10 famous left handed musicians

1 June 2020, 14:14 | Updated: 14 August 2020, 18:22

Some of the finest musicians in the world are southpaws… even though it may not be immediately obvious. Here are ten of the most notable.

1. Paul McCartney

   The most famous musical left-hander in the world, Macca realised he couldn’t play guitar right handed when he saw a poster of country star Slim Whitman and decided to switch the order of the strings.

   

   The Beatles - Paperback Writer

2. Kurt Cobain

   The Nirvana frontman was a natural left-hander but was taught to write with his right hand. After years of having problems finding left-handed guitars, Fender made him special Mustangs once the band had become famous.

   

   Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Live On MTV Unplugged Unedited)

3. Jimi Hendrix

   Contrary to popular belief, the legendary axe-man didn’t play his guitar upside down, but simply strung it the other way round.

   

   The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxey Lady (Miami Pop 1968)

4. Jimi Goodwin

   The Doves bassist and singer is proudly left-handed.

   

5. Ringo Starr

   Macca wasn’t the only left-hander in The Beatles! Ringo is a left-handed drummer playing a right-handed drum kit.

   

6. David Bowie

   The legend was left-handed but can be seen many times playing guitar right handed.

   

   David Bowie – Space Oddity (Official Video)

7. Tony Iommi

   Not only does the Black Sabbath guitarist play left-handed, but he also lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers in a horrible industrial accident when he was 17. Inspired by the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who lost the use of two fingers in a fire, Iommi persisted and created plastic fingertips to help him invent heavy metal.

   

8. Damon Albarn

   The Blur frontman once described himself as a “neurotic, middle-aged left handed man talking nonsense out there into the void”… but he also plays guitar right-handed.

   

   Damon Albarn - Hostiles (Live)

9. Noel Gallagher

   The former Oasis man plays right handed, but he’s a natural left-hander. He claims that guitar is the only thing he can do left-handed, and you can see he signs autographs with his left.

   

10. Billy Corgan

    The Smashing Pumpkins frontman is another musician who is naturally left-handed but taught himself to play guitar right-handed.