Last Updated on June 27, 2024 by Chris
As a left-handed guitarist, finding learning material that caters specifically to our unique needs can be quite a challenge. Lefty guitars are rare enough, but there are even fewer lefty-targeted learning materials available, so finding a dedicated lefty resource is refreshing.
Published in 2013, The Lefty Guitarist’s Survival Handbook by Neil D. Santos aims to fill the gap by offering a tailored resource to help eliminate the time-consuming and often frustrating mental flipping of standard diagrams and instructions and therefore speed up the learning process.
But how does it stack up? Let’s dive into this Lefty Guitarist’s Survival Handbook review!
Please Note: I am not being paid for this review, however Neil D. Santos did send me the book for free in return for my honest opinion.
Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. So if you buy the book through any of their links in this review, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much if you do purchase!
Table of Contents
What’s in The Lefty Guitarist’s Survival Handbook?
To begin with, the book covers several areas of basic guitar knowledge areas tailored to left-handed players. This is especially useful for beginners. These first topics of book include:
- Basic Techniques: Instructions on holding and tuning the guitar, and how to hold your pick.
- Notes on the Fingerboard: Guides on reading guitar tablature, chord grids and scale grids, which notes are where; all essential for playing and understanding music.
- Chords and Scales: An extensive range of chords and scales, including open chords, power chords, barre chords, suspended chords, and various arpeggios. Also scales such as the major & minor pentatonic, the blues scale, the major blues scale, dominant pentatonic, melodic minor pentatonic, natural major & minor scales, melodic minor, harmonic minor, whole tone, and diminished scales.
This breadth of content makes the book hugely valuable for both beginners and intermediate players, providing a solid foundation and a useful reference as they progress.
What Do I Think?
I have to say, The Lefty Guitarist’s Survival Handbook is generally very good, and is especially valuable for left-handed beginners, with its practical and easy-to-use instructions providing a straightforward and accessible approach to learning the guitar.
The clear diagrams and uncomplicated instructions are key strengths. However, I would say that more experienced players and those seeking in-depth theoretical knowledge may find the book a little lacking in detail.
I did find a small number of minor illustrative errors, but these do not detract from the knowledge to be gained here and I’ve let Neil know what they are, so hopefully he can correct them for future editions of the book.
There’s also a lack of exercises or practice examples, in which the various scales and chords could be used. However, the information contained is fairly easy to apply to any practice routine you might have.
The book fills an important niche market, providing left-handed guitarists with a resource specifically designed for their needs, and the practical benefits of having chord diagrams and instructions tailored for lefty players reduces the typical obstacles they face when using standard guitar books.
Pros
- Tailored for Left-Handed Players: The primary advantage of this handbook is its focus on left-handed guitarists. Standard guitar instruction books require lefty guitar players to mentally reverse diagrams, which can be confusing. Santos’ book eliminates this hassle by presenting everything in a left-handed orientation.
- Practical and Handy: Its compact size makes it easy to carry around, allowing guitarists to use it as a quick reference during practice sessions or on the go.
- Straightforward Instructions: The practical sections on tuning the guitar and what notes to play are particularly beneficial for beginners, providing them with the necessary tools to start playing correctly from the outset, and the more complicated scales and chords are clearly presented.
- Wide Range of Topics: Covering a good variety of chords and scales ensures that the book remains useful as players advance in their skills. This makes it a versatile tool for continuous learning and improvement.
Cons
- Limited Depth for Advanced Players: While the book covers a wide range of topics, it doesn’t delve deeply into advanced techniques or theory. Higher-level players might find the content too basic and may need to supplement it with more detailed resources.
- Short Length: At only 26 pages, the handbook is relatively short with quite brief explanations. Some readers might expect more comprehensive coverage for the price, which could be a drawback for those seeking in-depth instruction.
- Quality of Print: The print quality and physical construction of the book is slightly flimsy. As such, the durability of the binding and the quality of the paper used could affect the book’s longevity under frequent use.
Conclusion
The Lefty Guitarist’s Survival Handbook by Neil D. Santos is a much-needed resource for beginner and intermediate left-handed guitarists covering the essential topics needed to progress at playing guitar.
Its focus on the left-handed orientation makes things so much easier than when using standard guitar instruction materials.
While the book is very practical and easy to use, its short length could require further reading for those looking for more advanced instruction or techniques, and it’d also be nice to have a few exercises, applying the various chords and scales in a practical way.
However, by offering straightforward, easy-to-follow instructions, this is a valuable tool for left-handed guitar players especially at beginner and intermediate levels.
Overall, the book serves as an excellent starting point and reference tool for left-handed guitar players, making it a very worthwhile addition to their musical library .
If you’re a lefty guitarist struggling with standard guitar guides, this handbook could be the key to unlocking your potential and making your learning experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Definitely worth giving it a go!
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Image credit: pentatonicway.com