Left-handed trumpet?

Yo! Is there a way to hold a trumpet left-handed, or do all trumpet players (left and right-handed) play the same way?

Left-handed trumpet?
Trumpets are generally played with the right hand pushing the valves down. It doesn't matter if the player is right or left-handed. The French Horn is played with the left hand on the valves. The handedness of the player shouldn't matter. I can think of only one trumpet player who played left-handed. He was a band leader and played trumpet with the left and conducted with his right. He had a finger hook put on the bell so that he could hold the trumpet with one hand.





Most trumpets have the bell on the left and the leadpipe on the right, as you look down the instrument. If you want to hold it with your right hand, the second valve slide will be sticking into your palm. You also may not be able to operate the 3rd slide ring very well if you hold the instrument backwards. You might want to solder a finger hook on to the bell to make holding the horn a little easier.





The only instrument that I know of that is actually designed backwards is the Selmer piccolo trumpet. The bell is on the right, the leadpipe on the left, and the 2nd slide sticks out on the left. I don't know why it was designed this way, but it is still played with the right hand.





If you happen to be left-handed and assuming that you don't have a physical disability with your right hand, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't play a trumpet with your right hand. As I mentioned above, French Horn is played with the left hand, yet all the horn players I know are right-handed and it doesn't bother them.
Reply:I know a fellow who plays trumpet with his left hand due to a deformity in his right hand, and he does fine. The trouble is that you wouldn't be able to adjust tuning with the third and first valve slides. I guess unless it was necessary to play with the left due to some physical malady, I wouldn't try it.





Also, there have been some instances where instrument makers have made horn "backward" to accomodate a physical problem. I know of one F Horn that was made to be played with the right hand for someone who needed it that way.
Reply:It is quite possible; I knew of a tenor horn (not french horn) player who lost his right hand, so used his stump to hold the instrument whilst playing lefthanded - super player!





A flugel horn, on the other hand (pun not intended) CAN be played left handed!
Reply:You should ask this question to piano players to see if left-handed piano exist.
Reply:sorry to say, impposible or really expensive, but dont give up, my friend plays trumpet, he is a left hand but play a trumpet with his left hand, he has made 1st chair all county and all state, this dude rocks!! don't give up