Lefties ?

[tommac]

I am  new to keyboards and have been playing a few months now (T5/76)--I feel like i`m doing okay with learning to play from home BUT I am (very) left handed and I feel that playing the melody with my right is not progressing as it should speedwise     Oh and i have left it pretty late to learn -retirement hobby
For those experienced players I would like to know if they managed to get over this with practice or if there is some way to help with this. Or maybe i`m just being over ambitious for a beginner.
Thanks

[Toril S]

Hello You are expecting too much in a short time. Speed comes with practice, practice and practice! Slow down the style and practice the song in slow motion, then speed up the style gradually. Soon you will be comfortable playing the song faster. And take a break when you are feeling tired. Don't lose the fun! First of all playing has to be FUN. I am never going to be a speedy player, but have great fun anyway

[tommac]

Yup--think you are right.. I think maybe i`m in too much of a hurry but I am definitely having fun though. 

[Rick D.]

Tommac

I am ambidextrous, I don't know which hand to play with LOL! My right hand is better for dexterity and my left for strength. I remember when I went from playing organ to playing piano I had a tough time getting my left hand to do what my right hand could do, instead of just playing chords.
It will take some time to build up speed and flow, with your music. Don't get discouraged. Repetition is the key to building up muscle memory. Play it as much as you can stand and then play it 100 more times. You will get it in time. This isn't something you pick up in an afternoon. Good for you for learning something new for your retirement hobby. Learning any musical instrument, keeps your mind sharp!
Most of all enjoy it, no matter what level you're at!

Rick D.

[mikf]

What a business opportunity - left handed keyboards. Why has no-one thought of that. And this opens the door to a whole new world of left handed sheet music as well.
Shark Tank here I come !!
Mike

[DerekA]

Not recommending this of course, but I think Yamaha got there first mikf.

You *can* set the chord recognition area to R and play melodies on L. You'd be limited to one voice on the melody without some MIDI routing tricks though

[EileenL]

I am left handed and it did take a while to get used to playing melody with my right hand but it dose come to you. Just try sitting down and just playing right hand part over a few times, and then when you feel OK with it try adding the left hand.
  It will come after practice.

[tommac]

thanks for the above---I`m coping ok with both hands simultaneously ( chords and melody) but just quite slowly.  As you say I guess it will come quicker in time.
I`m managing to  play a few songs off leadsheets posted on this forum --Going to have some proper lessons after this lockdown though.

Ps I started in middle of February so I guess its not long.

[DonM]

Here's me playing my left-handed Korg. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o33yHaxKDXQ&t=8s

[tommac]

Cool--one day maybe

[overover]

Left-handed Piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIgO4LqvU-0&feature=youtu.be&t=220

[mikf]

Thats me a dollar short and a day late as usual. OK, cancel the Shark Tank ( or Dragons den as it is known elsewhere).
Mike

[Rick D.]

Overover,

That would mess me up so bad after all these years!

Rick D.

[Georgeandmarj]

I didn't think this was possible,we had a member in our  keyboard club who used to play with his arms crossed,it looked most uncomfortable but he sounded great, this would have been right up his street.

[DonM]

Ya'll do know that there are no left hand keyboards.  The videos were reversed when shot with phone/camera in selfie mode.  I posted mine as a joke.  Sorry if it was misunderstood.

[Del]

too Funny Don 

[Georgeandmarj]

Aaaaaa you caught me

[mikf]

Yes Don, Good one, but those of us who were paying attention spotted the watch on the wrong wrist. 
Mike

[Rick D.]

That's a dirty trick Don LOL!

Rick D.

[DonM]

Sitting around "on the bench" with nothing to do makes my aging mind think of devious things.  Lord, I'm ready to go back to work, if you can call it that!

[Rick D.]

Don,

This Covid thing is getting old. It sure does allow a lot more time to play and think of devious things. I'm sure a lot of people would like to get out of the house and back to work.

Rick D.