Personal Information
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Given name: Francesca









Surname: Naibo









Email: francescanaibo@sienajazz.it









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Your contribution
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Title: Am I Right? Exploring Guitar Handedness Through Improvisation









Format: Poster presentation (6)









Main language: English









Abstract:
My research is focused on exploring the symmetries and asymmetries that characterize the guitar in terms of form, postures, technique and the movements that the guitarist can carry out to produce sounds on it. 
Starting from a unique perspective, that of left-handed guitar playing, the research studies how the hands are involved in traditional and contemporary performance practice. The project also investigates all the different technical postures and approaches typical of the world of the guitar, spanning from the academic world of the classical guitar to the DIY fields of rock, punk and similar non-academic genres of the electric guitar. 
Through this study I’m exploring new guitar gestures, seizing on the presence and coordination of two limbs that can undermine the concept of the “strong hand”, calling into question the subtle border of acceptable sound. Starting from an act of self-sabotage, this process leans on the natural instability that arises from reversing habits and performance practices. Thus, this project aims to amplify the technical-expressive possibilities of any guitarist, no matter what posture and technical approach they started from, in order to integrate all the possibilities that being left-handed or right-handed automatically excluded from the instrumental options at the beginning of the learning process.
This innovative approach will be applied to the field of free improvisation using traditional instruments, as well as left-handed models of various types (classical, acoustic and electric). The expected results will be widely applied to improvising practices, the guitar world and guitar didactics.










Image: https://test.sar2026.ie/system/files/webform/submit_contribution/335/Marco_Zeta_2.jpeg









Short biographies of the presenter(s):
- Francesca Naibo (Italian guitarist, improvisor, researcher and teacher) moves fluently across all the different conjugations of the guitar. Involved in the research for solo performance, she is focused on exploring sound in the fields of free improvisation and contemporary music. She’s interested in using both the acoustic and the electric nature of her instrument.
  She gave lectures about improvisation and performed in Europe, U.S.A, Australia and South Africa. In 2025 she obtained the Deep Listening® Teaching Certification and since 2024 she’s a PhD student in Siena Jazz University.










Previous presentations or iterations of the research:
I haven't presented my research at conferences or symposia yet. The 2026 International Forum on Artistic Research would allow me to do my first presentation.














Requirements
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Additional information:
I don't need to provide any additional information.










Spatial and technical requirements :
No special requirements.










Potential risks or ethical concerns:
I don't foresee any potential risk or ethical concern.










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