The following Musing is culled from an answer to an oft-asked question. "Should I play right or left-handed?" The twist is here is that, (as often happens), the question comes from someone writing in an unfamiliar language. XXXXXX wrote: re:left handed bass player dear jenni, i'm a bass player, left handed of course, when i started play bass my natural position was left handed, but in this moment a question of my friend lost me in desperate situation. you think left handed bass player have problem in alternate pizzicato with i. m. or is the same of the right handed? in italy a lot of left handed bass player studied right handed bass in classical music left handed not exist, for a lot of year i have more problem vith ear training, problem had fast resolution when i change my earing from left ear to rigth, what you think about i said? tank you for you eventually attention scuse me for my henglish bye bye XXXXXXX Dear XXXXXXX, Desidero che abbia parlato l'italiano come pure lei scrive in inglesi. I'll try and explain my answer to what I think you are asking as simply as I can. Most of the virtuoso bassists in classical music are left-handed people who play right-handed. This is common in Jazz as well. I am actually ambidextrous, I do things equally with both hands. I favor my right hand a little more than my left. If you are a natural left-hander it is best that you play right-handed. This puts your stronger hand on the fingerboard, where grip strength and dexterity are definite advantages. It's easier to train the weaker side to play arco and pizzicato than to make it do the more difficult job of gripping the neck and fingerboard. Try gripping a ball with one hand, then the other. Which one has the greater grip strength? There are many who would disagree with me, but from my experience I can say with confidence that most people are playing from the wrong side. Unfortunately a left-handed bassist must navigate a number of logistical problems. Buying (and selling ! ) a left-handed bass requires added effort because there just aren't that many of us! It's a challenge to find a good instrument. The surgery required to convert a right-handed bass to left-handed is very expensive, and traveling with your own instrument is essential. This means that you have to own and maintain your own bass trunk, and every trip requires a large enough airplane and ground transportation to lug it around. If your calling to play left-handed is strong enough you will find a way to make it happen. Obviously I'm no stranger to swimming against the current! Good luck, keep practicing, play long tones! All the best, Jennifer