11.17.2005

Leftie days (and the new crack)




I am a rightie. A is a leftie. And he, of late, has taken to learning to play acoustic-slash-classical guitar. We recently looked at photos of Jimi Hendrix. Of Paul McCartney. Of Kurt Cobain.

And A decided he would feel comfortable playing guitar as a leftie.

Mind, A previously played violin, but everyone must use his rightie on the violin bow. Because being a leftie in a symphony orchestra doesn't look so...great. So A played violin with his right hand, and strummed guitar with his right hand until he realized that there might be a way that a leftie can play guitar comfortably: as a leftie.

So, after A's decision to explore more left-edness, I went to our local guitar shop.

Me: Hi. I would like to have the strings on my son's guitar changed for a leftie.
Guitar Shop Guy: No.
Me: ?
GSG: Tell your kid to play a while with his right hand. This business is designed for right-handed playing. It will become too expensive to buy left-handed equipment.
Me: Uh-huh. Well, I understand. I mean, I use my right hand for nearly everything. But it doesn't seem fair to turn away a kid's request because of future concerns. If he doesn't like it, we'll have the strings changed back.
GSG: Tell him to play with his right. It'll be too hard to play with his left.
Me: Do you not change guitar strings for lefties?
GSG: I do. All the time. But have him try his right.
Me: [Sigh]

In other news, I am learning to knit. Knitting is like crack. Yes, I like that for a t-shirt: Knitting is the New Crack.

A: Can I try that?
Me: No, get your own yarn.
A: Mom!
Me: Get your own yarn.
A: Just show me one thing. Please.
Me: Get your own yarn.

Thank you, Karina at Booze and Yarn.

3 comments:

M said...

I want to learn to knit! Is it difficult? I have no idea how to start.

la Maitresse said...

Yes, you, too, can be a yarn ho. It is not difficult to learn. In fact, it is the perfect reptitious activity in which to engage when you are in-between baby feedings, naps, etc. My current website obsession is www.knitty.com.

la Maitresse said...

oh, I forgot to mention...the "yarn ho" thing comes from this: http://www.cafepress.com/knitty

See baby picture at the bottom.

; )