and have Chicken Shack records because I always liked Stan Webb’s phrasing and tone although I didn’t find out later we had the same ‘condition.’ Perhaps or perhaps not coincidence why I found some Chicken Shack material so conducive to play.