Modifying a Classical Guitar for Left-Handed Players

Considering whether to restring a classical guitar for left-handed playing can be a complicated decision. While it is technically possible to convert a right-handed classical guitar for left-handed use, there are several important factors to consider. In this article, we will explore the challenges, modifications, and pitfalls of restringing a classical guitar to be left-handed.

Why Not Learn Left-Handed?

It’s important to understand why learning left-handed is often discouraged, especially for beginners. Over 99% of classical guitars are designed for right-handed players, and forcing them to be used left-handed can lead to significant difficulties. There are several reasons why it is not advisable to change a right-handed guitar to left-handed:

Modifying a right-handed guitar to be left-handed can be both ridiculous and unnecessary. Both hands have an important role to play in playing a guitar, and using your dominant hand for fretting is a definite advantage. Practical difficulties such as playing with the natural advantages of using your dominant hand make it a challenging choice for left-handed players.

For these reasons, if you are new to classical guitar playing, it is generally recommended to learn to play right-handed first.

Practical Modifications for Left-Handed Players

For those determined to play left-handed, there are some modifications that can be made to a classical guitar:

Nut Slot Adjustments

The nut slots on a classical guitar are typically wider on the bass side compared to the treble side. If you simply reverse the strings, the bass strings won’t fit into the slots in the nut. To address this issue, you can:

Widen the slots of the two high strings with a file or sandpaper. This will allow you to string the guitar left-handed, but it might result in the treble strings being a bit loose in the wider bass string slots. Consider replacing the entire nut with one that is cut for left-handed playing. If you do this, you can easily revert the modifications later if you need to sell the guitar.

For a novice player, this approach is usually sufficient. However, for serious players, the issue of intonation becomes more significant.

Intonation and Bridge Saddle Adjustments

Classical guitars, especially those of higher quality, will have a bridge saddle that is slanted so that the treble side is closer to the nut than the bass side. This slanting is intended to properly intonate the strings, ensuring that the notes are in tune. If you reverse the string order, the intonation will be slightly out of tune, particularly in higher positions.

While the difference may be less noticeable with nylon strings compared to steel strings, and since more play is often done in lower positions, intonation is still important if you intend to perform or record with the guitar. Reversing the slant of the bridge saddle is a more significant modification and can involve either removing and replacing the entire bridge with a left-handed model or filling the saddle slot with a fitted strip of hardwood to re-route it for left-handed play.

Both of these modifications are more complex and expensive. You might be able to find a custom bridge saddle or saddle inserts, but to date, they are rare in practice.

In conclusion, while it is possible to modify a classical guitar for left-handed play, it involves significant modifications that can affect the instrument's playability and sound quality. It’s recommended to explore left-handed models or to obtain a custom-made left-handed classical guitar for the best results.