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Self-Submitted Idiodextrous Musicians
These artists filled out the idiodextrous Musician Self-submission form and generously shared their stories with this research project.
If you also play a string instrument ‘upside down’ or ‘backwards’ and would like to share your story, please feel free to do the same by clicking here:
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.Jo
A.L.
Associated Acts & Artists
Various underground musicians labels and clubs
Q&A
Q1: What is your handedness story?
I’ve always played guitar this way and how I naturally picked it up as a child as well as a ukelele.
Q2: What do you remember about when you first picked up a string instrument?
Felt natural and learning things upside down were never difficult. Never hard to imagine what a cord may look like. Even easier than how I imagine looking at a cord to play it regularly would feel. I am also dyslexic and hardly perceive much sense of right or left anyway. In my mind everything works in a rotating circle and whether you go right or left you end up going the other way eventually. Directions confuse me.
Q3: Why did you decide to play the instrument that way?
Natural
Q4: When you first started playing that way, how aware were you of it being an unusual way to play the instrument?
No I wasn’t until a parent asked if I knew I was playing upside down. 🙃
Q5: Over the years, what attitudes have you encountered from other musicians and/or music teachers towards your way of holding the instrument?
I’ve had people tell me it won’t work but, alas, free will.
Q6: How do you think it affects your playing, if you think that at all?
Makes it sound different and stand out more. Slides might be a little more difficult. The D chord on the second fret is difficult for me so I never play that chord but I don’t like the way it sounds anyway.
Q7: To what extent does your handedness approach to the instrument play a part in your identity, as a musician and as a human being?
Not much unless somebody asks me about it. I spend most days as a producer anyway and only play at home.
Q8: Do you know or know of anyone else who plays that way?
No.
Q9a: What do you think about the word ‘idiodextrous’ to describe that way of playing?
I think I’d describe it for myself as simply “the correct way” (definitely not The right way;)
Q9b: What are the terms that you prefer or most often use to describe that way of playing the instrument?
“Damn! You play that like Hendrix!”
Q10: What do you love most about music?
Freedom
Jody Dube
Artist Bio
A visual artist and tinkerer in music, I make stuff…. images, sounds, etc. Creativity is my passion, I suppose. I do some things right handed and some things left handed. When I took up the bass guitar in 1974 I was in middle school in Ventnor, NJ and I learned on a borrowed bass that belonged to the school, so I wasn’t able to alter the nut and reverse the strings. As a result i learned to play “upside down & backwards”. I became so used to this orientation that I was never able to adjust to playing strung left handed. I taught myself to play guitar.
Associated Acts & Artists
Disturbance of the Peace, Lost In Boston, The Wild Hearts, The Pontiffs, Monkey Shine, Rude Toys, The Ancient Garoovians
Web links
https://www.facebook.com/theancientgaroovians
https://soundcloud.com/ancient-garoovians
Q&A
Q1: What is your handedness story?
I eat, write, and draw with my right hand, but play stringed instruments and a few other things left handed.
Q2: What do you remember about when you first picked up a string instrument?
I naturally picked it up to play left handed.
Q3: Why did you decide to play the instrument that way?
It wasn’t a choice, it was an orientation.
Q4: When you first started playing that way, how aware were you of it being an unusual way to play the instrument?
I had lessons with my middle school music teacher. He saw that I was holding the bass upside down and insisted I hold it right handed (properly). I tried to do lessons this way with absolutely no success or coordination until I showed him how easily I could perform my weekly lessons upside down. He gave in and I blossomed as a backwards bass player.
Q5: Over the years, what attitudes have you encountered from other musicians and/or music teachers towards your way of holding the instrument?
See prior answer. I’ve had lots of comments over the years comparing to Paul McCartney or Jimi Hendrix. Those are some big shoes!
Q6: How do you think it affects your playing, if you think that at all?
Fingering… and chord formation as dictated by “proper” form. I need to just do things as I can in my unorthodox way. I think it’s sometimes given me license to be more creative.
Q7: To what extent does your handedness approach to the instrument play a part in your identity, as a musician and as a human being?
Some, I suppose. It’s likely obvious that I don’t go “by the book”, correctly.. I appreciate that I can pick up most anybody’s bass or guitar and play it easily as most are strung right handed. I cannot play an instrument strung left handed.
Q8: Do you know or know of anyone else who plays that way?
Once in a great while I run across someone who plays this way (not often at all) and we agree that it makes better sense for the bottom string to be the lowest.
Q9a: What do you think about the word ‘idiodextrous’ to describe that way of playing?
It’s a better expression than “ass-backwards”.
Q9b: What are the terms that you prefer or most often use to describe that way of playing the instrument?
Left handed, strung right handed
Q10: What do you love most about music?
It can be joyful, expressive, soulful and connects me to others in a deep way.
Omar Chouikha
Artist Bio
Omar Chouikha is a 26-year-old musician* from Sousse, Tunisia, blending elements of indie, shoegaze, and progressive rock/metal into his unique sonic identity. As a guitarist and songwriter, he explores ethereal soundscapes while drawing inspiration from diverse musical traditions.
His journey began at a young age, sparked by a deep admiration for Avenged Sevenfold, which led him to pick up the guitar. Soon after, he formed a band that passionately covered Radiohead before evolving into something greater. By the age of 15, he and his bandmates released their debut indie rock album, followed by a shoegaze/dream pop album at 17, marking the start of his creative exploration.
Now, Omar is embarking on a solo project, aiming to craft an album that weaves together his vast influences. His guitar playing carries a distinctive touch, often infused with Tunisian scales and phrases, giving it a rich, personal depth that sets it apart.
* as of 2025
Associated Acts & Artists
Retrieval
Web links
https://www.instagram.com/omarchouikha
https://retrieval.bandcamp.com
Q&A
Q1: What is your handedness story?
I use my left hand for almost everything except for some specific tasks like using scissors or eating with a spoon etc..
Q2: What do you remember about when you first picked up a string instrument?
I picked up a right handed guitar and tried to play it with my right hand and it felt extremely weird, so i flipped it over and something clicked.
Q3: Why did you decide to play the instrument that way?
I wasn’t even aware that there were left handed guitars when I first started. I just got a random (right handed) guitar and started playing it upside down because playing with my right hand felt wrong.
Q4: When you first started playing that way, how aware were you of it being an unusual way to play the instrument?
I wasn’t aware of it being an unusual way to play at all until someone made fun of me actually they were like “oh you can’t even hold a guitar properly it’s upside down” then i noticed
Q5: Over the years, what attitudes have you encountered from other musicians and/or music teachers towards your way of holding the instrument?
Never had any teachers i’m self taught, BUT as mentioned earlier I had A LOT of comments on how my playing is weird and that i should get a left handed guitar and play the “correct” way
Q6: How do you think it affects your playing, if you think that at all?
Since It’s not “normal”, I feel like I have more freedom playing wise.
Q8: Do you know or know of anyone else who plays that way?
Yes! But not personally. I know that Dan Swano plays like that and I kinda of used him as a validation at some point? Like yeah it’s okay to play that way look at Dan, he made it
Q9: What do you think about the word ‘idiodextrous’ to describe that way of playing?
I don’t know, since english is not my first language. The way I would describe my playing in my native tongue is simply “I play upside down”
Q10: What do you love most about music?
The way it makes me feel or it changes my mood instantly.
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