IN celebration of International Left-handers Day 2019, the UK's largest guitar store, guitarguitar, are offering free lessons and guitar re-stringing this weekend.

On Saturday August 17 and Sunday 18, left-handers can turn up to any guitarguitar store to receive a free beginner lesson.

Lefties who already play can contact their local guitarguitar store and book their guitar for a free re-string.

Around 10-12% of the world’s population is left-handed, but many left-handed guitarists opt to play right-handed - performers including David Bowie, Noel Gallagher, Elvis Costello and Mark Knopfler, to name a few.

Graham Bell, co-founder of guitarguitar, said: “So many of our favourite lefty musicians have had to learn to play as righties, and we want to make that’s a thing of the past.

“For the last 15 years, we have supported left-handers by stocking the largest range of left-handed guitars in the UK, but we want to do more.

"That’s why we’re celebrating Lefty Week with free lessons for left-handed beginners, showing them they have nothing to fear by playing guitar the way that feels most natural to them.”

Historically, this is due to manufacturers only making limited numbers of left-handed instruments.

Lefty Week, running from Monday, August 12, until Sunday 18, is part of the music retailer’s 15th anniversary celebrations.