Finding the right left-handed musical instrument may be difficult for some, but for others, even learning to play left-handed can be hard enough.

Pamela Covell of Keepers Music, a lefty, has been relearning to play the guitar left-handed.

“When I first learned, I learned on a right-handed guitar. I didn’t know there was a choice,” Covell says.

Covell, who also plays woodwind instruments and gives lessons, says differences arise between left-handed playing and right-handed playing for only a few instruments.

“We try to encourage [lefties] to play right-handed anyways. You’re pretty much stuck with one way to hold [a trombone]. It’s just the way it’s built.”

Christopher Hayde, sales representative for Keepers Music, says for those who do play left-handed, selection at the store is very limited. In fact, Keepers has only sold three or four left-handed instruments all year.

Hayde also says that for the few who do buy a lefty guitar or bass, learning to play can be a headache.

“It’s very rare you can find an instructor to teach you left-handed, and you have to learn just about every note backwards.”

According to the Left-Handed Guitars Web site www.lefthandedguitars.co.uk, “The view that left-handers are clumsy and awkward is not due to their natural abilities, but being forced to use right-handed tools and machinery which is completely back-to-front for them.”

Either way, many musicians have made it big using the right side of their brains. Kurt Cobain smashed many a left-handed guitar, Paul McCartney plays with a little help from his southpaw bass and Jimi Hendrix modified right-handed Fenders to play upside down. Ringo Starr may be a lefty but plays like an octopus and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick wants you to want his left-handed drumming.