Yeah, I’ve been using a book, and my teacher, and even following the instructions, my left had (fret hand) is incapacitated after only a few minutes). I tinkered with a left handed guitar today and it felt much better, but it’s very expensive so I may have to wait. I will try squeezing less to see if that helps in the meantime. I may be squeezing too hard; it’s not something we’ve worked on.

“Crippling pain” doesn’t sound good. Do you mean pain in your fret board hand wrist, maybe from squeezing too hard for too long??? I suggest you get a beginners level book with photos or illustrations of proper hand position. Then, instead of trying to form complete chords, work on fretting individual notes (one string, one finger) at a time. The squeezing action occurs between your thumb and finger tips, and only squeeze hard enough to produce a clear sound. Don’t squeeze too hard, please!

Here’s a question: I am a left dominant ambidextrous. I have adapted to doing almost everything either way, though my natural instinct is almost always to my left. I picked up my sister’s right hand guitar some weeks ago, and I cannot, for the life of me, get more than 5 minutes of practice because it is extremely painful. I do air guitar I right handed, but when I hold the real guitar the other way, it feels better. My brother is strictly left handed but he’s out of state so I can’t try his.

Lefties Unite! =)

Very objective video Even better if you emphasize the fact that for lefthanded people, they will learn quicker and more efficiently w/ the lefthanded position. ^^
I am left handed, and held my guitar left-handed without thinking on my first lesson many years ago. My teacher said I should hold the guitar like everyone else and i followed. I was too young to think it through, and it has become something i always regret.